Five seconds led to a victory for the Cordova High School boys basketball team in Tuesday’s non-conference home game against Rocklin at Lancers Gym.

The Lancers used a 3-pointer to post a come-from-behind 65-63 win over the Thunder. Cordova (2-2), which trailed Rocklin 50-45 entering the final quarter, outscored the Thunder 20-13.

Cordova guard Markell Briggs came up with a steal that led to a 3-point shot that sailed through the net for the win. Briggs had a team-high 19 points.

“We had been down the whole game,” said Cordova head coach Fletcher Johnson. “Nothing but the bottom of the net.”

With two minutes left in the game, Cordova still trailed but by six points. But the Lancers’ defense forced Thunder turnovers on steals.

“We got back in it and then he (Briggs) hit that one that gave us the go-ahead (and win),” said Johnson of the Lancers’ defense and Briggs’ game-winning shot.

At halftime, Rocklin led 31-26. After the first quarter in which Rocklin led 20-19, but in the second quarter held the Lancers to only seven points.

“Shots weren’t going down,” said Johnson of the second quarter. “Missed a lot of outside shots. We turned the ball over a few times.”

Another perk for Rocklin for most of the game was its depth. The bulk of the Thunder’s 18-player roster was rotated into the game to try to wear down the Lancers’ offense.

The win, after trailing for most of the game, was sweet for the Lancers.

“Great to see the guys step up, and not hang their heads,” Johnson said.

Briggs was one of two Lancers who scored in double figures. The other was junior point guard Calvin Augusta, who had 15 points. One of the Lancers’ other point guards in Jason Novik and forward Jose Hernandez had seven points each. Forward LeAndre Ward and Joe Danielyan had five points each.

Grant 65, Cordova 50
In a road non-conference game on Dec. 3rd, the Lancers led 16-12 after the first quarter. But the host Pacers outscored Cordova 27-13, in the second quarter for a 39-29 lead and never looked back.

Augusta had 13 points for the Lancers, and Novik 10.

Cordova 82, Mira Loma 76
In its first home game of the season on Nov. 30th, Cordova had four players score in double figures. Novik had a game-high 27 points, followed by Augusta with 22, Briggs 13 and forward Caleb Clark 12. Cordova jumped out to an 18-7 first quarter lead, and never looked back.

On Wednesday, Cordova started action in the four-day McDonald’s Classic at Edison High School of Stockton.

The tourney is the first of three for the Lancers. Toward the end of next week, Cordova plays at the Holiday Classic in Tracy.