WELLS — On Tuesday, the Jackpot boys basketball team pulled to within a game of Wells in the Division 1A East standings.
The Jaguars rode a shut-down second period and a strong finish in the fourth, pulling away from the Leopards for a 16-point, 47-31 victory.
In the early going, Jackpot senior Jordan Camacho opened the scoring on a three from the wing.
Wells trimmed the deficit to one with a pair of free throws, senior Ian Livingstone and junior Truman Kington each making 1-for-2 trips to the line.
The Leopards grabbed a 4-3 lead on an offensive put-back by junior Cesar Berumen, but Jackpot went to the front on a fall-away jumper by Camacho.
The upper hand changed once again as Wells sophomore Luis Garcia dropped a tough left-handed shot across the lane, but the Jags took the high side on a floater on the right baseline by sophomore Angel Martinez.
The ebb-and-flow continued, Kington scoring on the block from an assist by Garcia.
But, the Jaguars took a two-point lead on an old-fashioned three — junior Jesus Cortes scoring through a foul on the left side and sinking the free throw.
After the first quarter, Jackpot led 10-8.
The Jags helped their cause greatly in the second period, doing so on the defensive end of the floor — shutting down driving lanes and keeping the Leopards out of the middle and high-post areas.
Offensively, Jackpot tore off a 9-0 run — Camacho scoring eight.
He buried a jumper from the elbow, scored easily on a layup with a cut down the middle on a find from Martinez, added a put-back and made another bunny finish on a dime from Martinez.
The streak was capped with a free throw by junior Jorge Avila Fragoza.
Wells never managed a point in the period until just before halftime, the drought broken with a take on the right baseline by senior Pablo Berumen.
At the break, the Jags led by nearly double with the score at 19-10.
In the third, Camacho twisted his ankle a minute into the frame and was forced out of the game for several minutes.
Cesar Berumen splashed a three from the wing on a dish by Garcia, but Martinez picked up his production with back-to-back buckets — driving the right side for a layup and scoring on a feed from Avila Fragoza.
Wells’ second three of the period came off the hand of junior Eyer Morrison on an assist from Garcia, who then drove the lane and scored inside — pulling the Leopards to within five at 23-18.
Martinez scored on the left baseline with a runner on the other side, but Cesar Berumen cut the deficit to four with his second trey of the quarter on a dish from Morrison.
But, the triple was answered with a pure stroke by Martinez — assisted by Avila Fragoza — lifting Jackpot to a 28-21 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Kington gained back two points on a feed from Garcia, but Jackpot seized control with an 8-0 burst.
Junior Julian Cervantes railed a three on a dime by Avila Fragoza, Martinez cleaned up the offense glass for a put-back and Cortes nailed a corner trey on an Avila Fragoza assist — opening a 36-23 advantage.
On a loose ball after an offensive board by Livingstone, Kington banked in the follow on the left side.
Martinez made another take to the tin on the other end, but Livingstone scored through a foul for an And-1 for the Leopards.
The Jags grabbed a 40-27 lead on a pair of foul shots by Martinez, Cesar Berumen responding with a follow on the backboard.
Jackpot iced the ballgame with a 6-0 burst.
Avila Fragoza notched consecutive fields goals on an assist from Cortes and a lefty hook in the paint and launched a long outlet pass to Martinez for a 46-29 advantage.
Down the stretch, Wells sophomore Triston Zimmerman scored on the right block — Jackpot posting the final point of the game with a free throw by Cortes.
In the end, the Jaguars pulled away for a 47-31 victory — outscoring Wells 9-1 in the second quarter and 19-10 in the fourth period.
Martinez dropped a game-high 19 points, booking 17 in the second half.
Camacho also reached double figures and scored all 11 of his points before the break.
For the Leopards, Cesar Berumen finished with a team-high 10 points and knocked down two 3s.
Jackpot gained seven points apiece from Avila Fragoza and Cortes, and the Jags’ offense was rounded out with a three for Cervantes.
Kington closed with seven points for Wells, and Garcia added four points.
The Leopards’ scoring was capped with three points each from Morrison and Livingstone and two each by Pablo Berumen and Zimmerman.
Up Next
The Leopards (10-11 overall, 4-6 in league) will host Carlin (2-19 overall, 1-9 in league) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, in Wells.
The Jaguars (7-8 overall, 3-7 in league) will face the Railroaders at 4 p.m. Friday, in Carlin.
Eureka at Jackpot
On Jan. 31, the Jaguars dropped a 58-24 home contest to No. 1 ranked Eureka.
Jackpot at Lund
On Friday, Jackpot was handed a 61-41 road loss in Lund, the Mustangs sweeping the season series.
Jackpot at Eureka
The Jaguars were swept in the season meetings with the Vandals, falling 67-39 on Saturday, in Eureka.
Wells at Eureka
On Friday, the Leopards were swept in the season series by the Vandals, losing by 48 points in a 63-15 contest at Eureka.
Wells at Lund
Wells was also swept in the season meetings by the Mustangs, falling 65-39 on Saturday, in Lund.