Basketball: Rankin must cool off high-scoring Ira

The Rankin Red Devils have been talking about making it to state in boys basketball for the past two months.

That goal nearly blew up in their face on Friday.

But timely shooting down the stretch allowed Rankin to sneak past Bronte to earn a spot in the Region II-1A Division II regional quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. The Red Devils face Ira at 7 p.m. today at Andrews’ Mustang Arena.

“Nine times out of 10 we will beat Bronte, and they about found that one time the other night,” Rankin coach Ted Epley said. “It refocused us on where we need to go. We will need to play harder and smarter to get back to Fort Worth.”

Rankin (15-4) lost in the regional final to Garden City last season, but the Red Devils will have to get past an Ira team that features a 6-foot-4 freshman post and has guards that shoot the ball well, according to Epley.

Rankin, though, has a plan for Ira (25-4).

“We have Jacob Schmitz,” Rankin senior Chase Epley said. “He was second team all-state last season as a sophomore. He weighs more than their guy, and I think those two going against each other should be a good battle and should be interesting to watch.”

Rankin might have an edge in experience after its run in basketball last season and its run to the Six-Man Division I semifinals in football this season.

“I think we’d have the playoff experience (edge), but that only takes you so far,” Ted Epley said.

Rankin does not plan to change its game plan to try to slow down a high-scoring Ira team, which defeated Grandfalls-Royalty 91-33 in the area round last week.

“I think the big key will be defense,” the elder Epley said. “We are going to play our regular game. If we get a chance to run, we will. If we win 91-89, that’s fine with me.”

REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

CLASS 5A

>> North Crowley (33-1) vs. El Paso Americas (25-10)

6:30 p.m., Midland Christian HS.

>> Midland Lee (22-10) vs. Mansfield Summit (25-12)

6 p.m., Clyde HS.

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CLASS 4A

>> Amarillo Palo Duro (29-0) vs. El Paso Andress (25-4)

6 p.m., OC Sports Center.

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CLASS 3A

>> Fabens (24-6) vs. Greenwood (23-10)

7 p.m., Sul Ross State’s Gallego Center, Alpine.

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CLASS 1A DIVISION II

>> Rankin (15-4) vs. Ira (24-4)

7 p.m., Mustang Arena, Andrews.

>> Garden City (20-8) vs. Fort Davis (24-6)

7 p.m., Larned Sports Complex, Monahans.