The Odessa High boys basketball team sank 12 3-pointers in its last home game.

That was a runaway 87-56 victory over San Angelo Central on Nov. 21.

During Friday’s contest against San Angelo Lake View, Isaiah Rodriguez sank Odessa High’s lone 3-pointer late in the third quarter, but that didn’t prevent the Bronchos from scoring at will as 6-foot-6 senior forward Memo Anaya scored a team-high 17 points en route to a 66-45 victory in a nondistrict contest at the OHS Fieldhouse.

“If shots aren’t falling, we have to drive in and get layups,” said Anaya, who scored 12 of his points in the first half. “We’ve been working on driving. It’s something that’s good to see.

“Finally, all of our hard work is paying off and we have something to show for it.”

Early in the contest, the Bronchos (11-4) didn’t convert on any of their open 3-point attempts.

Anaya posted eight points in the first quarter and then during the second, senior point guard Isaac Hernandez made two layups and went 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. He finished with 13 points.

“Our shots weren’t falling, but we were attacking more,” Hernandez said about the importance of driving for layups and feeding the ball inside.

In the first half, Odessa High’s defense limited San Angelo Lake View (3-12) to six field goals and 1-of-4 shooting from the free-throw line. The Bronchos held a 38-14 lead at halftime.

Odessa High first-year head coach Jance Morris said the team played well at times. The Chiefs slightly outscored the Bronchos 31-28 in the final two quarters as Isaiah English scored 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half. English was the only player for San Angelo Lake View to finish in double figures.

“At times, we look like we can be a really good basketball team,” Morris said. “We’ll put four- or five-minute spurts together where we look really good.

“Then at times, Coach (Anthony) Dees and I will look at each other on the bench and think ‘We’ve got to fix that. We’ve got to fix that. It’s not good enough.’”

The Bronchos had nine players with at least one field goal. Kaleb Murry ended with 11 points, while Josh Cabello and Cole Bordner chipped in seven and six, respectively.

Odessa High continues their season hosting Lubbock Monterey at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Plainsmen are 5-9 overall with their most recent contest an 82-62 loss to Odessa High’s District 2-6A opponent Midland High.

“We need to work on evening our tempo on defense, so we are always up,” Anaya said. “If we come out soft or slow, some teams in the district won’t let us come back. We have to come out strong.”
