In its first home game of the season, the Odessa High boys’ basketball team got things back on track.

Christian Tijerina finished with 22 points as the Bronchos came away with a 72-65 victory over Big Spring Monday night at the OHS Fieldhouse for the team’s first win of the year.

“Our guys played hard tonight,” Odessa High head coach Anthony Dees said. “We took a step in the right direction. Big Spring came out and played really well. We limited them in the first half. We played hard and fought until the end.”

The Bronchos (1-2) had two other scorers in double figures as Ryan Brazeal had 18 points and Luis Holguin added 10.

Big Spring (0-2) also had three scorers in double figures, led by 25 points from Kyler Seymore.

Mikal Banks had 15 and Gavin Greathouse put up 13 for the Steers.

“I’m excited,” Big Spring head coach Kris Hise said. “We have a bright future ahead of us. We have some guys who can really play. When we get the rest of our players back, it’ll be fun to see what we can do.”

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively as Justin Ortiz’s basket put Odessa High in front three minutes into the game.

However, it was the Steers who were out in front, taking an 8-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams’ shooting came to life in the second quarter.

Jeremiah Cooley scored from 3-point land early in the second quarter to push Big Spring to a 13-9 lead as the Steers went on a quick 5-2 run.

“We have to do a better job of closing out, identifying shooters and getting rebounds,” Dees said. “We just have to keep getting better.”

A 3-pointer by AJ Gonzalez extended Big Spring’s lead to 24-17 with 2:31 left in the second quarter.

Odessa High was looking for a boost offensively and got it when Holguin completed a four-point play after draining a three-pointer from the left side of the floor and made the ensuing free throw.

That sparked a 13-4 run to the end the half, capped off with a three-pointer from Tijerina as time expired. The Bronchos took a 30-28 lead into the locker room.

Odessa High made seven three pointers on the night.

The Bronchos continued where they left off out of the locker room, going on a 6-0 run to start the third quarter.

Brazeal’s 3-pointer from the right side pushed the lead to 39-30 with 4:14 left in the third quarter and a tip-in by Louis Wilson extended the Bronchos’ advantage to 43-30 soon after.

A transition layup by Tijerina pushed Odessa High to a 54-41 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Bronchos were able to keep the lead in the final quarter as Wilson’s put-back gave the Bronchos a 10-point lead and Tijerina’s transition layup just seconds later made it 67-55 with 2:50 left in the game.
