By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
For the first time this season the Del Rio Rams basketball team was at full strength.
And while the Rams didn’t pick up the win against Converse Judson in their most recent game, Del Rio had its chances to stun the Rockets. Alan Dobbins missed a pair of short range jumpers in the game’s final seconds, bringing an end to a competitive and tough 73-72 loss by the Rams Nov. 23 at the Carl P. Guys Memorial Gymnasium.
Rams head coach Joe Nieto said the Rams began the season without its players from the football team. Once they returned, several players were knocked out of action due to illness. He said the Judson game was the first time the team was together as a whole and that they were still feeling themselves out and trying to work together as a unit.
Del Rio looked like the more disciplined team as the Rams jumped out to a 22-20 lead in the first quarter aided by a huge performance by Dobbins. The junior finished the opening stanza with 11 points, 5 rebounds and one big block.
The Rams kept out in front of the Rockets behind 3-pointers from Alessandro Elizondo and Brandon Ker as Del Rio took a 39-38 lead into halftime.
Elizondo, who was scoreless in the first quarter, opened up the second half on fire. He hit a pair of 3-pointers and paced a Rams attack that outscored Judson 22-15 in the quarter and helped Del Rio take a 61-53 lead into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Judson use a 6-0 run to cut Del Rio’s lead to just two early on. Elijah Favela and Donavan Gomez teamed up to score 16 points in the fourth including going 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
Favela sank a pair of free throws with just over two minutes to play that gave the Rockets their first lead of the game, 71-70. Gomez would add a pair of free throws as well to extend Judson’s lead to 73-70.
Dobbins was able to score with 22 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 73-72. The Rockets looked like they’d be able to hold the ball for the final possession, but Favela was called for an offensive foul as he tried to bring the ball up court, giving Del Rio another chance late in the game.
Dobbins was able to get the inbounds, split a pair of Judson defenders and put up a shot that just banged off the front of the rim. He was then able to grab the rebound and let fly with a put-back that hit the backboard and then the side of the rim before bouncing away as the final buzzer sounded.
Elizondo finished with 21 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the Rams. Dobbins finished with a double-double, scoring 17 points, pulling down 15 rebounds and adding four blocks to his line. Brandon Ker and Jorge Rubio each had 10 points, Joel Dominguez had nine points, Joe Villarreal had three points, and Angel Contreras had two points.
Judson’s Gomez led all scorers with 32 points while Favela finished with 17.
The Rams (0-6) will look to pick up their first win of the season this weekend when they travel to San Antonio to take part in the Southwest Tournament at Southwest High School.
Del Rio’s next home game will be Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. against Uvalde.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
