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Noah Rodriguez typically is not the top scoring option for San Antonio Christian, especially late in an important game. The junior guard averages fewer than seven points per game off the bench this season, and he had never made a game-winning shot in a high school game until less than three weeks ago.
Now he has two, and they were the most important shots of his life and of the Lions’ season.
Rodriguez, who made a go-ahead 3-point goal late in a home win against Saint Mary’s Hall on Jan. 17, buried the Barons again Friday night in a TAPPS 5A game played on their home floor. He swished a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 minute, 16 seconds remaining, lifting the Lions to an 83-78 win that clinched the district championship.
“I’ve actually never liked purple,” said Rodriguez, referring to the primary color for Saint Mary’s Hall.
The win was the seventh in a row for San Antonio Christian (35-3, 7-0 district), No. 1 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches rankings for TAPPS 5A. It also inched coach John Valenzuela closer to a career milestone as he is four wins away from 600.
Saint Mary’s Hall (19-7, 5-2), ranked fifth in TAPPS 5A, had won four games in a row since its 63-62 loss at San Antonio Christian. Both defeats were devastating blows to the Barons, who took a lead into the fourth quarter Friday night and had an energetic, overflow crowd.
“Man, it’s a killer,” Saint Mary’s Hall forward Grant Barnes said. “We’re so close every time.”
Barnes scored 18 points for the Barons, who got a game-high 28 from fellow senior Anthony Walker.
With the game tied in the final 90 seconds, Hall made a crosscourt pass to Rodriguez, who sank his third 3 of the game. He later went to the foul line with 14.7 seconds left and made another game-winning play.
With his teammates on the other end of the court and four Saint Mary’s Hall players lining the lane, Rodriguez hit the front rim on the front end of a one-and-one situation. He managed to rebound his own miss as the Barons stood by.
Saint Mary’s Hall then had to foul Specia, who made two free throws to seal the win.
adam.zuvanich
@express-news.net
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