PINE BLUFF — The lid was on the basket for the Bryant Hornets freshman team early in their season opener against the Watson Chapel Wildcats on Thursday night. And it wasn’t much better for the home team.
But the Wildcats got on track first, building a 15-7 lead by halftime then holding on for a 40-31 victory to spoil the Hornets’ debut.
“We started the game really nervous and didn’t connect on a field goal until midway through the second quarter,” said Bryant coach Tyler Posey. “The effort I thought was there. Now we just have to put the effort together with execution.”
Bryant actually led 4-2 at the end of the first quarter. After taking the lead in the second, Chapel surged in the third and led 28-15 going into the final stanza. It proved to be too much of a deficit for the Hornets to overcome.
Luke Curtis, JonLuke Sprout and Tristan Calhoun each scored 7 points for Bryant. Curtis also had five rebounds, five steals and blocked a shot.
“The guys fought all the way to the end and I am very proud of that,” Posey stated. “Now it’s time to start fixing and tweaking in order for us to understand the right ways to attack.”
The Hornets will return to action on Monday at 7:45 p.m., against Maumelle in the first round of the annual Bryant Invitational Tournament at the Bryant Middle School gym.
