ARCOLA- The Deer Creek Warriors struggled to find their offense in a 43-23 loss to the Humphreys County Academy Rebels in boys high school basketball Thursday night.
After hanging tough for the first quarter of play, the Warriors saw it starting to get away from them in a pivotal second quarter where Humphreys outscored them 18-6.
“I challenged our point guard to stop trying to drive on every possession,” said Warriors head coach Ben Buchanan. “Once we started passing a little more, the shots got a little easier.”
Half of the Rebels points came on three rainbows from beyond the arc off the fingertips of guard Cornelius Stamps. Rebels big man Jacobee Cobb also began to assert himself carving out space on the interior for offensive rebounds and second chance baskets. Humphreys led 24-11 at the half.
The Rebels blanked the Warriors 11-0 in the third quarter extending their lead to 33-11 heading into the fourth quarter.
The game started off at a fast pace with scoring at a premium and plenty of missed shots.
On his 19th birthday, Deer Creek senior forward Austin Rexrode began asserting himself early with physical inside play, tough defense and rebounding.
Humphreys led 6-5 at the end of one quarter. Rexrode led the Warriors with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Steen Buchanan chipped in with eight points with six of them coming on fourth quarter three point shots. Cobb and Stamps tied for game high honors with 14 each.
