By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, February 5, 2009
For 28 minutes Friday night, the Decatur High School boys' basketball team looked like they were going to have just enough left in the tank to come away with a home victory over one of the top teams in the state, the Burkburnett Bulldogs. The Eagles fell short, however, as Burkburnett finished the final four minutes on a 19-8 run to beat the Eagles, 77-62.
The final score is deceiving, however. For the first half and deep into the third quarter, the Eagles actually out-hustled and executed better than the Bulldogs.
Seniors Jarod Morris and Cade Isham played like true leaders, ripping off 24 of the Eagles 26 first-half points. Morris hit three three-pointers in the first half, and the Eagles matched the Bulldogs' speed and intensity for the entire half, forcing early turnovers in transition and hitting outside shots to head into halftime down only two, 26-28, against the No. 2 team in the state.
The Bulldogs came out hot in the third quarter, forcing two early Eagle turnovers and converting on a three-point play to take a quick seven-point lead. Burkburnett held the Eagles scoreless for more than three minutes near the end of the third, stretching their lead to 11 before the Eagles closed the last two minutes of the third with six straight points to close the gap to six.
Two quick baskets to start the fourth quarter and then a three-pointer from Morris cut the Bulldog lead to four, 58-54, and the Eagles looked to be in position to take the lead. A rotation of fresh legs for the Bulldogs, however, proved to be too much for the Eagles. Burkburnett, whose bench went seven-deep, out-ran Decatur in the final four minutes, hitting shots inside the paint and making free throws.
Morris led all scorers with 32 points, including six three-pointers, and Isham also had 16 points for the Eagles. Austin Lamirand finished with five points and Jordan Rawle had four. Ross Walker contributed three and Drew Vrba added two points.
The Eagles were to have faced off against Vernon on Tuesday, and will face Bridgeport at home Friday night.
