Harlandale outlasts Brack in double overtime bi-district skirmish
For weeks, Harlandale had battled grade-related attrition, but on a glorious night, the Indians had a significant addition.
Senior scoring leader Manuel Rabago-Castro had been academically ineligible since early January, but returned in time for the Indians’ Class 5A bi-district game Feb. 22 at Harlandale. With 6-foot-5 Rabago-Castro battling comparably sized Brackenridge junior Zack DeSmith inside, Harlandale (15-9) pulled out a 67-66 double-overtime victory against the Eagles (17-7).
“It was hard without him, but he came back,” Harlandale senior Michael Benavidez said. “He brings so much energy.”
Brackenridge senior Kalvin Nance (34 points) sank a 27-foot, three-point basket with .7 seconds to send the game into overtime. Off a steal by Jonathan Regalado, Rabago-Castro (17 points) fed Saxon Langenberg (18 points) for a layup that capped a five-point Harlandale spurt at the end of the first overtime.
Three free throws from Nance tied it 66-66 with 5.7 seconds remaining in the second overtime. Langenberg was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play. With 4.7 on the clock, the sophomore missed the first foul shot but nailed the second to seal the win.
“The atmosphere was crazy,” Langenberg said. “I lost it a little bit, but my teammates talked to me. I relaxed and knocked down the free throw. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Boerne Champion (27-1), guided by former Harlandale coach Chris Adamek, eliminated the Indians 79-36 on Feb. 24 in the area round. Champion is ranked eighth in 5A.
Jefferson (20-7), Lanier (15-11), Sam Houston (12-11) and Young Men’s Leadership Academy (11-9) also advanced to the area round.
Only Jefferson survived into the Region IV quarterfinals — its furthest advancement since 1999. The Mustangs lost to No. 22 Georgetown on Feb. 27 by a score of 65-58.
Against Harlandale, Brackenridge built a 21-13 first-quarter lead behind nine points from Nance. Rabago-Castro scored six.
“Kalvin is, by far, the best player I’ve ever coached,” Brackenridge coach Joey Isaac said. “I think he’s one of the best in the city.”
Harlandale locked down Brackenridge defensively in the last three minutes of the first half and rode the momentum into the second. The Indians outscored Brack 18-5 in the third quarter, and stayed close over the last 13 minutes.
“You had two teams that were scrappy and finding ways to stay in games,” Harlandale coach Eric de los Santos said. “I just think we were a little tight in the first half. In the second half, we started moving the ball and sharing it.”
Nance and Eagles senior Gabe Alvarez combined to score the first five points in the initial overtime before Benavidez hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to bring the Indians within 59-57 with 1:09 left.
“I was frustrated because I couldn’t contribute offensively for my guys,” Benavidez said. “Fortunately, the man upstairs helped me and it went in.”
The senior also made a steal early in the second OT that led to a three-point play from Rabago-Castro.
Harlandale never established more than a two-possession lead in the last overtime. With 2:06 remaining, DeSmith (15 points) made a free throw that reduced the Eagles deficit to 62-60. With 9.0 seconds, Nance missed a foul shot, rebounded it, was fouled and swished tying free throws.
“I’m excited about the kids we have coming up,” Isaac said. “The grass is still pretty green, luckily.”
