On Tuesday night in Goliad, Texas, the Alamo Heights Mules defeated the Rosenberg Terry Rangers 62-61 to advance to the Texas Regional Basketball Semifinals. They’ll face Harlandale High School on Friday at 8:00 p.m. at Northside Gymnasium in San Antonio.
It’s been a magical season so far for the Mules. A 13-1 district record earned them a district championship over rival Boerne Champion, and so far in the playoffs, every game has come down to the wire.
The playoff run began with a game winning layup by Andrew Reichert with 1.4 seconds left to defeat Austin High School in New Braunfels by two points. Next was a Friday night match-up with Angleton along I-10 in Schulenburg, where the Mules escaped with a 60-56 victory after a late comeback attempt by Angleton. After that long drive to Schulenburg, one would think the games would get closer, but instead the Mules ended up having to drive to Goliad, where Evan Carcanagues hit a free throw to put Alamo Heights up by one with two seconds left. Carcanagues missed the second free throw, forcing Terry to throw up a full court prayer, and when the ball finally landed, hysteria ensued in the stands and on the court because the Mules were moving on.
This team full of seniors is looking to make their mark on school history. Alamo Heights hasn’t won a State basketball championship since 1954, but these Mules are four wins away from bringing a title back to the Mule Dome.
Following this team has been an amazing experience so far. There’s nothing more Texan than watching high school basketball playoffs in tiny rural towns that require driving on two lane country roads to get there. Throw in the required stop at Whataburger before or after the games, and we’re just as Texan as George Strait and the Alamo.
Thankfully, the remaining games are in San Antonio, so Alamo Heights should experience a definite home court advantage as Mules fans pack the stands with blue and gold. Make sure to come out on Friday at 8:00 p.m. to cheer on the Mules!