FORT WALTON BEACH — If Crestview High School's boys basketball team hopes to make another deep run into the playoffs the Bulldogs must improve in several areas of their game.
Perhaps the most important area the Bulldogs need to improve on is defense.
Crestview’s defensive struggles were on display Friday when the Bulldogs traveled to Choctawhatchee in a District 2-6A game that can best be described as a shootout in the Teepee.
The Indians entered the game looking for their first district win and they got it.
Led by Dewayne Samms’ 15 points, four Indian players scored in double figures as Choctaw took the 84-73 win.
Bulldog Coach George Stakley admitted, before the game, he would have been happy to know his team scored 73 points
“Seventy-three points,” he said, “I don’t think we’ve scored that many points all year, so I would think we would win.
“I thought we did well offensively. The things that hurt us were what we did defensively. We just have to keep working on boxing out and making sure they don’t get a second shot.”
In reality there wasn’t much defense in the game for either team.
Crestview led 5-1 early on baskets by Marcus Purcell and Chris Bryant before things got interesting. Zay Fuller scored on a 3-point play to make it 5-4.
The Indians took their first lead of the game at 9-7 on a Fuller 3-pointer.
A 3-pointer by Samms with 3:47 left in the first quarter put Choctaw (13-8, 1-2) in front for good.
The game was filled with runs by both teams.
Just when it would seem that Choctaw had taken control of the game the Bulldogs (12-7, 1-2) came back with a run of their own. In the end the Indians had one more run than Crestview and took the win.
Samms was joined in double figures by DJante Smith and DJ Thomas with 14 points and Fuller with 13 points.
Crestview’s Purcell had a game high 27 points. Marquis McClain added 22 and Rusty Moorer 11.
CHOCTAW 84, CRESTVIEW 73
Crestview 13 19 24 17 – 73
Choctaw 20 18 21 25 – 84
CRESTVIEW (73)
Marquis McClain 22, Rusty Moore 11, Keenan Redd 3, Sam Johnson 2, Marcus Purcell 27, Tyrese Seals 2, Chris Bryant. Totals 25 6 5-10 73.
CHOCTAW (84)
Bobby Sanders 2, Zay Fuller 13, Chris Pickett 4, Dewayne Samms 15, Chris McGaughy, D’eddrick Rodgers 6, DJante Smith 14, Josh Williams 5. Totals 21 10 12-17 84.
Crestview-Choctaw boys basketball box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview falls in shootout with Choctaw (PHOTOS)