Indians need OT to win first HPL tourney since 1982

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Even with two more years of high school basketball ahead of him, Gabe Martinez may have a tough time topping his performance in the championship game of the Hi-Plains League tournament.

The Wichita County High School sophomore turned in one of the big defensive plays of the night, forcing a turnover by Southwestern Heights with 4.6 seconds left in regulation that prevented the Mustangs from a chance at a game-winning basket.

The Leoti guard then added two huge baskets in the final 39 seconds of overtime as the upstart Indians upset No. 1 seeded Southwestern Heights, 44-41, to win their first HPL tournament title since 1982.

“It was a gutsy performance,” said head coach Matt Crist, which could have described Martinez’s effort down the stretch, as well as the entire Indians squad. “We’ve been saying throughout the season, after being in so many close games, we do just enough to get the job done. We did that again tonight.”

It looked like “just enough” wouldn’t be quite enough after the Indians let a six point fourth quarter lead slip away. Martinez hit a trey with 6:39 remaining to put WCHS on top, 31-25, and the Indians added just one more free throw the remainder of regulation.

In a tight defensive game, that was nearly enough. Trae Bremer hit a free throw with 3:53 on the clock to keep the Indians out front, 32-26. However, Leoti lost senior guard Steve Harkness to fouls and they missed the front end of two one-and-one opportunities down the stretch.

Following a turnover by the Indians, SWH tied the game at 32-32 with 1:23 to play. A missed shot by Leoti allowed Heights to gain possession and run the clock down to 14 seconds when they called timeout to set up a potential winning basket. Martinez spoiled those plans when his quickness on the point forced a turnover by SWH and sent the game into overtime.

Martinez scored seven of his team high 14 points in the overtime period, including a free throw, followed by a basket, that tied the game at 35-35. SWH answered with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws for what seemed to be an insurmountable 40-35 lead with just under two minutes to play.

Senior forward Breck Fletcher, who scored all five of his points in overtime, quickly pulled the Indians back into the game when he hit a free throw, followed by a three-point play with 1:05 on the clock that suddenly had the Indians trailing by only one point, 40-39.

After another defensive stop by WCHS, Martinez drove to the basket and hit an arching shot over Heights 6-6 wall Cory Ryan that put his team back on top, 41-40, with :39 to play.

SWH tied the game again with a free throw just four seconds later and again, it was Martinez who slashed his way along the right side of the lane and put up another arching shot that bounced a couple of times on the rim before falling through and giving the Indians a 43-41 advantage.

“Coach was telling me to put my head down and go straight to the basket and play hard on defense,” says Martinez. “I had confidence in myself to drive inside and make the layup.”

Heights had an opportunity to tie the game when Ryan missed a basket at point-blank range and fouled Fletcher on the rebound. Fletcher hit the second of two free throws with 7.2 seconds remaining and Heights missed a desperation three-pointer that would have sent the game into another overtime.

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