Rams fall to Tempe High in overtime

Senior Terrance Motley’s basket in the final seconds of the game sent the Maricopa High boys’ varsity squad into overtime against Tempe, but Rams could not capitalize, falling 74-63 in 4A-II East Sky basketball action Tuesday night. The home loss evened Maricopa to 9-9 overall on the season. Tempe improved to 6-4 in conference play.

The Buffaloes stormed out to a big lead in the first quarter on the strength of a series of three pointers. But Maricopa fought back, with seniors Jarvis Gonzales and Lester Gonzales keying the comeback to pull within three, 13-16 by the at the end of the period.

Maricopa picked up the pace in the second quarter and took the lead at halftime, with senior Jace Dickerson launching a three-pointer to put the Rams up at 26-25. “They did a very good job of coming back,” said Rams head coach Andy Branchik.

The Rams played well on both offense and defense in the second half, matching the Buffaloes basket for basket. The score at the end of the third quarter found Maricopa down a point, 41-42. It would be more of the same in the fourth.

With only 3.2 seconds left on the clock, Motley tied it up 58-58, sending the game into overtime. In OT, the Rams could not stop Tempe’s scoring, as the Buffaloes stampeded to victory.

“One of the things I’m trying to teach these young men is how to play the game from start to finish with the same intensity,” Branchik said.

Photo by Chuck King