CRESTVIEW — Things are starting to fall into place for Crestview High School’s boys basketball team after a slow start to the season.
If the Crestview has another successful run into the playoffs they might look to the second week in December as the starting point to big things.
Two nights after winning a District 1-7A game against Navarre the Bulldogs stepped out of district play to host Walton trying to keep the momentum going. And they did just that Thursday night with a 54-46 win.
Crestview-Walton boys basketball photos>>>
Rusty Moorer, who scored a game-high 21 points for Crestview, was lights out at the free throw line in the fourth quarter going 9-for-9 from the line to help the Bulldogs (4-3) pull away down the stretch.
Crestview Coach Greg Watson said free throws have been the key to the team’s success.
“We didn’t shoot a bunch of free throws early,” he said. “And then we finally started attacking the paint, which is what we’ve got to do (to get to the line). We can’t be a jump shooting team.
“When we shoot around 20 free throws we are now 4-0, and when we don’t we are 0-3. And that’s a big difference.”
Free throws really were the difference.
Crestview finished the game 15-of-21 from the line and the Braves (3-5) were 7-of-19 from the stripe.
The game was close throughout three quarters as neither team could open up a big lead.
Crestview led 12-10 at the end the first quarter and Walton was up 25-24 at the half. The game was tied 32-32 after three periods.
Steven Harper and Nitro Gee kept the Braves close. As Walton struggled from the free line in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs were able to slowly pull away.
With 6:41 left in the game the Brave led 35-32. When Moorer scored on an old fashioned 3-point play the game was tied at 35-35 with 5:15 left to play.
Dakota Childree drained a 3-pointer with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter to put the Bulldogs up 39-36. Crestview led the rest of the way.
Andrew Adkins scored six of his 11 points for Crestview in the fourth quarter to team with Moorer’s hot hand at the line to give Crestview the win.
Harper led the Braves with 13 points. Gee added nine points.
First-year Walton coach Joe Hayes believes better days are ahead for his team.
“With only three guys playing on the varsity last year guys just haven’t gotten that feel for the varsity level yet,” he said. “This is only the third week that we have the kids. We are 3-5 right now, but I know we’ve got ability to be better than we are.
“We will be ready for Crestview the last game. Hopefully we will keep getting better like we’ve been working on.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Moorer, Bulldogs sink Braves (PHOTOS, VIDEO)