BAYTOWN — The ending was cruel to Nederland. One more basket, and the Bulldogs would win their first playoff game in four years.

Coach Brian English, however, looks at it this way:

“If you’re going to lose, that’s the way you lose,” he said.

Nederland had three close-range but contested attempts at the winning basket, but the iron was unkind as time expired and Humble dodged a big upset in the 5A boys basketball bi-district round, 45-44, Tuesday at Goose Creek Memorial High School.

Nederland, which finished 25-13, has lost its last four bi-district games and had its season ended by Humble (29-8) in heartbreaking fashion for the second year in a row. Humble, which has won 35 of its last 36 district games and went 18-0 in 21-5A this season, won 59-56 in overtime last year.

“It doesn’t matter about seeds when you get here,” Humble coach Lair Crawford said. “[Nederland is] very well coached and they’re very disciplined. I knew it was going to be tough from the very beginning.”

Hayden Hefner put back a missed Jonathan Rayford layup with 15 seconds left to put the Bulldogs within 45-44. Jaylon Alsanders was then fouled following the inbound but missed his bonus shot to give Nederland a chance at the win.

Hefner, who had 10 of his 22 points in the final quarter, rebounded the miss and gave it to Rayford, who threw a long pass to Carlos Rodriguez on the other end. Rodriguez’s layup as he was contested ricocheted out, Shafin Momin couldn’t tip it in, and Rayford’s try rimmed out before time expired, securing the Wildcats’ 14th straight win.

Momin, a senior, had 15 points, including Nederland’s first six points of the second half after the game was tied at 21-all.

“As a senior, it could be one of my last games, so I tried to lay it all out on the floor with my brothers,” Momin said.

The Bulldogs, who started the season 15-1, were the fourth seed out of District 22-5A, but surprised the Wildcats by taking an 8-0 lead through the first three minutes.

Momin’s first of three 3-pointers made it 11-0 before Latrell Hill’s trey at the 2:04 mark put Humble on the board.

“It’s all about confidence,” Momin said. “If we had a great start, it carries over into the late quarters and everything. If you have a great start, you’ll have a great finish.”

English said the start was similar to last year’s bi-district contest, also at GCM. Nederland lost a three-point decision to Kingwood Park 44-41 in the same gymnasium two years ago.

But Nederland wasn’t easily shaken with a season on the line.

“I think that’s what you do with a team that’s inexperienced,” English said. “You build confidence and go play some tough teams in your schedule and hope for the best in the playoffs. I thought our seniors did a great job today just competing and poured their hearts out, along with Hayden (a sophomore), who played super tonight.”

Rayford drove to the basket to give Nederland a 21-13 lead with 3:12 left before halftime, but Humble responded with an 8-0 run capped by a Joe Temple three-point play.

The Wildcats’ next big run gave them their largest lead at 36-27, aided by four Justin Lawson points. Hefner ended the rally with a three-point play and finished a drive out of a delay offense with 13 seconds left in the third period, narrowing the gap to 36-31.

It quickly became 36-35 after a Rodriguez score off a steal and two Momin free throws, but Nederland never regained the lead. The Bulldogs made 6 of 8 free throws in the final 5:32.

Hill finished with 13 points, and Temple had nine for the Wildcats, who will take on Texas City, a 56-46 win over Houston Furr, in the area round. The winner of that game will take on either Port Arthur Memorial or Alvin Shadow Creek.

“It was a great season, to be honest,” Momin said. “I fought hard with my brothers.”
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Video of the game’s final seconds on Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews.
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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews