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Miller Grove coach Gary Billingsley uses a timeout to try to regroup late in the Hornets 45-39 loss Tuesday. The Hornets led in the final minutes of the game before Ector was able to pull off a comeback, giving Miller Grove their first district loss of the season. Staff photo by Tyler Lennon
Led with 3 minutes left
MILLER GROVE- The Miller Grove Hornets hosted Ector Tuesday looking to improve to 3-0 in district play. The game comes one day after the Hornets found themselves in the top 25 of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll for the first time since the season started.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams in the opening frame, with the Hornets making just four free throws and one bucket. Riley Hasten scored the lone basket of the frame after Tanner Hensley grabbed an offensive rebound and found Hasten open in the lane. Miller Grove trailed 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Matt Brignon sparked the Hornets offense in the second quarter, making a pair of free throws before hitting a pair of shots. Brignon’s second basket of the frame gave the Hornets a 16-12 lead midway though the second quarter. Point guard Isaiah Billingsley drained a pair of 3-pointers late in the half, and Miller Grove entered the locker room leading 23-17.
Trouble started for the Hornets in the second half, with their offense only able to score four points in the third quarter. Ector was able to put together 11 points, to take a one-point lead going into the final frame.
Lexton Sly hit a pair of 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter, and the Hornets were able to jump out to a 35-30 lead. Miller Grove tried to hold on, but Ector was able to take a 38- 37 lead with 1:35 remaining, and went on to win the game by a final score of 45-39.
Kobe Robertson was the leading scorer for Miller Grove. With 10 points, Robertson was the only Hornet to finish in double-digits.
Just behind him were Billingsley and Brignon who each had eight points. Sly added seven points of his own, while Landon Burnett had four points, and Hasten had two points.
Miller Grove will be back in action Saturday, with a district match at Fannindel Tuesday. The varsity girls are set to begin at 5 p.m. with the varsity boys to follow.