Ryan outlasts Empire to win consolation

COMANCHE - Ryan and Empire stood and traded punches back and forth in a tough, physical game before Ryan’s Racen Williams put the Cowboys up for the final time with 45 seconds left in the game as the Cowboys held on for a 57-56 win over the Bulldogs in the Stephens County Tournament boys’ consolation final on Saturday.

Williams’ bucket was the fourth lead change of the night and came after the Cowboys trailed by as many as 10 points twice in the fourth quarter. The last came with 5:54 to go in the game.

From then on, Ryan began to whittle away at the lead before finally catching them in the final minute.

The game had been tight throughout with Empire leading 16-14 at the end of the first quarter and Ryan leading 27-25 at the half. The Bulldogs outscored the Cowboys 15-8 in the third to take a 40-35 lead into the fourth.

Williams had just two points through the first three quarters but scored nine in the final stanza to help propel the Cowboys to the win. Noah Torrez also added eight of his 23 points in the fourth.

Scoring

Ryan (11-5): Noah Torrez, 23; Racen Williams, 11; Will Townsend, 4; Asher Lancaster, 2

Empire (8-9): Cole Porter, 18; Ryan Miller, 15; Bryce Shaver, 9; Dax Hecox, 3; Damian Goldsberry, 3