Buzzer-beater extends Empire boys season

February 15, 2025

Empire's Francisco Garcia, shown here against Waurika in the Stephens County Tournament in January, hit the winning basket in a first-round district tournament game against Snyder on Friday.

The Empire Bulldogs kept their season alive with a thrilling win in Friday's first round of the district tournament at Binger-Oney High School.

In the fourth quarter, with four seconds remaining in a 36-all tie, junior Francisco Garcia got the ball in the high post, dribbled past his defender and laid in the winning basket at the buzzer in a 38-36 win over Snyder.

The Cyclones had led most of the game, with the Bulldogs having a couple of brief leads along the way, but the one at the final buzzer was all that mattered. The three-point shot kept Empire within striking distance. The Bulldogs hit as many three-pointers as they did two-point field goals (seven).

Snyder led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter and then outscored Empire 15-8 in the second to take a 24-15 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs started to claw their way back by scoring the first six points of the third quarter. They would take the lead for the first time since early in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by Carson Skiles with two minutes to go before the Cyclones closed out the quarter with four straight points to take a 30-27 lead into the final quarter.

The Bulldogs caught the Cyclones again with 5:50 left on a free throw by Bryce Shaver that tied the game at 33-all. After two lead changes, Garcia tied the game with a free throw with 2:10 left at 36. Neither team would score again until Garcia’s last-second shot bounced in off the glass at the buzzer.

Garcia led Empire with 10 points. He was followed by Cale Porter with eight points, Dax Hecox and Carson Skiles with six each, Bryce Shaver and Junior Seward with three each and Jonathan Simmons with two.

The win eliminated Snyder from the playoffs and kept the Bulldogs’ season going for at least two more games. It also guarantees they will have one more game on their home floor as Empire will host sub-regional games on Thursday.

Empire (12-9) will play host Class A No. 6 Binger-Oney (20-3) tonight at 7:30 for the district championship. The Lady Bulldogs (18-2), who had a first-round bye at the district tournament, will play Binger-Oney (8-15) tonight at 6 p.m. for the district title. The Lady Bobcats defeated Snyder, 53-34, on Friday.