Comanche boys hold off Empire

MARLOW - After surrendering the game’s first bucket, the Comanche Indians went on an 11-0 run that helped propel them to a 47-32 win over Empire in Tuesday’s first round of the Stephens County Basketball Tournament.

Led by senior Payton Jones and a freshman Easton Bowen, the No. 4 seed Indians opened up a lead and the No. 5 seed Bulldogs would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Jones and Bowen combined to score the Indians’ first 14 points of the game as Comanche took a 17-8 lead after the first quarter. Bowen knocked down three treys and scored all 11 of his points in the quarter. Three-pointers by Empire’s Carson Skiles and Bryce Shaver in the quarter kept the game within striking distance.

The teams traded baskets throughout the second quarter. A three-pointer by Comache’s Colby Shannon at the 1:07 mark gave the Indians their biggest lead of the half at 12 points before the Bulldogs scored the last three points to keep Comanche within striking distance.

The third started much like the first with Empire getting the first bucket before Comanche went on a run. After Empire’s Cale Porter cut the lead to 28-21 to open the third, the Indians responded with a 10-4 run to close the quarter and take a 38-25 lead heading into the fourth. 

The Bulldogs did go on a 6-0 run in the final quarter but would get no closer than nine points.

The Indians advance to play top-seed and host Marlow tonight (Thursday) at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs will play Bray-Doyle at 5:20 p.m. on Friday.

Scoring 

Comanche (4-9): Colby Shannon, 12; Easton Bowen, 14; Johnathan Alvarez, 9; Jiovanni Demry, 6; Brycen Lassley, 4; Payton Jones, 3

Empire (5-8): Cale Porter, 11; Johnathan Simmons, 6; Dax Hecox, 6; Francisco Garcia, 4; Bryce Shaver, 4