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Boys Basketball: Hudson Holds Off Mitchell, 37-35

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: February 2, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Sometimes athletic events don't live up to the expectations. That was the case Monday in the boys basketball game between Hudson and Mitchell.

Both teams entered the contest with decent records – Hudson was 15-7 and Mitchell 13-9. The Cobras had won 9 of their last 10 games while the Mustangs had lost its last four decision.

But on Monday, it didn't matter. Neither team could find the basket but since someone had to win, Hudson scored a couple key baskets in the final 4 minutes and held on for a 37-35 win.

"I told them at halftime that sometimes you have to find any way to win a game," said Hudson coach Jason Vetter, whose Cobras trailed 17-16 at the half. "I knew it was going to be one of those nights."

After taking a 32-31 lead with 2:54 remaining in the game on a basket by Josh Santos, the Cobras got a basket by Stephen Brom and a pair of free throws by Jarrod Branco to lead 36-31 with 1:01 left.

But Mitchell didn't give up. Chad Jackel scored with 44 seconds left and after Branco missed the front-end of a 1-and-1 with 30 second remaining, Anthony Webb scored on a layup with 5.5 seconds remaining to cut the Hudson lead to 36-35.

Mitchell fouled Chris Russo immediately, who made the first free throw but missed the second. Webb got the ball and drove to the basket but his layup at the buzzer rolled off the rim.

"This game came down to missed shots inside," said Mitchell coach Larry Holden. "When you get the ball 8-10 times and we walk away with no buckets. You can't do that. Some of them were good defensive plays but too many times we just missed the shot."

Going into the game, the Mustangs knew they would have to stop the scoring duo of Branco and Russo. Branco averages 20.1 points a game while Russo had a 14.8 average. On Monday, Branco finished with 8 points and Russo 3.

"I thought we did a great job on their two kids," Holden said. "Our key was not to let [Branco and Russo] beat us. I thought if they didn't have a big night, [Hudson] wouldn't score a lot of points. I just expected we would score more points."

Santos led the Cobras with 11 points while Billy Hester was the top scorer for the Mustangs, also with 11.

Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@gmail.com

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