By Marcus Elliott

Sports Editor

Anna’s lone game this week was a home-stand against rival Van Alstyne on Friday night. Despite a late-game surge from the Coyotes - and a big game from Cory Meaders - Van Alstyne came away with the 10-point win. The Coyotes will be back in action on Friday, beginning their second half of district play by playing host to Celina and then traveling to Bonham on Tuesday.

VA 56, Anna 46

Friday night’s district matchup between Anna and Van Alstyne was an important game for both teams. For the visiting Panthers it offered a chance to get back to .500 in district play while the Coyotes were attempting to avoid being swept in the first half of district games. There was disparity in the early quarters, with only 12 points scored in the opening period compared to 37 in the second. It was Van Alstyne that took the advantage at halftime, however, on its way to the victory. Michael Sorrels scored the first points of the game, hitting a bucket in the paint to put the Panthers up by two points. Jacob Arvin answered for Anna and Tyler Elliott hit another shot for the Coyotes. Still, Sorrels and the Panthers were able to take a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Arvin hit a free throw and then scored after he picked a Van Alstyne player’s pocket to bring Anna within one early in the second. The Coyotes took their first lead of the game when Cory Meaders hit a shot to give Anna five points in just 21 seconds and forcing Van Alstyne to burn a timeout. Van Alstyne’s offense came alive after the break, however, as the Panthers put together a 14-4 run that resulted in an Anna timeout. Meaders hit a shot to bring Anna within eight. In the final minute of the half Zach Davis responded with two big three pointers and the Panthers took a 30-19 lead into the locker room.

The Panthers did not let up as the second half started, scoring nine unanswered points to put some distance between them and Anna. Meaders had a big third quarter, scoring all of Anna’s points. He stayed hot in the fourth to whittle down the Panther lead from 18 to six after hitting a shot on a baseline drive with less than a minute left in the game. Hack-a-Panther was not a help either with Van Alstyne hitting free throws late in the game – though it missed 26 in the contest – to walk away with a 10-point win. Meaders led all scorers, putting up 23 points for the Coyotes. Jake Gililland added seven and Hunter Kindall finished with six. Van Alstyne had three players in double figures with Sorrels leading the way with 14, Davis finishing with 12 and CJ White putting in 11.

Other Anna scorers included: Arvin (4), Tyler Elliott (4) and Travis Argue (2).