FORT WALTON BEACH — There won’t be any runs deep into the playoffs for Crestview High School’s boys basketball team this year.
After back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight the Bulldogs will be watching the post season this year after dropping a 66-61 heartbreaker to Choctawhatchee in the District 2-6A tournament opener Tuesdy.
The two evenly matched teams traded big halves in a clash to see who will travel to Fort Walton Beach on Friday to meet the Vikings for the district crown but Choctaw’s start was better than Crestview’s finish.
“Crestview has a great team,” Indian coach Andy Thigpen said. “They have some great players. You just pray and have faith and our team just stepped up and got it done.
“My kids had heart. They wanted it. And we had some big time players step up.”
A 3-pointer by Rusty Moorer 20 seconds into the game gave Crestview an early lead that didn’t last long.
Less than two minutes later the Indians took the lead and steadily pushed ahead to what seemed to be an insurmountable lead of 39-21 at the half.
D’Eddrick Rodgers and Josh Williams led Choctaw’s first-half charge as Williams scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the first half and Rodgers added eight as the Indians (17-9) seemed to take control of the game.
But in the second half the Bulldogs (15-10) showed the stuff that took them to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.
Crestview turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and with Moorer and Andrew Adkins leading the charge cut the Choctaw lead to 45-40 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs continued to plug back in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 55-55 when Marquis McClain scored on the inside off a steal with 3:33 left in the game.
The final 3:30 belonged to the Indians as they regained their composure and pulled away to the win.
Adkins led all scorers with 18 points. Moorer finished with 13 and Marcus Purcell chipped in 11.
CHOCTAW 66, CRESTVIEW 61
Crestview 13 8 19 21 – 61
Choctaw 20 19 6 21 – 66
CRESTVIEW (61)
Marquis McClain 6, Rusty Moorer 13, Andrew Adkins 18, Keenan Redd 3, Sam Johnson 6, Marcus Purcell 11, Chris Bryant 4. Totals 14 6 15-26 61.
CHOCTAW (66)
Bobby Sanders 2, Zay Fuller 2, Chris Pickett 4, Dewayne Samms 4, DJ Thomas 9, Bryson Mitchen 6, D’Eddrick Rodgers 12, Diante Smith 12, Josh Williams 15. Totals 18 4 18-26 66.
Crestview-Choctaw boys basketball box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview boys must wait until next year (PHOTOS)