BEEVILLE — A fourth quarter meltdown of only four Trojan points helped the visiting Victoria West Warrior varsity basketball team escape with a 44-42 win over the host A.C. Jones boys.

“Another extremely tough loss at home. The kids played their hearts out and put ourselves in position to win at the end, we just did not get the look we wanted,” said head coach Mike Luce.

“I feel bad for the kids because they have worked so hard this year to try to get into the playoffs, this just makes the road a little tougher.”

The Trojans played well over the first three periods. It was a close contest, but the Trojans always seemed to be in control of the action.

The Beeville squad led 12-11 at the end of one period and took a 25-20 lead into the locker rooms at the half. Both teams struck for 13 tallies in the third period, so the Trojans still had their five-point lead, 38-33, entering the final quarter.

An 8-0 run by the Warriors to start the fourth quarter turned the tide as the Warriors led 41-38 with a little less than three minutes left to play.

Post Cameron Kremers broke the Beeville scoring drought with a basket to get the hosts within one at 41-40 and the race to the finish was on with the Warriors taking their sweet time with the lead. A basket got the visitors back to a three-point advantage at 43-40. Kremers, again, came through with another basket on a short range field goal to pull the battling Trojans to within one point, again, at 43-42.

The Warriors used all but 14 seconds left on the clock before Beeville forced the issue by fouling. The Warriors made one of the two and the Trojans still had a chance either to tie with a basket or win with a three-pointer.

However, the final Beeville shot rimmed off, and a quick put-back by Kremers was after the horn had signaled to end the contest.

Beeville scored just four points in the fourth while the West squad added 11.

Kremers led the JHS squad with 18 points. Hunter Hardy played well with 10 on short jumpers inside the lane. Lucas Glew hit for six points, and Joe Rey Garza followed with five. Cody Vasquez made one three-pointer to complete the Beeville scoring.

The loss gave the Trojans a 2-4 record in district while the Warriors improved to 4-2.

The Trojans were off on Tuesday night but will resume district play on Friday when they travel to Victoria East to test the Titans.