Indians fall to Dragons in hard-fought game

by Todd Brooks

PURCELL - The Comanche Indians gave third-ranked Purcell all it could handle before the Dragons pulled away late to claim a 67-55 win.

The Indians did not seem intimidated playing one of the top ranked teams in the state on their own floor as Comanche and Purcell traded punches in the early going. There were eight lead changes and six ties in the first half.

It wasn’t until Purcell closed out the first half on a 7-0 run, including a key three-pointer with six seconds remaining that the Dragons were able to take the lead for good. Comanche would never get closer than three points the rest of the night.

The Indians scored 16 points in the first quarter, including eight by Colby Shannon, but a late three-pointer by Purcell gave them an 18-16 lead heading into the second quarter.

Scoring slowed in the second quarter for the Indians, but they were still close before Purcell’s late run put them ahead.

Comanche was never able to make a big run in the third quarter. Purcell answered every Indian basket.

quarter.

The Indians would not go away, however. Hunter Lassley, who had scored 12 points in the first half but none in the third quarter, caught fire in the fourth, knocking down three three-pointers as part of his 11 points in the quarter that helped the Indians stay close.

The Dragons, though, never allowed the Indians to get in a big run. Comanche got as close as six points twice in the final eight minutes. Briar Blair’s basket with 2:38 left in the game got the lead down to 57-51, but Purcell would answer with five straight points that effectively put the game out of reach.

Comanche will play No. 20 Silo (16-10) tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. in a consolation bracket semifinal at Lone Grove. The two teams met earlier this season at the Latta Tournament with Silo getting the 45-39 win.

Scoring

Comanche (10-13): Hunter Lassley, 23; Colby Shannon, 15; Briar Blair, 9; Corbin Bowen, 7; Dillon Ellis, 4

Purcell (23-2): Hayden Lee, 23; Malachi Evans, 18; Kobe Freeman, 14; Lincoln Eubanks, 6; Braydon Thorp, 3; Kylen DeFreeze, 3