Clutch plays push Bobcats past AHS

Stevie Peasant hit a pair of go-ahead free throws with four seconds left, then Marc Campos blocked a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer and just like that the Central High School boys basketball team earned the biggest win of the two-year Tim Bozarth coaching era. With Wednesday's 42-40 victory over Abilene High in the Bobcats' district opener, Central served notice that it will be a force to reckon with in the 3-5A playoff race in the weeks to come. "We're 1-0 in district now and we haven't been 1-0 in a long time," Bozarth said. "It's big for the kids. Hopefully it will give them a little confidence." The Bobcats (8-11, 1-0) will almost certainly come out of the emotionally-charged contest with a jolt of confidence after the dramatic way they won Wednesday.

In a game in which points were at such a premium that AHS held just a 15-13 lead at halftime, the Bobcats saved their biggest plays for the end of the game. Down 38-33 with 2:42 left, Central roared back to tie things with a three-pointer by Josh Stewart and a steal and layup by Peasant. But Peasant (who finished with a team high 12 points) was just getting started. With the game tied at 40, the Bobcats had the ball and milked the clock down to 13 seconds. Central called a time out, and Bozarth drew up a plan that called for a couple of different options. One was for Peasant to get the ball and drive for the game-winning basket. "He saw the seam and went right for the hoop," Bozarth said. "He made a great play right there. Just a great play." Peasant didn't make the basket, but was fouled with four seconds left.