Hornets lose playoff opportunity

PHOTOS BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Lometa's Joe Michael Rivera tries to draw a charge call in the Hornets' 50-43 loss to Eden last Friday.

The Lometa High School boys' basketball team saw its season come to an end Tuesday night with a 49-45 loss to Rochelle at San Saba High School.

Lometa and Rochelle finished tied for third place in District 29-1A Division II and were playing for the final playoff spot. The Hornets (19-9) lost to Eden last Friday in a game that would have assured the team a playoff spot.

The two losses came on the heels of a three-game win streak.

"We peaked at the right time, but we just couldn't get it to carry over," Lometa head coach Wendell Bradley said. "Our strength all year has been our post play, but both teams did a good job of slowing down our guys inside."

In the loss to Rochelle, the Hornets missed seven free throws in the fourth quarter. Joe Michael Rivera led the team with 13 points, and David Cruz added 12.

In the loss to Eden, Cruz scored 10, and Brandon Faubion and TJ Rolan scored eight apiece.

Brandon Faubion goes up for two points in the Hornets' 49- 45 loss to Rochelle on Tuesday. David Cruz scores two of his team-high 10 points in the Hornets' loss to Eden. A group of Hornets plays defense in Friday night's 50-43 loss to Eden.