PECOS -- One minute. One long, insufferable minute.

That's how long Pecos' John Vigil had to wait before shooting a pair of game-clinching free throws with
4.6 seconds left.

In a game his team desperately needed to stay alive in the District 2AA chase, Vigil steadied his hands, swished the freebies and sent the Panthers faithful into a frenzied fit Tuesday night in Louis G. Sanchez Memorial Gymnasium.

Pecos escaped with a 61-60 win over district leader Mora.

The Rangers advanced the ball to midcourt on the final possession but threw it away. Finally, Vigil and the Panthers could exhale.

"I was kinda scared, but I just had to shoot them for my team," said Vigil, who scored a game-high
20 points. "That timeout made it worse."

Vigil was referring to Rangers head coach James Branch trying to ice the 5-foot-10 post.

Even though Vigil had never been in this position before, he showed the steeliness of a veteran. He broke from the huddle and toed the line, Pecos head coach Clyde Sanchez darted to where the junior stood to give him some last-minute instruction.

What he told him: Stand a foot behind the charity stripe.

Vigil has a propensity for clanging free throws long, but this time he was money. For those fans who paid good money to see this one, they got their dollars' worth.

It was classic Mora-Pecos, coming down to the final possession.

There was 21 combined ties and lead changes in the teams' fourth meeting this season.

The previous three encounters were decided by a combined 10 points.

Whereas Pecos converted down the stretch, the Rangers fumbled the ball, and fumbled away a two-game lead in district. Mora had four turnovers in the final two minutes.

"What I'm upset about is that we had our chances, had our opportunities to secure the ball game, and we didn't take care of the ball," Branch said. "That's a detail I emphasize day in and day out."

Just minutes before, the Rangers looked to have a stranglehold on the game, leading by three points at the 3:13 mark. Back came Pecos.

Brandon Quintana found Vigil unguarded under the basket to make it 59-58 with 53 seconds. Paul CdeBaca came right back down the court and put the Rangers on top with :47 left with a bucket.

Mora had an opportunity to clinch it at the end, with the ball in hand, but it carelessly turned it over, giving the Panthers renewed life.

Pecos waited until there were 10 seconds left.

Quintana sliced between two defenders, but his floater was off the backboard.

A scramble for the ball ensued, before Vigil came up with it, leaned into a Mora defender and drew contact.

Then Vigil got his free throws and the rest is history.

The Rangers were led by guard Tim Romero, who finished with 11 points.

Adrian Ortiz added 17 points for Pecos.