CRESTVIEW — Only a freshman, Crestview High School guard Marcus Purcell is quickly making a name for himself on the basketball court. By the time he graduates in 2019 Purcell might be mentioned not only with the basketball greats to come out of Okaloosa County.
For now he’ll have to settle for being one of the best current players in the area.
Purcell turned in a show-stopping performance Tuesday night as the Bulldogs hosted Navarre.
Purcell took over the game when point guard Rusty Moorer went to the bench with foul trouble early in the first half. When the final horn sounded Purcell had 27 points and the Bulldogs had a 59-51 win.
Purcell was good in the first quarter scoring seven of Crestview’s 13 points. He was great in the fourth quarter dropping in 13 of the 21 Bulldog points as Crestview overcame a 6-pont deficit at the half to take the win.
Bulldog Coach George Stakley was confident his team would overcome the early adversity.
“When we went in at halftime I talked to them about that we always have a good second half,” he said. “We are a good second half team and I told them, ‘We are not out of it.’
“I knew my kids would battle back so we looked at it like that.”
Navarre drew first blood when center Marcus Richardson scored from inside the point with 51 seconds off the clock.
A minute later Keenan Redd scored the first of his two baskets for the Bulldogs. Purcell was next to score for the Bulldogs with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
The marked a contrast in two styles of play. The Bulldgos wanted to push the ball the length of the floor while the Raiders seemed content to run a slower, more deliberate offense.
The Bulldogs led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter, but things would get worse before they got better for the Bulldogs. Navarre (3-4) outscored Crestview 14-7 in the second quarter to take a 26-20 lead at the half.
The Bulldogs (6-1) came out blazing in the third quarter scoring 12 unanswered points on the way to a 15-2 run. Andrew Adkins played a big part in the run scoring five points. Purcell finished the run with a 3-point play to give Crestview a 35-28 lead.
Navarre answered with an 8-0 run to move back in front 36-35. Adkins, who scored 19 points, broke the run with the third of his five 3-pointers.
The game was tied 38-38 at the end of the third quarter when Purcell and the Bulldogs made the big push for the win,
Purcell scored 11 of his 27 points in the final 3:33 to keep the Raiders at a safe distance and seal the win.
Navarre 12 14 12 13 – 51
Crestview 13 7 18 21 – 59
NAVARRE (51)
Demetreus Paige 14, Tre Barker 11, Quinton Wylie 6, Dominic Riddle 6, Marcus Richardson 6, Zamir Jones 2, Jaxson Aldridge 4. Totals 15 6 3-9 51.
CRESTVIEW (59)
Jelan Freeman 2, Rusty Moorer 5, Keenan Redd 4, Marcus Purcell 27, Chris Bryant 2, Andrew Adkins 19. Totals 14 7 10-12 59.
Crestview-Navarre boys basketball box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Raiders can't stop Purcell, Crestview (PHOTOS)