Lobo injuries add up in elite hoops games

A few missed baskets down the stretch in a hotly contested game ultimately cost the Lehman boys summer-league basketball team a chance to score an upset of talented Dripping Springs at home Monday night in a Summer Elite home match-up.

Coach Jodie McGarity’s shorthanded squad was playing its first game without three of its main weapons who are all out with injuries. The Lobos twice erased deficits of 10 or more points during the contest behind the three-point shooting of senior Gino Silvas and the pressure defense of sophomore Charles Williams down the stretch.

Junior forward and captain Tarale Murry is likely out for the remainder of the summer after suffering a severe foot injury and both Jonathan Garrion and Anthony Bradshaw were also unavailable to play due to injuries.

In the opening minutes, Leh-man post Adam Woodworth and guard Peter Gutierrez went to work for the Lobos as the two teams played to a 15-15 first quarter tie. But in the second quarter, the frontcourt tandem of Jason Beckham and Tim Franklin went to work inside for the Tigers in a 16-6 run to close out the first half.

“Their big guys started opening up things in the middle for them and we didn’t adjust to what they were doing,” McGarity said. “We seemed to lose a little confidence at that point.”

The Lobos came roaring back in the second half with a 12-3 run to open the third quarter and after Silvas buried the second of his 3-pointers from deep in the corner, Lehman took a 52-51 lead going into the fourth.

But Mason Beyer scored on the Tigers first two possessions of the fourth quarter and also drew a charging call on Lehman freshman guard De’Andre Carson.

Trailing 59-54 late in the final period, the Lobos failed to convert on a couple of point-blank attempts and Dripping Springs made their free throws down the stretch to hold off the pesky Lobos (0-2).

Woodward finished with 14 points in his best offensive output of the summer.

“Adam was strong inside for us tonight and he knows he needs to play that way because of Tarale being out,” said McGarity. “Hopefully, he can gain some experience and continue to work hard to make himself a force on the inside.”

Unfortunately, it was the second loss of the season for the Lobos who also dropped a 20-point decision to a loaded Del Valle team in last week’s home opener.

Though a few costly turnovers derailed any chance the Lobos may have had in competing with the talented Cardinals, McGarity remained optimistic in the loss.

“Even though we are missing three players who will be key for this team in the fall, I want these guys to hold their heads up and focus on making themselves better players,” McGarity said. “With those guys out, it’s their time to show what they can do.”

Williams and Silvas each had 13 points apiece in the Del Valle loss.

After a home game Thursday night against Travis, the Lobos will compete in the Georgetown Invitational over the weekend.