Although coach Sean Jimenez probably wasn’t expecting an undefeated season, Saturday’s overtime loss to West Mesa could have gone the other way — if the Storm had been better at the foul line. Daniel Steverson, who sank his first 18 foul shots of the season,just missed a nearly half-court shot that would have sent the game into a second OT. (Herron photo)
West Mesa 66, Cleveland 63 (OT): As a two-sport sports standout with the Storm, Elijah Brody got used to winning in the Thunderdome.
After he keyed an overtime win there Saturday afternoon, this time as a West Mesa Mustang, it still felt pretty good.
Brody’s layup “and one” with 22 seconds left in the third quarter came in the midst of a 16-3 Mustangs run, (4-2), and the Storm led only once after that, 56-55, which was extended to 58-55 when Daniel Steverson sank two free throws with :34 to go.
When Sonny Ortiz notched a 3-pointer with :14 to go, it led to overtime.
The Storm (3-1) last led 63-60, with the Mustangs scoring the game’s final six points to win the Phil Griego Invite.
Brody, saddled with his fourth foul with more than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, had a baseline layup in OT for his team’s final lead, 64-62.
Steverson missed what would have been a buzzer-tying 3 from about half court.
“It feels good to be back. It feels good to play against some of the dudes I used to get to play with all the time,” Brody said. He transferred to WMHS after his father, Landrick Brody, became the Mustangs’ head football coach. “It felt great to come back out here and win this game.”
Ortiz had a team-high 21 points, Brody had 15 and Torrance Burdex had 12.
Steverson led the Storm with 22 and Remy Albrecht, with four 3s, had 17 – all in the first half.
Storm warning: Cleveland hits the road south to Las Cruces to meet Mayfield Friday evening, then is home Saturday for a 3 p.m. tipoff with Centennial. Saturday’s highlight will be the introduction and induction of the first class of the CHS Athletics Hall of Fame.
