Yoe’s last-minute comeback falls short against Mexia

A last-minute comeback by Cameron Yoe fell one point short in a 69-68 loss at Mexia on Saturday. 

Yoe overcame a seven-point deficit in the final minute of the game to tie the score 68-68. Mexia’s Le’Marion Miller hit a free throw with 11 seconds left to give the Blackcats a one-point advantage.

The Yoemen called timeout with 7.3 seconds remaining to set up a potential game-winning shot. But they never got the chance. Inbounding from mid-court, the ball bounced off a Yoe player’s hands and into the backcourt as precious seconds ticked away. A long pass to the right elbow of the foul line resulted in a contested ball. Miller dove on it and called timeout with 1.3 ticks left on the clock to secure possession. Mexia inbounded the ball and time ran out.

The Yoemen battled right to the end. They scored seven points within a 22-second span in the final minute of the game to knot the count at 68.

Za’Korien Spikes put in an offensive rebound with 47 seconds left to get the Yoemen within 68-63. They fouled Mexia’s Trey Holdman seven seconds later and the Blackcat senior missed the front end of a one-and-one. Yoe raced the ball up the court and Ke’Vaughn Booze buried a three-pointer with 33 seconds left to make the score 68-66.

Yoe called timeout immediately after the basket. The Yoemen fouled Miller immediately after Mexia inbounded the ball. Miller missed a pair of free throws and the Yoemen still had some life. They got the ball upcourt quickly again and Spikes was fouled with 25 seconds remaining. The senior swished a pair of charity tosses to tie the score 68-68.

Yoe fouled Holdman with 11 seconds left and he made one-of-two free throws to put the Blackcats ahead, setting up the final sequence.

Yoe inched out to a 15-12 lead after the first quarter when J.W. Hollas nailed a three-pointer to snap a 12-12 tie with 32 seconds left in the stanza.

Mexia came back in round two and took a 31-27 lead into halftime.

Yoe scored 20 points in the third quarter to take a one-point lead into the final eight minutes.

Mexia jumped ahead 43-31 three minutes into the stanza. But the Yoemen responded with a 16-3 run over the final 4 minutes, 41 seconds of the period.

The streak began with 10 unanswered points. Javoun Goldsby buried one of his four three-pointers in the game to ignite the run. Brent Wright and Goldsby hit layups to cut the deficit to 43-38 and force Mexia to call timeout.

The Yoemen continued their surge after the break. Booze made a free throw and Hollas put in an offensive rebound to get the Yoemen within a basket, 43-41.

After a three-point play by Mexia, Yoe scored the final six points of the quarter in the final two minutes.

Goldsby popped in a three-pointer with 1:58 left to make it 46-44. Wright hit a free throw. Goldsby made a layup with nine ticks left on the clock to give the Yoemen a one-point lead.

For the game, Yoe made 25 field goals, including nine three-pointers. They were 9-of-13 from the free-throw line.

Goldsby led the way with a game-high 21 points, including four three-pointers. Booze added 17 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Spikes also scored in double figures with 10 points.

Azi Haynes scored six points. Hollas and Wright had five points each. Nolan Brashear had four points to round out Yoe’s scoring.

The Yoemen returned to District 19-3A action Tuesday hosting Lexington and defeating them by one point, 68-67. 

Stats were not available at press time.

Yoe’s next contest will be Friday when they travel to Caldwell for a 7:30 p.m. district contest.

The Yoemen are 2-1 in district play.