LINDEN &045; After a close first half of play, the Marengo Academy Longhorns raced to a 62-48 win over the Sparta Warriors Monday night. Marengo outscored Sparta 33-20 in the second half to seal the victory.

The game began with both teams running the floor. The Marengo rebounding allowed fast break opportunities in the first quarter. Sparta wouldn’t be out done as the first quarter ended knotted at 15.

The Warriors edged ahead early in the second quarter as both teams continued to run up and down the floor. The game was tied twice in the quarter, once at 24 and again at 26. Sparta held a 29-28 advantage as the second quarter ended.

The Longhorns picked up their intensity on defense in the third quarter, while continuing to stay in their running game. They hold the Warriors to just seven points, who began to tire, and push to nine-point lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the final eight minutes the Warriors seemed to run out of steam, as the Longhorn running game started to wear the team from Evergreen down. Sparta never got any closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Marengo’s Jacob Harris scored a game high 20 points. Drew Stuart added 11 points, while Thomas Fultz chipped in 10 points.

The Longhorns return to the hardwood tomorrow, when they take on Sumter Academy in York.