The Martin’s Mill Mustangs   (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

With his team leading by a point with the game winding down, Archer Schneider, Martin’s Mill standout junior, came up with the big play of the evening.

Schneider, a 6-5 post, swiped the ball and jetted down court for a layup to give the Mustangs breathing room en route to a 45-38 win over a tough Gary Bobcats squad in a Class 2A Division 2 regional semifinal before an electric crowd at the Herrington Patriot Center on the UT Tyler campus.

“Once I got the ball — my coach (Greg Jenkins) will probably get mad at me — it was just a tunnel. I saw the rim and I knew I was going (to the rim),” said Schneider, whose bucket gave the Mustangs a 41-38 with 2:02 on the clock in the fourth quarter. “It was a close game. Shoutout to Gary, they are a great team. I just wanted to put the game away.

“We executed and did our job. All the glory goes to God, always.”

Martin’s Mill (33-1) advances to the Region III final later this week to face Grapeland (24-4). The Sandies defeated Tenaha 74-43 in the other regional semifinal.

The Bobcats concluded their standout season at 27-9.

The largest margin in the game was the seven points the Mustangs ended up winning by. They had a seven-point lead earlier as well, but through the majority of the contest the margin was tight.

Jak Kinder, Martin’s Mill’s standout sharpshooter who holds the state record for made 3-pointers (622), hit three 3-pointers, but it was his free throws that were the difference in the game, hitting 7 of 7.

Kinder led the Mustangs with 20 points with Schneider adding 16 points.

Ben Stephens led the Bobcats with 12 points, followed by a trio of Gary players with eight points apiece — Kohl Woodfin, Cooper Johnson and Evan Chamness. Mason Powell added two points.

Martin’s Mill took a 21-19 halftime lead and at the end of the third quarter, the Mustangs led 34-30 advantage.

When it appeared MMHS was pulling away, Gary fought back and got within 39-38 on Stephens’ second 3-pointer of the fourth quarter with 2:54 showing.

After the Bobcats stole the ball, Gary was shooting for the lead but it was Schneider who came through with the steal and subsequent bucket for the turn of events.

“How about those Gary Bobcats,” Martin’s Mill Coach Greg Jenkins said. “… Not many people in the state coach better than Jimmy Wallace (Gary coach). His teams are prepared. They will run through the wall for him. I want to give a lot of credit to Gary, their fans, and their turnout. It was a great night.

“Our kids just kept fighting. Early on we couldn’t make a shot — a lot of it credit to them. We got up by six or seven and they buried a couple of threes and got back in it, but we didn’t lose our composure. I believe games like this help you go on to help you try to win a state championship.”

Jenkins thanked the Mustang and Bobcat fans for the “Great atmosphere in here tonight.”

Other scorers for the Mustangs were Sawyer Moore (4), Ryder Marsh (3) and Travis Baber (2).

Schneider had six rebounds, followed by Marsh (5), Cooper Wright (5), Moore 94) and Baber (4).

Marsh had five blocks.

Powell led Gary with five boards with four from Chamness and three from Johnson.

Powerll and Johnson drew charges.

The Mustangs were 12 of 15 from the free throw line and 3 of 12 from 3-point.

The Bobcats were 1 of 3 from the free throw line and 5 of 8 from 3-point.