The Bowie Jackrabbits started off district play hosting City View on Friday.
Playing the athletic and pressing Mustangs, the Jackrabbits put together one of their best efforts of the season to win 73-62.
With a week to prepare and coming off playing a tough non-district schedule featuring many teams from bigger classifications or that are held in high regard, Bowie was ready to play a district team more on its level.
The Mustangs came in with a solid record (13-5) and a hope its dream season in football would carry over into the basketball season. The program has continued to trend upward with playoff berths each of the past three seasons.
The first quarter was up and down as the Jackrabbits created several transition opportunities and took advantage. City View stayed right with Bowie though as its press created opportunities as well for easy scores.
Fouls were freely given out to both teams early and foul trouble cropped up. The Jackrabbits lead was a small 15-13 heading into the second quarter.
Similar play continued as Bowie executed its offense while the Mustangs made some shots while also having moments their press got to the Jackrabbits. Bowie’s lead did not waiver, but it never grew to the size of being comfortable. At halftime the Jackrabbits led 28-24.
The third quarter saw Bowie really separate. Transition opportunities became more abundant off turnovers and rebounds while the Jackrabbits were making shots. Bowie opened up a double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter as it scored 21 points, leading 49-35.
Early in the fourth quarter, City View charged back. The Mustangs scored the quarter’s first eight points in the first three minutes as their press created quick scoring chances.
The Jackrabbits were also dealt a blow as starter Trevor Vann fouled out, who had scored 10 points in the game. With its lead down to 49-43, a starter out, a City View team with momentum and plenty of time left Bowie could have started to panic.
A turning point came when the Mustangs got a clean steal and their player tried to dunk it. The score would have cut the lead to four and the dunk would have sent the City View bench into a frenzy.
Instead he missed and the Jackrabbits came down to score on their next two trips to up their lead to 53-46.
The Mustangs would not give up as they did cut the lead to 55-51 with three minutes still to play. Bowie continued to score at a good clip though as the team attempted 13 free throws in the quarter alone, making 10 of them.
Cade Thompson eventually fouled out late for the Jackrabbits, but not before he scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter.
As the Jackrabbits continued to knock down free throws, the hot shooting from City View ran out of gas. Thanks to the good free throw shooting, Bowie would win by double-digits 73-62.
Bowie will have a tough first full week with a game at Holliday earlier in the week before hosting the county rival Indians at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 24.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.