By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Rusk’s loss may possible be a gain for Bullard.
The Panthers (9-5), fresh off a third-place finish in the Hardin-Jefferson Basketball Marathon in Sour Lake last weekend, entered the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches/Texas Prep Basketball Magazine Class 3A poll in the No. 24 slot this week.
The Panthers have fought through injuries and a difficult pre-conference schedule and appear to be playing their best ball of the year at this time.
Bullard has one more contest prior to shutting down for the Christmas break. That will come at 7 p.m. Friday when the Panthers entertain Van.
Rusk’s 49-28 loss to T. K. Gorman in the first round of last week’s Great East Texas Shootout may have impacted voters as the Eagles dropped off the list this week after being included in the top 25 for the past several weeks.
Rusk bounced back after the defeat to win their next three games in the event and wrapped up as the tourney’s consolation champion.
The Eagles (11-3) travel to Liberty City this weekend to participate in the Sabine Cardinal Tournament.
Bullard’s Lady Panthers tumbled to No. 21, their lowest ranking of the year, after going 2-2 in the Great East Texas Shootout.
The Lady Panthers have two games — Friday at Whitehouse and a Tuesday home date with T. K. Gorman — remaining prior to Christmas.
