RISON - ZaKyler Walker scored 49 points as the Rison Wildcats dominated from start to finish in a 70-45 throttling of the Gurdon Go Devils in the 8-2A conference opener Tuesday night at the Rison Gym.
Playing in only their second game of the season, Rison took control nearly from the opening tip as Walker set the tone by scoring the first six points of the game. Rison was already up 13-0 when the Devils made their first basket with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
Gurdon simply had no answer for Walker. He capitalized on steals, fast breaks and drives to basket, scoring 11 of Rison's 16 points in the first quarter and 18 of its 23 points in the second.
Meanwhile, the winless Devils were struggling to find any offense. After managing just four points in the first quarter, Gurdon managed to add nine more in the second, going into the halftime down 39-13.
The Go Devils did find a little more offense in the second half, but every time they put together even a hint of a rally, Walker would counter with another explosive play to the basket.
Walker's two free throws midway through the third quarter gave Rison its largest lead of the game, 44-17.
Gurdon tried to sneak back into the game early in the fourth quarter.
After scoring the final basket of the third to cut the Wildcat lead to 58-34, the Devils reeled off nine unanswered point to start the final frame, and Rison's cushion was suddenly down to 15, 58-43.
Again, Walker responded, hitting one of two free throws and then completing a three-point play to quickly stretch it back to a 19-point lead. Those four points sparked a 12-2 run by the 'Cats to close out the game.
After scoring 29 points in the first half, Walker added 20 more in the second, scoring 12 in the third and eight in the fourth.
Rison improved to 1-0 in 8-2A conference play and 1-1 overall with the its first win under new head coach Greg Anthony.
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