Southwest, Down 12 at Half, Rallies Past Patrick Henry

Trailing by 12 points at halftime, the Southwest High School boys’ basketball team appeared headed to the off-season, where its next game wouldn’t be until summer league.

That may not be exactly what Southwest Coach Steve Selland thought. But summer league triggered his mind as he headed for the locker room with his team trailing Patrick Henry by 12 points in a second-round section Division I playoff game at Southwest.

“I said, in the second half, let’s play just like summer league basketball,” Selland said. “With motion, pass and cut, pressure, running and gunning.”

Will Tate made three of three free throws in the final 23 seconds and had a key steal and layup as Southwest kept the season alive, rallying for a 57-55 victory.

Saturday, Southwest (21-7) will play at San Diego, a 62-51 winner over San Dieguito.

With Tate (20 points) applying pressure on the full-court man press, Southwest outscored Patrick Henry, 21-11, in the final quarter, forcing seven turnovers.

“We got guys who get the ball with three guys guarding them and can’t pass the ball to an open man,” Patrick Henry Coach Fritz Ziegenfuss said. “Our ballhandling was terrible.”

Patrick Henry (13-12) led, 44-36, after three quarters and 51-45 with 3:48 to play. Southwest then went on a 7-0 run to take its first lead, 52-51, with 46 seconds left. Sean Swenson had five of those points, including a three-pointer that put the Raiders ahead.

Patrick Henry’s Bart Brandenburg then made two free throws with 39 seconds left for a 53-52 lead.

Tate came right back, driving the baseline and drawing a foul from Terence Hamilton while attempting a reverse with 23 seconds. It was the fifth foul for Hamilton (13 points, 10 rebounds).

Tate made both shots to put Southwest ahead, 54-53. The 6-foot senior then made the play of the game, slipping around Brandenburg in the back court, stealing the ball, driving for a layup and drawing a foul. There were only 11 seconds left when he made the free throw that clinched the game for Southwest.