FORT STOCKTON, TX — The No. 4 Irion County Hornets traveled to Fort Stockton on Thursday, Feb. 23, to play Round 2 of the Texas High School Basketball Playoffs against the Sanderson Eagles. After a sluggish first half, the Hornets returned to form and dropped 38 points in the second half to advance 61-38.
Irion County came into this game favored, and they showed why to start the contest. The Hornets went on a 10-2 run in the 1st quarter before cooling off. Shots stopped falling for the Hornets, and some ugly turnovers changed the momentum. Sanderson crept back into the game with a 12-4 run in the 2nd quarter.
Poor shooting from Irion County even allowed the Eagles to take the lead with less than three minutes to go in the half. Irion county scored twice more in the paint to retake the lead, but another 3-point shot from Sanderson tied the game at halftime 23-23.
Bo Morrow led the Hornets in scoring at the half with 9 points on 4/7 shooting while only making 1-4 free throws.
Irion County came out in the second half and looked like a completely different team. They outscored, outrebounded, and out-hustled the Eagles throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters. Whatever Head Coach John Morrow said to the guys at halftime worked because they blew open the game in the 3rd quarter. Outscoring the Eagles 18-5, the Hornets dominated inside the paint.
The rout continued into the 4th quarter. Sanderson did their best to keep pace with Irion County’s big men in the paint, but their 3-point attempts missed the mark more often than not. The Eagles found themselves in foul trouble midway through the 4th quarter, and that decided the game. The Hornets poured it on in the second half and advanced to the Regional Quarterfinals, 61-38.
Head Coach John Morrow gave his thoughts on his team's performance after the game.
Bo Morrow and Trevin Coffell led the Hornets with 23 points each. The dynamic duo continues to impress in whatever sport they play together, and making it to the final in San Antonio is a real possibility moving forward.
Irion County plays the winner of Robert Lee and Buena Vista in the Regional Quarterfinal Round early next week.
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