Using the quickness of its guards, the Odessa High boys basketball team took control early of its game against Midland Christian Tuesday at the OHS Fieldhouse.
Having that momentum was key in helping the Bronchos pick up their first victory of the season, defeating the Mustangs 66-54.
Coco Rose led Odessa High with a 25-point outing, which included two consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to widen his team’s advantage.
The Bronchos used presses and traps on the defensive end to kick up the tempo, something Odessa High head coach Neal Welch believed gave his team an edge over Midland Christian.
“I knew that if we slowed it down, that played in Midland Christian’s favor. They do a great job, they’re fundamental, they can shoot it really well and they have a great coach,” Welch said. “I knew if we played their tempo, they probably have the advantage.”
Odessa High ran out to a 15-7 lead in the first quarter, but Welch said he felt like his team started to slow things down in the second period.
The Mustangs would outscore the Bronchos 16-13 in the second quarter to cut Odessa High’s lead to five points at halftime.
Things got even closer when both teams hit the court for the third period of play as Midland Christian outscored the Bronchos again and narrowed the Odessa High lead to 40-38.
Midland Christian took the lead early in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from Zach Day, but that wouldn’t be enough as Odessa High scored 26 points throughout the final period of play.
Welch said he didn’t want his team worried about missing a shot late in the game, so he gave some of his players the opportunity to go out and score.
“There toward the end, we want our guys to play free,” he said. “We don’t want them to be worried about missing the shot, so we give them the green light if they’ve earned it.
“Everyone doesn’t have the green light, but some of them do. We hit some big threes down the stretch because they were confident and ready to shoot it.”
Adrian Muzquiz was one of the Bronchos who was given the nod to shoot throughout the game, scoring 13 points with nine of those coming from beyond the arc.
Rose said one of the team’s main points of emphasis was trusting their teammates, so he knew when to look for an open shooter.
“I was getting in there, if they’re open kick it out,” Rose said. “If not, then I have the shot.”
Odessa High (1-1 overall) continues nondistrict play against Greenwood at 1 p.m. Saturday in Midland.
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
BOYS
Odessa High 66, Midland Christian 54
Tuesday, OHS Fieldhouse
MIDLAND CHRISTIAN (2-4)
Jacob Perez 1 0-0 2, Ian Davis 0 0-0 0, Hunter Hamilton 0 0-0 0, Andrew Fox 4 0-1 9, Deshaun Ortiz 6 1-2 14, Gio Lujan 0 0-0 0, Ceon Lazo 0 0-0 0, Josiah Wray 0 0-0 0, Giovanni Lujan 8 0-0 17, Sebastian Giraldo 1 0-0 2, Zach Day 4 0-0 10. Totals 24 1-3 54.
ODESSA HIGH (1-1)
Coco Rose 8 7-9 25, Adrian Muzquiz 5 0-0 13, Jaylen McCowan 3 1-2 8, Kielan Green 0 0-0 0, Ivan Carreon 4 0-0 8, Austin Marquez 2 0-0 5, Christian Contee 0 0-0 0, Jordan Bruner 2 1-4 5, Jonathan Garza 1 0-0 2, Richie Aguilar 0 0-0 0, Joshua Austin 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 7-13 66.
Midland Christian….. 7.. 16 15 16 — 54
Odessa High……….. 15.. 13 12 26 — 66
3-Point goals — Midland Christian 5 (Day 2, Fox 1, Ortiz 1, Lujan 1), Odessa High 7 (Muzquiz 3, Rose 2, McCowan 1, Marquez 1). Total fouls — Midland Christian 14, Odessa High 12. Fouled out — None . Technical fouls — Midland Christian, Giovanni Lujan. JV — Odessa High 52, Midland Christian 49.
