MERKEL — Facing a 16-2 deficit against Munday after the first quarter in the Region II-1A Division I semifinals, the Water Valley Wildcats did what coach Matthew Mims could only dream of in response at Merkel’s Badger Gymnasium.

They dug deep. They battled. They played intense defense. They played crisp on offense.

Most importantly, they staged a rally that will be remembered for a long time in the Tom Green county community as Water Valley took a 46-40 thriller to advance to the regional finals on Friday to face Garden City at the Junell Center on the campus of Angelo State University.