Lancaster Works Extra to Win

Aaron James scored 19 points and Anthony Gamboa had 16, and the Lancaster High boys’ basketball team overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Littlerock, 80-77, in overtime in a Golden League game Tuesday night at Lancaster.

The victory moved Littlerock (18-7, 7-2 in league play) into a second-place tie with Lancaster (15-9, 7-2).

It was the Eagles’ fourth consecutive victory and avenged a 55-51 loss at Littlerock in the first round of league play.

More important, it put Lancaster in a position to gain a share of its first league title if they can defeat first-place Quartz Hill on Friday.

Gene Myvett scored 40 points for Littlerock. The Lobos outscored the Eagles, 18-12, in each of the first two quarters in building a 36-24 lead.

Ryan Marley’s layup capped a 6-0 run that gave Lancaster a 76-70 lead with two minutes left in overtime. Marley then fouled out with a minute left and Myvett sank the two free throws to pull Littlerock to within 76-75.

James answered with a layup to push Lancaster ahead, 78-75, with 27 seconds left.

Littlerock played for the last shot but Myvett drove the lane, scoring with 1.3 seconds left to make it 78-77.

Gamboa was fouled on the inbounds pass and made both free throws to seal the victory.

“This sets us up for what we want to do,” Lancaster Coach Travis Brown said. “We played not to lose at the end of regulation and that cost us. But we were able to cause some turnovers in overtime.

“We wanted to be in this position--to force a three-way tie for first place in league.”

Lancaster took its first lead, 50-49, on its first possession of the fourth quarter. There were 13 lead changes and three ties in the quarter before Myvett’s layup with four seconds left forced overtime.

Myvett, who scored 23 points against Lancaster in the teams’ first meeting, had 20 points by halftime, including 16 of Littlerock’s 18 points in the second quarter.

Myvett slipped behind Lancaster’s defense for layups on back-to-back possessions, scored a three-point play on a foul and a 15-foot jumper and buried a three-pointer to give the Lobos their biggest lead, 36-22.

James scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including three three-point baskets. Teddy Myers scored 12 points for Lancaster and center Joe Dluzak added had points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.

Frank Robinson had 19 points and seven assists for the Lobos.