Vandals Win District Opener, Late Basket Beats Wills Point

Van’s Jordan Schmid scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including a jump shot with 12 second left in the Vandal’s district-opening win over Wills Point on Friday. Van outscored Wills Point15-9 in the fourth to take a 46-45 win on the Tigers’ home court.

Schmid scored four points in less than 40 seconds to turn a 39-38 deficit into a 42-39 lead with 3 minutes left. Wills Point’s defense turned two steals into four points to take a 43-42 lead, and added a jumper to increase the lead to 45-42 with 1:15 left.

Zach Ghormley hit two free throws to close the score to 45-44. Van intercepted two inbounds passes beneath Wills Points’ basket in the final minute, and Schmid followed one of those into a 10-foot pull -up jumper as he crossed the lane.

Wills Point got an open jumper from the baseline that came up short, and the put back attempt missed as well to give Van a big district win.

Schmid got warmed up in the second quarter, scoring seven of his game-high 21 points, but Van trailed 29-21 at the half. The Vandals’ defense held Wills Point to seven points in the third, and nine in the fourth.

Ghormley scored 11 for Van, including 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Shane Hilton scored six; Travis Hand had five, Forrest McFarlin two and Colby Rucker one.

The Vandals hosted Canton on Tuesday, and will be in Eustace on Friday.