Sam Houston hits free throws to keep La Vernia at bay

Jordon Harris dissected La Vernia’s defense for 42 points, allowing Sam Houston to silence La Vernia’s comeback in a battle of state-ranked Class 3A teams Tuesday at Alamo Convocation Center.

The Hurricanes (16-9, 4-0), No. 6 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches rankings, made six of eight free throws over the last 2 minutes, 35 seconds to secure a 69-64 win and hold on to first place in District 28-3A. The No. 23 Bears (20-3, 3-1) refused to go quietly despite falling behind 10-2 in the first four minutes.

“Any time a team has had that kind of success, it’s going to be confident,” Sam Houston coach Ike Thornton said. “It was exactly like I expected it to be. I expected it to be a dogfight.

“That’s definitely the type of game we need to play in our district. Coach (Scott) Grubb has done a great job getting them to play tough and to play the right way.”

The game had a playoff atmosphere, aided by Sam Houston’s entourage. In addition to cheerleaders, the school brought its dance team and pep band, both of which performed throughout the contest.

“It was a really big game,” Harris said. “We wanted to show them who was really No. 1.”

Harris converted a one-and-one opportunity at the foul line with 2:35 remaining. The senior guard also nailed two free throws following a three-point basket from La Vernia’s Austin Pickens (19 points), putting Sam Houston ahead 67-60.

It also gave Harris 14 points in the decisive quarter.

“Jordon put us on his shoulders,” Thornton said. “He scored and he shut down their scorer. One of our goals for the game was to play with an undeniable will. For the whole game, I thought they were the ones playing with an undeniable will.

“We had some guys step up in the second half, most notably Jordon. Whether it was getting the big rebound, playing defense or getting the big shot, he was the person to do it.”

The Bears’ Dalton Ruckowitz and sixth-man Justus Parker made quick layups between a pair of game-clinching free throws from Sam Houston sophomore Robert Christian (7 points). The last came after Devin Allen (7 points) claimed one of his eight rebounds.

Harris scored six of the game’s first eight points, while Allen provided the other basket. Harris drove for a layup, scored on the fast-break off a steal from freshman Jawon Anderson (6 points, 4 steals, 2 assists), threw an outlet pass to Allen for a layup and scored on a steal and assist from Anderson in the first three minutes.

That was the signal the 5-foot-11 guard would have a special night. In fact, he recorded a career scoring high.

“We knew coming in (that) he was really good,” said La Vernia guard Colby Sims, who guarded Harris for a portion of the game. “He can do everything. He’s just a good player.”

Sims (28 points) actually had matched Harris point-for-point in the first half. Both had scored 20.

The 6-1 La Vernia wing scored 13 points in the second quarter alone. Sims sank all eight foul shots he attempted during those eight minutes.

“He really took us on his back in the first half,” Grubb said. “He kept us in the game.”

Sam Houston forced eight turnovers in the first quarter, which helped propel it into the lead.

A three-pointer from Sims, .4 seconds before the first quarter launched the Bears’ comeback. It brought them within 18-11 and started a 14-5 spurt that carried them to a 27-25 lead.

“I think, in the first quarter, we were a little shell-shocked,” Grubb said. “I think we weren’t ready for all the fans, the new court and the band.

“I had to remind them that the court was the same size as every other one. But, after that, we got back to playing our type of defense and we played well.”

Both teams had to cope with foul trouble.

Pickens and Parker saw limited playing time for the Bears. The absence of Allen and starter Raymonte Prime, who eventually fouled out, likewise took away two important offensive weapons from the Hurricanes.

“Everybody else had to step up,” Harris said. “We came together as a team.”

The Bears never led by more than two points, but neither did they fall out of striking range.

A fast-break basket from Harris, followed by a pair of free throws from Sims, brought the first half to a close with the Hurricanes leading 33-31. Christian was fouled after a steal – the Bears’ fifth turnover in the quarter – and made both foul shots to give Sam Houston a 43-38cushion with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Sims finished a three-point play and frontcourt sub Nick Simpson scored on an assist from Jonathan Garcia  with 1:39 to play. Suddenly, La Vernia held a 46-45 advantage.

Harris nailed back-to-back three-pointers, his only two of the game, and the Hurricanes finished the quarter ahead 51-49.

Another development during that stretch was that Harris picked up Sims defensively for the rest of the game.

“Jordon wanted to check him earlier in the game,” Thornton said. “We didn’t put him on (Sims), but he kept asking. When we did, he got a couple of baskets. Once Jordon adjusted to what he was doing, he shut him down.”

The La Vernia standout didn’t score in the fourth quarter. “I just wanted to shut him down, every way I could,” said Harris, who had a game-high four assists. “No shots. No easy baskets.”

Although Sims was locked down, the Bears kept clawing.

A shot from Pickens in the left corner brought La Vernia within 57-56 with 5:28 to play. Harris scored six of his team’s next eight points, including that crucial one-and-one that hiked the lead to 65-57.

“We’re playing great,” he said. “We’re playing team ball every single game.”

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