Demons almost complete comeback in loss
Dec. 9—The Demons have been on the verge of getting their first victory of the 2022-2023 season twice and almost completed the comeback, although Noble edged out Duncan 60-50 in the second loss of the year.
Noble jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two buckets before a foul put Thomas Brown to the line, where he converted both to cut the lead to three points.
Tre Rochon hit a big bucket to cut the lead to one and a trey from Ayden Pennypacker tied the game up at 7-7 before Brown got a basket to take the lead by two points.
The Bears had an answer to end the first quarter with a 9-9 tie as Ethan Croskrey helped take the lead to 11-9 at the beginning of the second quarter.
With the small lead, Noble kept adding on to the lead with an 11-0 run to take the 22-11 advantage before Duncan got another bucket, this time from Daveon Carr.
A three bucket from Rochon was the last score for Duncan before halftime. Noble held the 28-16 lead at halftime with the Bears getting the advantage to 17 at one point in the third quarter.
Jeffery Cross hit a big three to stop the run and give Duncan momentum it needed to begin a 9-0 run. Buckets came from Croskrey, Caden Stevens and Carr.
Getting the lead down to five points, Noble netted the final two buckets to put the lead to nine with the Bears up 43-34 going into the fourth quarter.
Stevens kept the Demons in the game by netting three long range shots in the fourth quarter, however Noble sprinkled in some clutch baskets to keep the win on its side.
Noble had three players in double figures. Brandon Harper led with 20 points while A.J. Balked had 13 and Colin Fisher had 12 for the Bears in the victory.
Duncan was led by Stevens who had 14 while Rochon had 13 to make the only two Duncan players in double figures. Brown had seven and Carr had six in the game for the Demons.
With the Demons now 0-2 on the season, they will turn their attention to hosting duties of the Southern Oklahoma Invitational Tournament at Duncan High School.
Duncan will host a Piedmont team that is 2-0 on the season to open up the first round of action during the SOI bracket.
That game will take place around 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at home and will be the final of eight games played on day one of the SOI Tournament.
All of Duncan's games will live stream on its athletic website. The teams invited on the boys' side include Tuttle, Capitol Hill, Piedmont, Bishop McGuinness, Cache, Ada and Chickasha.
