Commerce -- Despite a valiant effort by an outgunned group of Saltillo Lions to stay close, the Ector Eagles opened the playoffs with an impressive 30-point bi-district win.

Saltillo was able to negotiate Ector's full-court pressure defense in the early action and the Lions were only down 14-11 at the first buzzer, but the Eagles poured in 27 points in the second period to take control of the game. Ector took a 41-20 cushion into the locker room at halftime, with Brandon Richards knocking down four three-point shots and racking up 20 points in the first two periods.

In this contest, Ector just had too much size in the paint, too many points from the perimeter and too many guys coming off the bench who could light up the scoreboard.

It was Saltillo scoring first, but Richards hit back-to-back triples to give the Eagles a 6-2 lead. Then Ector turned to their inside game. Big sophomore post Jake Crowell knocked down his first two bank shots and the lead stretched to 10-2.

Jake Crowell shoots over the defense.

Saltillo got a free throw from J.D. Johnson and a pair of buckets by Brett Moore to gamely battle their way back into the game.  The Lions made in a one-point game when Dillon Hamilton hit a jumper and Saltillo slipped in front, 11-10, after an Ector turnover resulted in an easy transition basket by Richard Williams.

It would be Saltillo's last lead in the game.

Richards netted a pair of free throws that put Ector back on top and the senior pulled up in the lane for a six-foot jumper that gave the Eagles a 14-11 advantage at the end of the first period.

Saltillo added a couple of free throws by Jeremy Matheny to start the second stanza, but Richards rained down his third three-pointer from deep in the corner and the Eagles took off. 

Brandon Richards knocks down a triple as the Saltillo bench urges the defense to take the shot away. Three times in the first half, Richards connected from this same spot on three-point shots.

Crowell and Richards continued to be effective working their inside/outside game, but now fresh athletes were coming off the Ector bench to enter the fray.  Perry Crouch was fouled at the arc and hit all three free throws. Bradley Bingham had three quick baskets as Ector's offense turned every possession into points.

The Eagles were on top, 41-20, at the break and 63-34 going into the final frame. Ector held onto their 30-point lead in the fourth quarter and the Eagles headed home as bi-district champs with a 77-47 opening-round win under their belts.

In all, 10 Eagles scratched the scorebook.

Ector's Brandon Richards led all scorers with 20 points, Jake Crowell scored 16, Bradley Bingham tossed in 10 points, Colton Thomason contributed eight points, Brandon Witte had six points and Efrain Nino finished with four points. Bradlee Coldiron, Chad Clement and Perry Crouch each put up three points, with Zachary Kelton and Aron Mercer both chipping in two points apiece.

T.J. Momon led Saltillo with 13 points, Dillon Hamilton dropped in 10 points, Richard Williams put up seven points, Brett Moore scored six, Jeremy Matheny had five points, Chase Richie threw in three points and Cole Daniel had two points.

Ector improves to 18-10 for the season and the Eagles will find out Tuesday night who they play in the area round.

The Ector Eagle and the referee have a little fun during a time out.