CRESTVIEW — It’s a good thing for Crestview High School’s boys basketball team that there is still a lot of ball to be played.
From the looks of things in Tuesday’s District 2-6A game with rival Fort Walton Beach it seems the Bulldogs need regain their edge.
Led by William Jordan’s 24-point effort, the Vikings erased a 14-point deficit in the second quarter to beat the Bulldogs 62-60.
The loss was the third straight for Crestview (11-5, 1-1) and the fourth in the last five games.
“We didn’t play well in the second half,” Bulldog Coach George Stakley said. “The third quarter hurt us. We are trying to find answers because right now we are in a slump.
“We were rolling and all of the sudden since (losing to) Christian Brothers (in the Go Southern Beach Blowout) we have been going in the other direction. We have to get it together and figure this thing out.”
The Bulldogs looked like a two-time defending district championship team through most of the first half.
Crestview’s freshman sensation Marcus Purcell came out firing scoring all 15 Bulldog points in the first quarter as Crestview led 15-11 at the end of the period.
A 3-point basket by Capri Jones with 2:25 left in the second quarter gave the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the night at 28-14.
Marquis Jackson scored for the Vikings (5-9, 1-0) to start a 7-3 run to end the half and swing momentum in favor of Fort Walton Beach.
After scoring just three points in the first quarter Jordan got untracked scoring nine points – all on 3-pointers. Jordan ended up hitting seven 3s on the night.
Antonio Marshall scored with 4:03 left in the third quarter to give the Vikings their first lead since the score was 2-0 at the start of the game.
The teams traded scores down the stretch, but in the end the Vikings overcame the adversity for the win.
Purcell finished the game with 23 points for Crestview. Marquis McClain added 12 points and Rusty Moorer 10 points.
Jordan was joined in double figures for Fort Walton Beach by Jackson; 10 points and Trevor Cochran 16 points.
FORT WALTON BEACH 62, CRESTVIEW 60
Fort Walton Beach 11 11 19 21 – 62
Crestview 15 16 14 15 – 60
FORT WALTON BEACH (62)
Marquis Jackson 10, William Jordan 24, Trevor Cochran 16, Antonio Marshall 6, Aron Scott 6. Totals 14 8 10-13 62.
CRESTVIEW (60)
Marquis McClain 12, Rusty Moorer 10, Capri Jones 5, Andrew Adkins 4, Jalen Jones 2, Marcus Purcell 23, Chris Bryant 1. Totals 16 7 7-9 60.
Crsestview-Fort Walton Beach basketball box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Struggles continue for Crestview in loss to Fort Walton Beach (PHOTOS)