In an exciting District 17-5A opener, Cypress Falls defeated host Cy-Fair, 71-69, at the buzzer in overtime Tuesday night.

Point leader Kris Dao (20) hit the winning shot from inside the key with just seconds left

“Kris Dao is our only returning starter and he stepped up and made the big shot at the end. He played pretty consistent all game,” Cy Falls coach Jim Draudt said.

Cy Falls rarely led. The Eagles started off trailing Cy-Fair 14-5. Desmon Odunusi, Josh Struble, and Alex London scored three baskets back-to-back bringing the score within five points and Struble finished the first period by tapping in a rebound shot to trail 22-17.

In a slower second quarter, Cy Falls came out and took the lead. Odunusi scored four, Struble scored two, and Micah Leshay made his first three-point shot to give the Eagles a 26-22 lead.

 “Micah Leshay came off the bench and gave us a couple of big threes (points) and gave us a big lift,” Draudt said.

But Cy-Fair tied it and took the lead as Brian Doran hit two shots and Emery Joshua tossed it over his shoulder for two-points.

Cy Falls was still working from behind in the third period. Struble made the first basket of the period but Cy-Fair was there to answer. Dao brought the score within one-point, 40-39, with a basket followed by a three-pointer. And to end the period, Dao and Leshay each hit a three-point shot to remain just two-points behind.

Dao tied the game in the fourth period at 51. Leshay hit another three-pointer to take the lead. The Eagles held this lead the entire period. With 3:30 left, Struble and Steve Agwn both made shots for a four-point lead. Cy-Fair’s Joshua brought the game to within three points with 45 seconds left. And as time ran out, Erich Bao was passed the ball and he put up a three-pointer to tie the game and send it in to overtime.

Only five baskets were made in overtime. Cy-Fair scored first and then Cy Falls’ Leshay made his last three-point shot followed by Odunusi with two points. Cy-Fair’s Ryan Baker tied it at 69. But with no time left on the clock, Dao was passed the ball and made the winning basket.

“I think the kids stepped up. In our non-district games so far, we’ve been real inconsistent. So we knew coming over here, especially at Cy-Fair who has been playing pretty good, we would have to play a more consistent game," Draudt said. This is something that we have to build on and get better from here. We just have to take this win and build on it."

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