Bastrop defeats Hutto in over time 70 - 65

By Danny Davis
danieldavis@statesman.com

Bastrop lost starting guard Jordan Roach to an injury on Wednesday night. His cohorts in the backcourt, however, made sure that the Bears did not lose the game.

Senior guards Josiah Monroe and Alton Thompson combined for 45 points in a 70-65 overtime victory over Hutto. In its regional quarterfinal victory at Connally High, Bastrop was able to overcome the third-quarter loss of Roach and advance to the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time since 1974.

Bastrop opened the second half with a 31-29 lead but the Bears missed their first shot of the quarter and then suffered a bigger loss.

While trying to make a defensive play , Roach collided with a Hutto player and went down with a head injury. The South Alabama-bound McDonald's All-American nominee was helped off the court and did not return.

Bastrop coach Stephen Autrey said Roach received stitches and likely suffered a concussion. But Autrey said that as soon as Roach went down, his guards knew that they needed to step up.

Hutto quickly tied the score after Roach's injury, but Bastrop scored 16 of the quarter's final 23 points to take a 47-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

But with neither team winning by more than two points during a split regular-season series, a Hutto charge was expected. The Hippos chipped away, and Denzel Bellinger tipped in a miss by his brother Tevin at the buzzer to send the game into overtime 62-62.

In overtime, Bastrop only took two shots, but the Bears scored all eight of their points at the free-throw line. Hutto committed four turnovers, was only 1-of-9 from the field and had both Denzel Bellinger and Corwin Spears foul out.

"Our kids played hard under adverse circumstances," Autrey said. Monroe finished with 23 points and Thompson added 22. Monroe's free throw with 1:51 left in overtime gave the Bears a 65-64 lead they wouldn't relinquish .

Bastrop (22-11) will meet top-ranked Dallas Kimball on Friday in Garland for the Class 4A, Region II tournament.

Denzel Bellinger and Ryan Thompson each had 17 points to lead Hutto (19-13).

Bastrop 70, Hutto 65

	1	2	3	4	OT	T
Bastrop	9	22	16	15	8	70
Hutto	12	17	9	24	3	65

Bas: Monroe 23, Thompson 23, Thorne 8, Roach 7, Bryant 6, Harrell 3
HHS: Thompson 17, D. Bellinger 17, T. Bellinger 13, Wilson 13, Spears 5
Records: Bastrop, 22-11; Hutto, 21-13