EStem (15-7, 4-1) never trailed Friday night on its way to a 62-49 road victory over Joe T. Robinson (7-6, 1-2), but that doesn't mean Coach Josh Hayes didn't experience nervous moments during the 4A-5 game.
One hold-your-breath sequence, with eStem clinging to a 47-45 lead early in the fourth quarter, was especially pivotal.
The Senators, who trailed by as many as 15 in the second quarter, had an open look from beyond the three-point line that would have given them their first lead.
Senior center Elliott Harris Jr. missed the shot, and the ball caromed to eStem sophomore guard Mehki Perkins, who drove the length of the court for a basket to give eStem a 49-45 advantage with 5:23 to play.
Perkins, who led the Mets with 17 points, added a three-pointer and driving layup, and eStem was on its way.
"Just like that," Hayes said. "That play deflated them."
"Defensively I thought we were OK, but offensively we couldn't find our rhythm," Robinson Coach Anwar Hardin said. "When you don't make your shots, you can't really set your defense. And when you live almost an entire half in transition on defense, that's the toughest defense."
Sports on 01/05/2019