By Caleb Adams

Leader Correspondent

WEST ORANGE — The West Orange-Stark Mustangs edged out the Orangefield Bobcats 58-56 in a heated District 22-4A game at Mustang Gym Friday night as the Mustangs moved to a perfect 3-0 in 22-4A play.

The atmosphere from start to finish in this game, smelled of intense district play with a playoff atmosphere between the two Orange County squads, Both of these teams certainly played that way as well.

The Mustangs (11-10, 3-0) received a big effort from big man Terron Brown, who muscled his way to 21 points while teammate Devontra Ranton pumped in 15.

WO-S trailed by five entering the final quarter and outscored the Bobcats 27-20 in the last eight minutes.

The Bobcats’ Aven Lathrop put up 27 points in this game, and scored 15 of those points from three -point range as he buried five of them. Alex Catt was right behind Lathrop in points with six of his own as Orangefield fell to 13-12 overall and 0-3 in 22-4A play.

The Bobcats were able to squeeze out a one-point lead at 11-10 after the first quarter. Lathrop hit a late three to point the Bobcats up heading into the second quarter. Lathrop led the team with seven points in the quarter while Brown had six for the Mustangs.

Throughout the first half Lathrop found his range and was a big reason the Bobcats were able to stay close or even lead at points in the first half.

The Bobcats three-point shooting came up big with a buzzer beater from Kaiden Dubose to put them on top 25-22 heading into the half. The big story of the first half though was Lathrop having 16 points with three threes from behind the arc as the Bobcats offense ran their offense through him.                 Lathrop continued to fire away from deep and was up to 21 points through three quarters of play and continued to carry his team offensively, as the Bobcats led 36-31 in favor of Orangefield.

Both teams put up a lot of points in the final quarter as the pace of the game increased dramatically down the stretch. The Mustangs were able to grow a sizable lead by the middle of the fourth quarter, as their lead grew by as much as nine points.. With under a minute left the Bobcats pulled within five points of the Mustangs.

The Bobcats would pull within two but only in the last second as the Mustangs held on for the victory.

The Mustangs will host defending Class 4A state champion Silsbee in a 22-4A showdown Tuesday night with both sporting perfect 3-0 marks after the Tigers defeated LC-M 75-56 Friday while the Bobcats visit rival Bridge City.