CRESTVIEW — If Thursday’s District 2-6A boys basketball opener between Crestview and Choctawhatchee is an indication of the season ahead it’s going to be a wild ride.
The fans that packed the Crestview High School gym witnessed an instant classic as the Indians over game a 17-point deficit in the first half only to lose 65-59 in overtime.
“It’s a big win – a big home win and a big district win,” Bulldog Coach George Stakley said. “We are 1-0 in the district so I’m happy.
“In the second half we started to try and play their game. Once we got back into our game we were OK. We are looking to keep playing well and to try and get better every game.
The Bulldogs (8-1, 1-0) seemed to have a commanding lead at 28-9 with a little less than five minutes left in the first half.
Rusty Moorer led the early Bulldog surge scoring 12 of his team-high 19 points in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Diante Smith did his best to keep the Indians (6-4, 0-1) in the game.
Choctaw cut the Bulldog lead to 10 points at the half.
A Josh Williams 3-pointer with 5:23 left in the fourth quarter gave Choctaw its first lead of the game at 48-47.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch as Moorer led the Bulldogs and DJ Thomas came up big for Choctaw.
The Bulldogs took a 56-54 lead on a Moorer 3-pointer with 36 seconds left in regulation.
D’eddrick Rogers tied the game for Choctaw with seconds left in regulation.
Andrew Adkins put Crestview up 59-57 with 64 seconds left in the extra period. Smith’s final basket of the game tied things up at 59 all with 45 seconds remaining in the extra period.
Crestview put the game away with scores by Marcus Purcell, Keenan Redd and Moorer.
Purcell, 13 points, and Adkins 11 points, joined Moorre in double figures as the Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight games.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview holds off Indians in district opener (PHOTOS)