By John Loop
Sports Editor

The third time was the charm for the Coppell Cowboys (21-12) on Friday night, as they held off Flower Mound in the closing seconds to earn District 5-5A’s final playoff berth in a 63-62 win.

Senior point guard Landon Goesling helped the Cowboys with a game-high 23 points including two key free throws in the final seconds. Senior forward Josh Feitl chipped in 14. Coppell will take on the Euless Trinity Trojans on Tuesday night at Southlake Carroll High School at 7:30 p.m.

Goesling started the game the way he had finished Tuesday night’s 60-59 victory, having a hand in the first 10 Cowboy points, scoring seven and assisting on senior guard Brandon Watson’s three-pointer.

Flower Mound, however, matched the Cowboys for most of the first half. Four Jaguars scored in double figures. Junior guard Connor Green led the team with 16, junior guard Jake Feickert and senior forward John Frischenmeyer both finished with 15 and senior guard Colby Cox added ten.

“Its the third time we’ve played them, so really and truly, we needed to make one more play than they did, you know,” Coppell head coach Kit Pehl said. “We tried to change a few things up and it really didn’t happen for us early, so we went back to just doing what we do, grinding. Ultimately, the people that are their best players, they relied on them and we relied on defense and we were victorious.”

The Cowboys were down three at halftime, 29-26, but came out of the locker room an entirely different team. Coppell outscored the Jaguars 26-17 in the third quarter to take an eight point lead, 53-45.

Flower Mound got as close as two points, before Goesling stole the ball, called timeout and was fouled immediately on the ensuing inbounds pass. He strode to the line and knocked down both free throws.

As it happened on Tuesday, a three-pointer found the basket for Flower Mound with no time on the clock, and the Coppell stands erupted in celebration.

“Right now, I’m just ecstatic to be in the playoffs, because it’s two huge games in a row, just to make the playoffs that we’ve had to win,” Goesling said. “So, you know, it definitely feels good, but our work is definitely not finished because we’ve got to turn around and get back to work for Trinity on Tuesday.”