Hoover boys’ basketball survives last-second flurry from Glendale
GLENDALE — It came down to the final possession and a last pair of shots to separate the Glendale High and Hoover boys’ basketball teams Friday night in a frenzied city rivalry game.
In the end, the Nitros missed a three-pointer and a buzzer-beating put back as Hoover held on for a 45-43 victory in Pacific League play.
The Tornadoes’ win snapped a four-game losing streak versus the Nitros (9-11, 1-6 in league), while Hoover (7-12, 1-6) nabbed its first league triumph of the season.
“This is a big, big win for us, because we’re always Hoover the underdog,” Hoover junior guard Angel Mino said. “I’m so proud of my team. This win shows that hard work pays off and we’re not done yet. This isn’t the end of the season. We’re going to see if we can win some more.”
Mino led all players with 16 points and five rebounds, while senior center Simeon Hilby added 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for Hoover. Damon Vartan added 10 points for the Tornadoes.
Freshman David Shamiryan scored 14 points off the bench for Glendale, while Edrik Abnous Masihi chipped in seven points.
The 5-foot-8 Mino, a guard, corralled a key offensive rebound of his own three-point shot taken with 17 seconds left and Hoover up, 45-43.
The ball bounced around and hit the hands of three players before Mino jumped around a Glendale player, dove toward the ground and came up with a rebound as Hoover Coach Jack Van Patten called a timeout with 10.5 seconds left.
Glendale seemed out of luck, as the Nitros had only committed four team fouls until that point and would have needed three quick fouls to send a Hoover player to the free-throw line for one-plus-one bonus try.
Yet, all that became irrelevant when a Hoover pass upcourt was intercepted by Glendale’s Cole Fajardo, who dished to Shamiryan.
A three-pointer from Shamiryan was missed with two seconds left as well as a put back that rimmed out as time expired to secure Hoover’s win.
“Boy, it got really close there at the end and the turnovers, the free throws almost cost us,” Van Patten said. “I’m so proud of the guys, because they worked hard and did enough tonight.”
Hilby scored an offensive put back with 4:14 left in the game that put Hoover up for good, 45-39.
Even though the Tornadoes did not score the rest of the way, Glendale could not take advantage, particularly at the free-throw line.
A foul with 3:25 left put Glendale in the bonus the rest of the game.
The Nitros were fouled four times over the final three-plus minutes, but only made four of seven attempts.
The last two makes came from Fajardo with 2:06 left as Glendale pulled within 45-43.
“It’s free throws and defense that cost us today,” Glendale Coach Ib Belou said. “We do both better and it’s a different game.”
Glendale rallied all night, including after Mino drained three straight threes to help put the Tornadoes ahead, 37-30, with just over a minute left in the third quarter.
Glendale fought back with a three-pointer each from Shamiryan and Mike Chebishian to trail, 37-36, after three.
The Nitros eventually pulled even at 39 on a three-pointer from Shamiryan early in the fourth quarter, but they didn’t pull ahead.
Hoover opened the game with 10-1 run capped on a three-pointer from Mino only to see Glendale counter with a 10-0 spurt to go ahead, 11-10, after a jumper from Eli Degrate with 5:37 remaining in the first half.
Though Hoover responded and went back up, 17-14, Glendale closed the first half with a 9-2 run that send the Nitros up, 23-19, going into the half.
