Defense helps North Crowley sink Arlington Martin

By Kevin Casas

Special to the Star-Telegram

CROWLEY -- Earlier this season, Jalen McCloud scored 30 points against Arlington Martin in a key District 4-5A win.

Friday night before a packed house at Crowley Gym, it was the Panthers' pressure defense that forced the Warriors into 22 turnovers in a 62-47 win.

North Crowley heads into the final three games of the district schedule with a two-game cushion over Martin for the district title.

"I thought we got a little soft with our shot selection and that forced us to change things up and play better defense," coach Tommy Brakel said. "It wasn't surprising to me that Martin would find a way to get back in it. I'm just glad with any win and glad we settled into shooting the ball better."

Martin's 2-3 zone forced a lot of wild shots early, but North Crowley (25-4, 11-0 4-5A) found a way to scratch out an 11-2 lead.

From there, the Warriors (21-7, 9-2) rallied with a 20-10 run to take a 22-21 halftime lead.

North Crowley's man-to-man and trap defenses were ferocious early, forcing 11 first-half turnovers and it was more of the same in the second half.

McCloud followed an easy jumper early in the third quarter with two consecutive 3-pointers to give Crowley a 31-24 lead.

Both jumpers came off turnovers and another turnover allowed Calvin Ward to go untouched for a dunk at the 4:55 mark of the third quarter.

That sparked another turnover, and Braxton Reeves capped a 15-2 run, making a 3-pointer off the screen for North Crowley.

Norense Odiase and Quinton Moncrief had two blocks apiece and each came at key moments to cement the Panthers' defensive effort inside.

McCloud had two steals for the game and easy baskets off those to lead North Crowley with 15 points. Ward had 12 points and Taylor Luster 11.

Mwamba Myles had 13 points and Nick Babb had 11 for Martin.

Follow Kevin Casas on Twitter @oldschoolcaddie

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