By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
BUDA – Down by four points, Vandegrift’s Logan Weisman sank a three -pointer in the closing seconds.
However, as Harlan set to inbound the ball the clock struck zero and the Vipers’ Cinderella run came to an end Thursday. The Hawks held on to a claim a 52-51 victory in a Class 6A Division II area playoff at Johnson High School in Buda.
Vandegrift (25-11) found itself playing from behind despite leading by eight at the end of the first quarter. However, Harlan (24-10) stormed back with a balanced offensive assault in the second quarter, outscoring the Vipers 17-6 to take a 31-25 lead at halftime.
Leading scorer Kameron Williams led the Hawks with 20 points and was the only Harlan player to score in double digits.
Vandegrift retook the lead and carried a two-point lead into the final quarter, but couldn’t overcome a rough night at the free-throw-line. The Vipers were 12 of 18 from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, Harland got hot from behind the three-point arch in the final frame, including one from Williams, who scored nine of his 20 points in the quarter.
Vandegrift’s big men Hayden Brannan and Trent Workman combined to score 12 points. Brannan led the Vipers with 14 points.
The Vipers season comes to an end after a late season run that included wins over Westwood and Round Rock to make the playoffs and then an upset of District 26-6A champion Westlake in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
