Mansfield Legacy survives Mansfield Lake Ridge rally

By Josh Bowe

Special to the Star-Telegram

MANSFIELD -- Mansfield Lake Ridge had a last-second shot roll out off the basket and Mansfield Legacy survived with a 37-35 decision Tuesday at Legacy High School.

The win clinched the second seed for the Broncos in District 15-4A. Legacy plays Whitehouse at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Forney High School in the bi-district round. Lake Ridge (16-14, 7-7 in 15-4A) missed out on the fourth and final playoff spot after Lancaster (14-17, 8-6) beat Mansfield Summit.

Lake Ridge had a chance to send the game into overtime after Legacy (26-8, 12-2) missed two free throws with 17 seconds left. Sophomore point guard Ryan Woolridge found an open teammate under the rim but the Eagles couldn't finish the play.

"They were fighting for their playoff lives," Legacy coach Marchie Murdock said. "The basketball gods were with us because that ball rolled in and then rolled out. It's good to win, whether it's ugly or pretty."

Forward Trey Edwards scored in the paint to give Legacy its largest lead, 34-27, with 7:33 left in the game.

But Lake Ridge fought back. Woolridge made two free throws, and junior forward Julian Harris hit a jumper in a two-minute span to cut the lead to 34-31.

Legacy went to work on the clock and held Lake Ridge without scoring for more than five minutes.

However, Legacy missed a total of eight free throws in the final 1:26.

"In the playoffs if you can't hit free throws you go home pretty quick and free throws have been killing us," Murdock said. "I don't know what it is. If I did, I'd be a millionaire."

Woolridge led Lake Ridge with 11 points and Edwards led Legacy with nine points.

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