The Brownwood Lions began TexasBank Holiday Classic action with a fourth consecutive defeat Thursday night, and for the second time this season fell at Warren Gym to the Early Longhorns, 62-44.
In the rematch of a 65-58 Early victory on Nov. 21, the Lions (8-12) shaved a seven-point deficit after one quarter down to just two points heading into the fourth period. But the Longhorns (8-4) scored 16 consecutive points to start the final quarter, holding Brownwood scoreless for the first 4:26 of the period.
“Hats off to Early,” said Lions head coach Will Parker. “They came with some enthusiasm, they had a good game plan, and they played hard and executed for 32 minutes. As far as we go, we have to believe in what we’re doing. Making the extra pass, looking to penetrate the gaps, those are things we’re doing when we play well, and we just stopped doing them, particularly in the fourth quarter.”
Early head coach Eric Davis said of the victory, “We knew this is a big game for us, Brownwood vs. Early, and we knew our kids would play hard and Coach Parker would have his kids ready to go. I was proud of our kids’ energy and effort.”
The Longhorns grabbed a 16-9 lead after one quarter, which Brownwood cut to 31-27 at halftime and 43-41 through three periods. But Early was completely dominant in the fourth period, outscoring the Lions 19-3 over the final eight minutes to easily pull away down the stretch.
“When we get things going offensively and start shooting the ball well, we can get into a groove where we make a lot of good decisions,” Davis said. “Moving the ball around, sharing the ball, when we do that good things happen for us.”
Pinpointing the cause of the Lions’ fourth quarter woes, Parker said, “I’m not sure honestly. Not moving the ball to the second and third sides against their zone is what was being helpful for us the first three quarters, and then we got impatient or tired or people were trying to do too much themselves, maybe all those things. But going 14 of 28 from the free throw, 2 of whatever on three-pointers, unforced turnovers, not getting back on defense, not communicating who is doing what on defense, all that hurt us and those are things we really have to do.”
The Lions received 14 points from Casey Friebel, 11 from Ike Hall, seven from Hayden Noe, six from Morsello Hooker, and two points apiece from Austin Pittman, Weston Wolf and Aaron Edmonds.
The Longhorns’ charge was led by Kamden Gamblin’s 27 points trailed by 12 from Andrew Caten, seven from Alex Perez, six each from Rohyn Price and Jacob McDaniel, and four points from Dalton Adams.
Brownwood will face Big Spring at 9:20 a.m. Thursday at the Brownwood Coliseum in its next Classic contest, while Early tangles with Jarrell at 10:40 a.m. Thursday at Warren Gym.
