ET Boys Basketball - Hallsville bests Longview, 59-53, in season opener

Longview answered Hallsville's first half with a big third quarter in the first game of the regular season for both teams.

But down the stretch, it was the visiting Bobcats who had the final answer.

Brenton Alley hit four free throws inside the final 30 seconds to shore up a 59-53 win over Longview in a high-energy season opener Tuesday at Lobo Coliseum.

Hallsville built an 11-point lead at halftime, 28-17. A 22-point third quarter for the Lobos tied things up 37-37 with 1:34 left in the frame.

After Longview grabbed its first lead, 39-37, back-to-back threes from Jeremy Swalley gave Hallsville the lead right back.

When Longview went up 51-50 with 2:09 left, a bucket from Rowdy Smith off a steal and assist from Shad Berg put the Bobcats ahead for good.

Both lead changes came off turnovers from the Lobos, who finished with 27 overall.

Longview's defense forced the outside shot throughout the night and Hallsville connected. Overall the Bobcats finished with 10 from beyond the arc and finished with seven buckets from the floor.

Swalley and Berg led the Bobcats with 17 points and the duo each dropped five from three-point range. Swalley finished with five steals.

Smith and Alley followed with seven points for Hallsville, who finished 12-for-16 from free-throw range.

Jason Bush led Longview with 17 points and added seven rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore Malik Henry turned in a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Lobos, who held a 31-22 advantage on rebounds.

Jerrian Lewis added 12 points and sophomore Phillip Washington had five assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Swalley and Berg each had two threes in the first quarter as Hallsville built an 18-11 lead.

The Bobcats led by as many as 13 in the second quarter after Koby Hogan went coast-to-coast off a steal, two of 12 points coming off turnovers for Hallsville in the first half.

Henry and Bush combined for 16 points in the third quarter for Longview, who cut their turnovers in half, finishing the frame with four after committing 15 in the first half.

Bush had a pair of 4-0 runs in the frame with each being answered with a three from Hallsville.

Longview then went on a 10-1 run and Henry tied it 37-all with a putback with 1:34 left. He took an assist from Brandon Palmer to give Longview its first lead, 39-37 before Swalley drained back-to-back threes in the final 17 seconds to give Hallsville a 43-39 lead heading to the fourth.

A putback from Bush tied it at 50-50 before Hallsville closed on a 9-3 run with Alley draining four-straight for the Bobcat win.

Longview visits Henderson at 2 p.m. on Saturday while Hallsville hosts Nacogdoches at 6 p.m. on Friday.