KENEDY – There are times during a basketball season when a team’s shots just won’t fall. Such was the case on Friday in Kenedy for the visiting Pettus Eagle varsity.

If you can’t buy a basket, the defense has to step up and make up the difference. The Eagle defense did just that in the 38-22 victory.

“We had a hard time getting shots to fall, but our defense was great and allowed us to overcome a rough offensive night to get the win,” said Eagle head coach Steve Marbach.

The Eagle defense shut down the Lions in the first period, allowing just one made free throw in the quarter to take a 13-1 lead.

That big lead helped as the offense really struggled over the final three periods. It was a 21-7 game at the half, and the Eagles hit for another eight points in the third period. The ‘D’ stepped up again and held the Lions to a mere four markers, making it a 29-11 contest.

The Lions tried to rally and cut two points off the Eagle lead, but it wasn’t enough to scare the Eagles.

Hunter Tomlin hit for 15 points in the win. Clay Brown was also in double figures with 10. No one else scored more than three for the Eagles.

Taylor Yeoman, Dylan Dunn and Kyle McJunkins all managed three tallies. Eric Montez added two points and Dylan Lopez and Matt Gonzales each made one free throw. Casey Jones did not score, but he helped out on the glass with 13 rebounds. Montez also was a force on the glass with 10 caroms on the night.

The Eagles played the Woodsboro Eagles in Pettus on Tuesday night and will then travel to Port Aransas on Friday night to tackle the Marlins.