Homecoming tilts vs. Marlow

Coach Roger Raper’s Dragons were 8-2 heading into Tuesday’s road game at Lexington.

They started the second half of the season with a good victory over a testy Bridge Creek five, 55-51 with their top three scorers all in double digits.

Gavin Nation led all scorers with 21 while Mojo Browning dropped in 16 and Nate Willis finished with 10.

The Dragons jumped on the Bobcats fashioning a 33-22 lead at intermission and then held on for the victory.

“It was a great way to start the new year,” Raper said. “This was a very physical game so I was proud of our guys for withstanding the physicality.

“Our three main scorers were able to carry us for the win,” Raper said. “This league is very competitive and we are off to a great start.”

The Dragons went 1-1 in the weather shortened Byng Tournament last weekend.

Tulsa Memorial’s JV topped the Dragons, 42-37.

But Purcell bounced back on Friday and put it on Dickson’s Comets, 72-46.

“We played hard in both games,” Raper said. “We just did not make shots against Memorial.

“But we really got it going against Dickson,” the coach said. “We did a really great job of creating offense from our defense.

“We have a very important stretch of games coming up. I think we are starting to play well at the right time,” he concluded.

Browning led the scoring against the Comets pumping in 22. Nation was right on his heels with 21 and Willis added 15.

Coach David Sikes’ Dragons came up on the short end of a 45-41 count against Bridge Creek but bounced Bethel to start the Byng Tournament, 49-48.

“We played hard for the majority of the night against Bridge Creek,” Sikes said.

“We couldn’t make anything,” the coach continued. “Our shots weren’t falling. We had a lead but they showed they wanted it more in the fourth quarter.”

Emily Madden’s 17 points paced the Dragons.

Alicia Baker’s 17 points led the Dragons offense in the victory over Bethel with Madden right on her heels with 16.

Bethel twice built 11 point leads but the Dragons continued to fight, once leading by as many as five before going back down 11.

“We followed our game plan and trusted it,” Sikes said. “We need those types of games to prepare us for down the road in the playoffs.”

Kora Keith’s 16 led Purcell against McGuinness. Baker was also in double figures with 13.

The Dragons ran into a buzz saw in the semifinals when Bishop McGuinness pinned a 72-45 loss on Purcell.

“They were good,” Sikes confirmed of the Irish.

The Irish were on fire from beyond the arc, canning 15 treys on Purcell in the contest.

“Our plan was to make them beat us from the outside and they did. We just couldn’t match up with their talented guards and their height inside.

“I was happy with our overall effort. We just need to take better care of the basketball, especially in those games,” he said.

Purcell was 6-4 heading into Tuesday’s clash at powerful Lexington.