TYLER – The Class 3A bi-district matchup between the Rusk Eagles and Bullard Panthers, came down to tenacity on defense by Bullard, with the Panthers coming out on top with a 64-56 win over Rusk, at Robert E. Lee’s Varsity gym on Wednesday night in a bi-district doubleheader nightcap.

Senior post, Marquez Franklin came on strong when it counted, late in the game, to score a team-high 21 points, with 12 coming in the final 16 points scored by the Panthers. Franklin also led both squads, with 12 rebounds in the game.

Bullard advances to play Fairfield, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night, at Rusk High School.

“We played great defense and we ran the offense really well too, ”said Bullard’s first year head coach, Robert Sampson, after the win. “We drove to the bucket and drew some fouls, and Marquez (Franklin) just took over in the fourth quarter.”

The game was the most exciting, as it was highlighted in the second and third periods, as Rusk made a run to create four lead changes, and ties at 22, 29, 34, and 39.

Bullard’s Josiah Rosebury opened up the game, with the first of his four 3-pointers.

Back-to-back treys by Rosebury and Lance Anding for the Panthers, built a 13-4 cushion at the 3:11 mark of the opening quarter.

Rusk, however, answered back as Kalen Skinner scored seven of his team-high 21- points in the closing minutes of the opening stanza, to close the Bullard lead to 18-11 after one period.

Rusk (26-10) reeled off the first sixpoints of the second quarter, to take a 20- 18 lead. The Eagles held the Panthers scoreless for the first three-minutes of the period, before warming up to regain the lead, as Daniel Howard canned a driving layup.

The third period picked up where the game left off in at the half, with both teams battling to ties at 29, 34, and 39, before another Rosebury 3-pointer ended the period at 46-39.

Bullard’s Howard, Rosebury, and Marquez Franklin, came out for the final period, scoring the first eight points to build a 54-39 advantage, with 5:01 left in the game.

The Eagles would not go away, as J.D. Beard canned his third 3-pointer to make it a 56-48 lead for the Panthers.

RUSK – Kalen Skinner, 21; Blake Fletcher, 2; De- Mario Richards, 6; Michael Katon, 4; J.D. Beard, 11; Taj Cleaver, 12.

BULLARD – Daniel Howard, 13; Lance Anding, 10; Josiah Rosebury, 18; Brandon Beavers, 2; Marquez Franklin, 21.

THREE POINT GOALS – R: Skinner (3), Beard (3).. B: Rosebury 4), Anding (2), Howard. RECORDS – Rusk 26-10. Bullard 24-10 NEXT UP – Bullard vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Rusk High School.