The Yates boys basketball team typically doesn't have trouble beating opponents on the basketball court. Besides their two wins in the Houston vs. the Nation tournament, the Lions’ have defeated their opponents by sizable margins.

But in the playoffs anything can happen. In a nail-biter victory, Yates (27-2) advanced past Huntsville (26-6) 63-62 in a 4A regional quarterfinal Tuesday night at the Merrell Center.

Yates’ Darius Gardner hit the game winning shot with 6 seconds remaining for the win.

After being down in the first quarter, the nationally ranked Yates team roared back with tough defense (led by Anthony Jones) and capitalizing in transition. With a double-digit lead, the Lions figured they were in the driver’s seat.

Obviously, the Hornets had other plans.

“We got up by 11 (points) at half and we thought we would be okay,” Yates coach Greg Wise said. “We came out (in the second half) and got into foul trouble, but the guys hung in and got the win. Maybe that’s the kind of win we need to come back and be ready to go on Friday. So to get a win and not a loss, I feel like that is a blessing.”

With the Lions in foul trouble, the Hornets took full advantage of that in the second half. Huntsville’s Kirby Ennis was down low while Justin Ennis handled the frontcourt game. The collaborative effort on both ends of the floor held as the Hornets outscored the Lions 17-10 in the third quarter alone.

This rattled Yates slightly heading into the final quarter.

“That’s what I was trying to tell the guys, just keep your composure and don’t get into it with the guys and the refs,” Wise said. “I knew they (Huntsville) were going to be ready to play. We knew they weren’t scared of us or anything like that.”

In the final quarter, the game stayed within a one-to-two point difference between the two teams, but a few costly turnovers by the Hornets and the last-minute basket by Gardner halted Huntsville chance for an upset.

Yates’ Brandon Peters led the way with 17 points. Jones added 13 points while Emanuel Kirby had 10.

Justin Ennis was the Hornets’ top scorer with 18 points. Drae Murray and Kirby Ennis both contributed 13 points.

The Lions advanced to the regional semifinals round and face Beaumont Ozen on Friday.

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