Pauls Valley — There is always next year. Those aren’t the words Stratford fans wanted to hear after Thursday’s game with the Stuart Hornets. Many, including Stratford head coach Mark Qualls and his players, thought this year would be the year after last year’s success and the success coming into the playoffs.

But Stuart had other plans as a huge second half rally erased a 10-point halftime deficit lifting the Hornets to a 70-66 win eliminating the Bulldogs and their dreams of returning to the state tournament.

“It just wasn’t our year,” Qualls said. “That was two state tournament caliber teams out there tonight and one of us had to lose.

“Give them credit, they hit some big shots in the game. No. 15 (Dylan Jones) and No. 4 (Turner Brewer) came off the bench and did a good job for them down in the second half.”

Jones scored all 12 of his points in the third quarter to lead the Hornets back into the game. Brewer only had six points but he hit two big three pointers in the fourth quarter that sparked an 11-0 run that put the Hornets up for good.

“Jones is a player that plays a lot for us,” Stuart coach Trent Tidwell said. “I just didn’t get him in the game as early as I wanted to.”

It was like two heavyweight boxers early on in the game as each one took the others best shot.

Three minutes into the game, Stratford junior Dalen Qualls got hot sparking an 18-6 run that gave them a double digit advantage. The lead was 15 at one point in the quarter before Stuart senior Zach Medley’s three pointer just before the first quarter buzzer. Qualls had 17 of this team’s 26 first quarter points including 12 in the run.

The three pointer by Medley sparked a 10-0 Stuart run that cut the lead to five early in the second quarter. After the hot start it took the Bulldogs three and a half minutes to get going. Matthew Knight ended the second quarter drought by Stratford and kept the Hornets at arms length.

Stuart cut the lead to four on a couple of different occasions in the second but a late push by the Bulldogs, that included four points from senior Michael Jolley, gave them a 10-point lead at the break.

Qualls’ short jumper to start the second half pushed the lead to 12. Jones hit back-to-back three pointers for Stuart in an 8-0 run that cut the lead to four quickly in the third quarter. A traditional three-point play by Qualls gave Stratford a nine point lead midway through the quarter.

After a Medley three pointer, Jones continued his third quarter assault hitting a traditional three point play followed by his third three pointer from the corner evening the game at 47. Qualls hit the back end of a two shot free throw to give the Bulldogs a 48-47 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

A pair of Zack Mabray free throws to start the fourth quarter gave Stuart their first lead since the five minute mark of the first quarter. Qualls would give the Bulldogs back the lead with five straight points and that would lead to a 13-5 run that gave Stratford a seven-point lead midway through the quarter.

Stratford would go cold over the next three minutes. Stuart on the other hand would rattle off 11 straight that included two big three pointers by Brewer as the Hornets took a four-point lead with under a minute to go in the game.

Twice during the drought, Stratford was called for an offensive charge and both times the ball went into the basket.

“Those were very crucial calls against us,” coach Qualls said. “Each time we scored and they took points off the board.”

Qualls hit a short jumper to end the scoreless drought and then Stratford had to foul to stop the clock and get the ball back. After two free throws by Medley, Qualls nailed a three pointer with 30 seconds left that cut the lead to a point.

After a time out, Stratford fouled again and again Medley hit a pair of free throws giving Stuart a three point advantage with 18 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game but just missed on a three point attempt with under 10 seconds remaining. With six seconds left, Bo Mabray put the game out of reach with a free throw and Stuart’s rally ended with a four-point win.

“You can second guess yourself all night,” coach Qualls said. “We could have done a better job here or there. But I really don’t think we played bad at all.”

Strat 26 14 8 18 - 66

Stuart 14 16 17 23 - 70

Stratford – Dalen Qualls 46, Matthew Knight 7, Tommy Lawson 4, Michael Jolley 4, Cody Purgason 3, Chase Chamberlain 2.

Stuart — Zach Medley 23, Colten Chapman 15, Dylan Jones 12, Bo Mabray 10, Turner Brewer 6, Zack Mabray 2, Jimmy Roberts 2.