With only four practices as a complete team under their belt heading into Tuesday’s home opener against Presidio, Fort Stockton had yet hit their early season stride under second-year head Zack Roberson.

That narrative changed in a rapid manner during the second quarter against the Blue Devils.

Fort Stockton erased a four-point deficit (22-18) with a 12-0 run to take a 30-22 lead with two minutes to play before halftime.

The Panthers never relinquished their lead, posting a 70-52 victory over Presidio – their second victory against the Blue Devils in a span of a week.

“We’re starting to get our legs under us and getting some shots to fall. When we’re fresh I feel we can run with the best of them,” Roberson said. “At the end of day, it was our home opener and the objective was to win. I was proud of them that they came out and did that.”

Fort Stockton used a suffocating full-court press a majority of the game and the defensive game plan proved to be a critical part to the Panthers success.

The scheme forced numerous turnovers and resulted in easy buckets on the other end of the floor.

“We played great defense this time,” Roberson added. “We’re going to try and get guys to force turnovers, whether it’s getting the steal or deflection. That’ll set up easier layups.”

Senior Isaiah Garcia led the Panthers with nine points and fellow senior Ethan Acosta finished with eight.

Seven additional Panthers tallied at least five points including: Luis Medina (7), Bryan Encinas (7), Aryan Hernandez (6), Kye Norman (6), Johan Mireles (6), Marco Garcia (5), Jesus Herrera (5).

The Panthers crafted their second quarter run with a well-balanced offense that accumulated a season-high mark of four 3-pointers in one quarter. Medina, Mireles, Acosta, and Herrera each made one triple in the frame.

Isaiah Garcia went scoreless in the first half and quickly found his rhythm out the break with seven points in the third quarter and two in the final frame.

Fort Stockton’s record improved to 3-4 with the win. Up next is the Stanton Tournament Dec. 8-10.

Panthers tally 1-4 mark at Lamesa tourney

Fort Stockton competed for the first time as a complete unit this season last week at the three-day O.W. Follis Tournament n Lamesa.

The Panthers recorded a 1-4 record at the three-day tournament that ran from Thursday through Saturday.

Fort Stockton’s lone victory was 60-52 defeat of Slaton on Dec. 1. Aryan Hernandez led the team with 12 points and Freshman Diego Ronquillo scored a career-high nine points in the win.

Roberson’s unit fell to Lubbock High to begin the tourney on Dec. 1 by the score of 56-40.

Lamesa downed Fort Stockton 52-40 to start the day on Dec. 2 and that followed by a 65-51 loss against New Deal.

Fort Stockton concluded the tournament on Dec. 3 with a 67-49 loss to Reagan County.