Sadler -- An explosive Ector Eagles offense erupted for a 13-1 run in the first quarter and that was a major factor in Ector's 59-49 bi-district victory over the Slidell Greyhounds.

This was an exciting rough-and-tumble clash that had fans on both sides on their feet as the Eagles and the Greyhounds left it all on the court Tuesday night.

Slidell had a 4-3 lead when Ector's offense took over. Brett Pearson drained a three-point shot from the corner.  PJ Connelly canned a triple as the Eagles hit their stride.  Connelly and Jimmy Ford scored on drives and Connelly hit another three-pointer.  Ector had a 16-7 lead at the first buzzer.

The Eagles continued to distance Slidell in the second period and Ector took a 31-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Facing elimination, Slidell turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and the Greyhounds whittled Ector's lead down to eight points with six minutes left in the game.  But a fundamentally sound Ector team hit their free throws in the closing moments to head home with a 10-point win, 59-49.

Slidell's Isaac Davis scored a game-high 21 points, with teammates Trent Garrett and Scott Bingham both putting up seven points.

PJ Connelly led Ector with 17 points, Jimmy Ford and Cody Kennedy each finished with 12 points, Brett Pearson had five points and Trent Jones tossed in two points.

The Ector Eagles advance to face Miller Grove in Celeste on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in a Region III-A area game.