Southwest boys win a see-saw battle against Nelson

By Bruce Unrue

Special to the Star-Telegram

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Sometimes it doesn't matter how you get into the tournament, as long as you get there.

Just ask the Fort Worth Southwest Raiders, who won Tuesday's brutal 72-70 Class 4A bi-district slugfest over Trophy Club Nelson at Richland High School.

After some mid-season adversity, the Raiders (20-11) had to claw their way up in District 6-4A just to earn the district's fourth playoff spot. Tuesday night, they moved into the next round by playing with the same sense of urgency.

"We've been playing playoff basketball most of the season just to get here," said Southwest coach John Church after the game that featured 11 ties and 27 lead changes. "We're battle-tested."

With the win, Southwest will meet Crowley, a 61-53 winner over Waco Midway on Monday, in the area round of the 4A playoffs Friday night at a site to be determined.

Southwest got past a fearless Trophy Club Nelson team (24-8) that came in as the District 5-4A champion.

After Nelson took a 66-65 lead with 3:42 left, Southwest scored six points off a pair of steals in the next 37 seconds to take the biggest lead of the game at 71-66 with 3:05 left. That's when the Bobcats misfired on four opportunities to tie or pull out the win.

Nelson answered with a couple steals and layups to cut the lead to 71-70.

After a Robbie Rhodes free throw with 1:14 remaining accounted for Southwest's final point, Nik Boone blocked a layup attempt by Nelson phenom Keyunta Watkins on a drive to the hoop.

Ryan Lexa then picked off a Southwest inbound pass but Watkins was called for a charge trying to score.

Watkins finished with 38 points and Lexa scored 17. Southwest got 14 points apiece from Wesley Harris and Trey Colbert.

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