MANSFIELD — For the first time in 23 years, the Coppell boys basketball team played in the third round of the playoffs.
But against a fast, senior-heavy North Crowley squad, the Cowboys’ run came to an end.
North Crowley used a dominant first half and consistent defensive pressure to defeat Coppell, 71-40, in the Class 6A Region I semifinals Tuesday at Timberview High School, ending the Cowboys’ deepest postseason run since 2003.
Junior guard Isaak Hayes attacked the rim early, finishing a layup in transition to help the Panthers jump out to a 6-2 lead with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. Coppell briefly traded possessions behind a rebound from sophomore guard Crawford O’Connor, but Hayes continued to pressure the paint as North Crowley extended the margin to 8-4.
The Panthers’ momentum only grew from there.
North Crowley closed the first quarter with a large gap, building a 20-8 advantage as the Cowboys struggled to break through the Panthers’ defense. Early in the second quarter, senior forward Alex Barther II added another bucket to push the lead to 22-8 with 7:12 remaining in the half.
Coppell found limited offensive opportunities. Senior guard Colin Griffith scored at the free throw line midway through the second quarter, but repeated drives to the rim were once again cut off. By the end of the half, the Panthers had stretched the lead to 35-12, only giving the Cowboys four points.
(Reece Murry)
“We played really well tonight, shot it pretty well, and our defense really stepped up,” North Crowley coach Tom Brakel said. “But again, we have all the respect in the world for the Coppell Cowboys.”
The defensive pressure continued into the second half, as the Panthers consistently disrupted Coppell’s attempts inside the paint. Griffith was fouled on a drive midway through the third quarter and later finished a layup at the rim with 6:14 remaining, but North Crowley maintained control as the score reached 46-14 with under four minutes left in the period.
By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers led 53-23.
Coppell opened the fourth quarter with its strongest stretch of the night. Senior guard Isaiah Fleming began the period with a floater in the lane before Griffith added points in the paint as the Cowboys scored seven points in the first two minutes of the quarter.
The Panthers quickly answered. Junior guard Dontre Grandberry finished a fast-break layup with just over three minutes remaining to push North Crowley’s lead to 65-35.
Despite the win, Brakel emphasized his respect for Coppell.
“They are a very good team,” Brakel said. “Coppell had a lot of seniors, too, and are very well coached. The kids played so hard.”
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