<b>By Tommy Wells</b><br><a href="mailto:sports@mineralwellsindex.com">sports@mineralwellsindex.com</a>
When the Mineral Wells High School Rams needed something to kick start their offense Tuesday night, Nick Tam delivered ... twice.
After watching the Graham Steers cut a 16-point deficit to four late in the fourth quarter, Tam blocked back-to-back shots – the second of which led to a layup by Kenyon Calcote that ignited an 11-0 run and cemented a wild 76-63 non-district win for Mineral Wells.
With the win, the Rams upped their season record to 3-1 heading into Friday's opening round of the Kids Inc. Invitational Tournament in Canyon.
The Rams had little trouble finding offense against the Steers. Mineral Wells had five players finish in double figures, including Skyler Flaska who knocked down a team-high 21.
Zach Nicklas and Calcote finished with 15 and 13, respectively, while Tam and Hunter Fincher threw in 12 and 10.
After watching Graham rally to take an 18-17 lead in the first, the Rams found their offensive game in the second. Keyed by three 3-point shots by Fincher, Mineral Wells posted a 19-10 run in the frame and took a 36-28 lead into the half.
The Rams upped their lead to 11, at 58-47, after three.
Mineral Wells threatened to blow the game open. Flaska scored just 23 seconds into the fourth to push the MWHS cushion to 60-47.
Graham rallied, however. The Steers went on a 9-0 run and pulled to within 60-56 with 5:02 left before Tam batted away a pair of GHS shots from within the paint.
Mineral Wells 76, Graham 63
Graham 18 10 19 16 - 63
Min. Wells 17 19 22 18 - 76
MW - Flaska 21, Nicklas 12, Calcote 13, Tam 12, Fincher 10, Simonton 5, Velasquez 2.
GRAHAM - Stuckey 22, Harbour 23.
