When time was running down, the Permian boys basketball team did most of its damage with the clock stopped.
The Panthers were 8 of 11 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and that proved to be huge in a 57-56 victory against rival Odessa High in District 2-6A play Friday at the OHS Fieldhouse.
Elijah Minjarez led Permian (17-11 overall, 4-5 in district) with 14 points, including a 10-of-11 performance from the free throw line.
He was 7 of 8 in the fourth quarter (5 of 6 in the final two minutes).
Race Herr finished with 12 points and Ryale Moses added 11 as Permian avenged a one-point loss earlier this season to the Bronchos on the Panthers’ home court.
The teams have split the past four meetings, with the margin of victory a combined five points, with the road team winning each time.
Jtorian Deary-Johnson led Odessa High with a game-high 25 points, with Jordan Bruner adding 12 in the loss.
The Panthers now are one game behind the Bronchos (20-13, 5-4), Midland High and San Angelo Central in the race for the final playoff spots with one regular-season game remaining.
Permian hosts Midland Legacy at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, while the Bronchos travel to face San Angelo Central and Midland High meets district champion Wolfforth Frenship.
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Permian 57, Odessa High 56
Friday, OHS Fieldhouse
PERMIAN (17-11 overall, 4-5 District 2-6A)
Tabarie Jones 2 0-0 5, Ryale Moses 5 1-2 11, Ben Saldivar 4 0-0 8, Javarian Bech 1 3-4 6, Elijah Minjarez 2 10-11 14, Evan Garrett 0 1-2 1, Race Herr 5 1-2 12. Totals 19 16-21 57.
ODESSA HIGH (20-13, 5-4)
Jtorian Deary-Johnson 7 7-9 25, Xian Christian 0 0-0 0, Adrian Muzquiz 0 0-0 0, Jalen Warren 0 2-2 2, Ivan Carreon 4 0-0 8, Naledge Jenkins 0 2-4 2, Jordan Bruner 5 1-2 12, Justin Martinez 3 1-4 7. Totals 19 13-21 56.
Permian…………………. 14 — 16 — 15 — 12 — 57
Odessa High………….. 11 — 14 — 18 — 13 — 56
3-Point goals — Permian 3 (Jones 1, Beck 1, Herr 1), Odessa High 5 (Deary-Johnson 4, Bruner 1). Total fouls — Permian 16, Odessa High 17. Fouled out — Permian (Jones, Moses). Technical fouls — Permian, Odessa High. JV — Permian def. Odessa High.
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Standings
District 2-6A
Team Overall District
x-Wolfforth Frenship 27 4 8 1
San Angelo Central 23 7 5 4
Odessa High 20 13 5 4
Midland High 19 10 5 4
Permian 17 11 4 5
Midland Legacy 3 27 0 9
x-qualified for playoffs
Friday, Feb. 10
Permian 57, Odessa High 56
Midland High 89, Midland Legacy 70
Wolfforth Frenship 84, San Angelo Central 68
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Midland Legacy at Permian, 7:30 p.m., Permian Fieldhouse
Odessa High at San Angelo Central, 7:30 p.m.
Midland High at Wolfforth Frenship, 7:30 p.m.
End of Regular Season
