The Rockets (12-4) entered district play on the road against the New Braunfels Unicorns (10-4) at New Braunfels High School on Tuesday, December 19.

“[We] feel pretty confident,” head coach Victor Lopez said. “We’ve beat other really good teams. We just have to play [district teams] like any other team. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past – everything is out the window until today.”

Seth Tiemeyer got the ball rolling in the first with his three point shot, followed up with a drive thru lay-up on a fastbreak. As Quintin Crawford missed his second free throw, Howard King came through with the offensive rebound and putback. The Unicorns turned up the heat with Tyler Allman putting the first of their points on the board with an easy layup.

Later in the quarter, Fernando Hinojosa converted an and-1 for the Unicorns, eventually ending the quarter with Judson up 20-24.

The Rockets opened up the second quarter at the foul line, receiving their first four points by Crawford and Questyn Luckey. Howard King came down with a steal in the paint, then passed the ball full court to Tiemeyer under the rim for the converted fastbreak. A couple possessions later, Allman was fouled on a three point attempt that went in for a chance at a four point play. The Unicorns kept it close to end the half, Judson up, 37-40.

In the third quarter, Tiemeyer came out with yet another three pointer. The Rockets started taking high percentage shots with Luckey pulling up from the baseline twice. Crawford ran a hook across the baseline, then passed it out to Tiemeyer for a three pointer once again. The remainder of the quarter would end up being a battle at the foul line. The Rockets ended the quarter on a tightrope with a one point lead, up 58-59.

In the beginning of the fourth quarter, the battle at the foul line continued for the next 10 combined points by each team. Later on, the Rockets had a couple mishaps, Fisher missed both shots on a chance at the free throw line. Amarea Bailey lost the ball to Boyce in which he converted an and-1, taking the lead for the first time in the Unicorns favor.

Crawford made two three point plays by and-1’s, tying the game at 69. A few possessions later, Boyce was back at it again, with a three to take a 72-70 lead. Fisher, with the game tied at 74, stole the ball, allowing coach Victor Lopez to call a timeout with 7.3 seconds on the clock. Luckey ran the floor in the final seconds, creating space between the defender with a stepback jumper at the freethrow line, but it rang the iron and bounced off forcing overtime.

In the first overtime, Rice drew first blood for the Unicorns with a conservative jumper in the paint. With one minute remaining, Fisher went to the line for a chance to extend their 77-76 lead  but missed both attempts. Hinojosa drove up the court capitalizing off an easy fastbreak conversion, taking the lead 78-77. Judson, missing another lead changer, was forced to foul Dom Scott with 8.04 seconds remaining. He the missed both, giving the Rockets another chance in the final seconds. Tiemeyer, with a pass by Crawford, took a shot well beyond the arc, but it hit the front iron, as the Rockets fell short, 78-77.

The Rockets will head up north to Waco for the three day Waco M.T. Rice Tournament