Jeff Harrison
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — The Deer Creek boys did their best to hang with El Reno, but in the end the Indians’ backcourt pressure was too much. The No. 9-ranked Indians pulled in front by double digits in the second half before holding off the Antlers for a 72-60 win Monday night at the Leroy Estes Fieldhouse.
Garrett Hermanski led the Antlers with 19 points, Jurrell Calloway finished with 12 and Hayden Wagner added 11.
The Antlers trailed by a point at the end of the first quarter, but made up for it with a 22-point effort in the second. El Reno led by five late in the second before Deer Creek turned things around with an 11-3 run. Hermanski put them on top 32-30 with a pair of free throws and Calloway added a layup just before the buzzer for a 34-31 lead at the break.
Deer Creek maintained control until Chris Mustain caught fire midway through the third. The senior poured in 13 points in the period including a basket at the buzzer, giving the Indians an 46-40 lead.
Things continued to get worse for the Antlers in the fourth. El Reno enjoyed a double digit lead for much of the fourth before receiving a scare late in the game. Deer Creek cut the deficit to five on a basket by Wagner, but couldn’t get any closer.
Mustain led all scorers with 24 points, while Travis Johnson added 18 for El Reno.
The game featured five technical fouls with El Reno’s DeVante Moore getting ejected after picking up his second technical in the fourth period.
Deer Creek is at home again tonight against Western Heights.
