For much of the first quarter of its Class 5A Division II bidistrict playoff game against Hanks, the Burges boys basketball team looked like a Ferrari trying to navigate a parking lot.
Then, in a stunning short period of time, the Mustangs found the expressway. Burges scored 14 unanswered points in the final 2:18 of the first quarter, part of a 22-2 run that sealed a 86-81 victory and an area round game this weekend against Amarillo Palo Duro.
With the win Burges improves to 22-11 while Hanks finishes its season 16-18.
For much of the night the Knights played evenly with Burges, but in that explosive end of the first quarter the Mustangs hit a gear not many teams in El Paso can match. There were a pair of Jojo Thomas 3-pointers in the quarter-closing run, but the other four baskets were fast-break layups, mostly starting with Burges steals.
After falling behind 32-12 Hanks settled down and found some offense of its own to claw within 44-32 by halftime and later as close as 44-39, then Burges scored nine points in 2 minutes to restore order.
Much of the game looked like that. Hanks hung around on guts and some nice shotmaking, then Burges would find the expressway and motor off for a while.
It added up to an entertaining, high-scoring playoff basketball game.
Up next
Burges will play Amarillo Palo Duro in the area round of the playoffs this weekend. Site and time are to be determined.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Burges boys top Hanks in bidistrict playoff; Amarillo Palo Duro next
