MEXIA — The Athens Hornets gave the state-ranked Mexia Blackcats fits Friday night before falling 69-66 in a non-district basketball game.
Coach Tracy Carter’s Hornets fell to 11-9 on the year with one non-district game remaining.
The Hornets are scheduled to be at home Tuesday against Kaufman. AHS travels Friday to Fairfield for its District 20-AAA opener.
“The coaching staff is very pleased with the effort,” Carter said after the game. “We just had a couple of defensive lapses.
“They are ranked number 18 in the TABC (Texas Association of Basketball Coaches) poll and it was good to see us defend their big post players.
“We got better tonight.”
The Hornets got in early foul trouble. Three starters picked up two fouls each in the opening four minutes.
Robert Morgan provided the early spark for AHS, scoring 10 of his team-high 15 points in the opening half. Morgan enabled the Hornets to build a 29-21 lead before Mexia responded with a run prior to halftime.
AHS was up 36-25 at the half.
The lead exchanged hands numerous times in the third quarter.
Kendall Sanders paced the Hornet scoring in the third quarter, hitting seven of his 12 points.
Mexia made a run to start the fourth quarter to take an eight-point lead. Using defensive pressure, the Hornets fought back and tied the game at 66-66 with 20 seconds left on a Desmond Bowie basket.
The Blackcats scored with eight seconds left and then hit a free throw as the Hornets were forced to foul.
Courtney Whitehead and Bowie had seven points each for AHS. Randall Gamble added six.
In the JV game, the Hornets stretched their season record to 16-1 with a 44-41 win.
Xaiver Harris had 24 points for the Hornets.
The Hornet freshman team lost 56-28, getting eight points from Devin Johnson.
Sports
No. 18 Mexia turns back Hornets, 69-66
AHS closes non-district at home Tuesday night
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