FOOTHILL CLASSIC: Cimarron-Memorial holds on to beat Chaparral 75-74

Sometimes the most important play is the one it is most essential to not make.

Up by three points in the final seconds Friday, Cimarron-Memorial boys basketball coach Daryl Branham could be heard screaming not to allow a 3-pointer as Chaparral’s Marcus Hilliard drove down the court. The Spartans obliged, guarding the perimeter and allowing Hilliard an easy lane to the basket.

Most importantly, the Spartans didn’t commit a foul. Hilliard sunk his layup untouched as the buzzer expired and the game was over, as Cimarron held on to win 75-74 at the Foothill Holiday Classic.

“In that situation with the time running out, we’ll give them two (points),” Branham said. “I thought offensively we played pretty well. I just think we didn’t communicate very well defensively.”

The game was the definition of a back-and-forth affair. Neither team could gain control 3:20 left in the second half. That’s when Cimarron junior center Brian Washington threw down a dunk to tie the game at 63. There was nothing highlight-worthy about the dunk, but it was the last time the Spartans would trail.

Washington’s bucket started an 8-0 run for the Spartans, the largest by either side in the game.

“It’s a good win, it’s a team win,” Washington said. “Win by one, win by a hundred, it’s still a win.”

In the first half, it was the Demarco Alexander show for the Spartans. The senior guard could not miss, draining his first eight shots and scoring 20 first-half points.

“He definitely came out on fire for sure,” Branham said.

Alexander finished with a game-high 28 points. Washington scored 20, 12 in the second half. Senior Kamakana Winquist supplied 17 points.

Chaparral senior Samuel Porras led the Cowboys with 17 points. Senior Ronnie Hicks scored 16, and senior Ben Kirschbaum and Hilliard each had 12 points.

Basic 65, Del Sol 61 — Geoff Faries sunk two free-throws in the final seconds to put the Wolves up four and put the game out of reach for the Dragons’ final possession.

Faries finished with a game-high 21 points. De’Shawn Eagles scored 17 points for Basic, and Cris Dominguez supplied 11 points.

Mekhi Duncan led Del Sol with 14 points. Byron Rowson scored 10 for the Dragons.

Foothill 86, Mount Miguel (Calif.) 38 — Jace Roquemore scored 17 points, and 16 Falcons scored in a rout of Mount Miguel.

Marvin Coleman scored 12 for Foothill, which led 51-22 at halftime.

Arbor View 65, Valley 51 — Elijah Westall scored 15 points to lead the Aggies over the Vikings.

Amod Manor scored 11 for Arbor View, which led 36-20 at halftime.

John King led the Vikings with 16 points, and teamamte Tommy Anderson scored 10.

Rancho 71, Tech 63 — Justin Holiday had 22 points to carry the Rams over the Roadrunners.

Chrys Jackson scored 20 for the Rams, who led 40-32 at the break.

Jurelle Orbino led Tech with 24 points, and Miguel Pena added 14 points.