Copperas Cove's high-pressure defense led to 12 Bryan turnovers in the third quarter, and the Bulldawgs rolled to an 83-43 victory over the Vikings on Friday in District 12-5A action.

Bryan (3-18, 1-8) had 23 turnovers for the game but really unraveled in the third period when Copperas Cove (13-11, 4-5) scored 27 points, often in transition. That had two effects, building on a 17-point halftime edge and coaxing the Vikings into a running game. With only seven players on the varsity roster, Bryan could not sustain the pace.

"They came with the pressure, and it bothered us a little bit, working so hard to get open against the pressure," Bryan coach Chris Jones said. "It caused us to burn a lot more gas than we wanted to. A few times, we had to [call timeouts]. That's what you have to do with a short bench."

Copperas Cove junior guard Cory Scott hit five 3-pointes and scored 31. He had 12 points in the runaway third period.

Junior Hollis Ballom, who opened Bryan's scoring with a driving bucket and closed it with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, scored 17 for the Vikings.

"We got caught up in the emotion of the game," Jones said. "We've got a lot of guys out there just competing, and we got reeled into the running. I've been a full-court pressure coach, and it's hard for me to back the kids off and tell them not to go after people, but it's what we have to do right now.

"They want to [run], and I want to do it, but I know it's not what's best for us. It's hard on everybody right now."

The Vikings began with a high-energy game and cut the Bulldawgs' early lead to 12-10 when Jabrel Hanks banked in a shot from the top of the circle and V.J. Banks took a good pass from Josh Gibbons to score with 2:26 left in the quarter. Copperas Cove led 17-12 after the first quarter.

Copperas Cove edged farther in front in the second period, when Bryan scored just five points. The Vikings stayed within 26-17 before the Bulldawgs had a rapid-fire 8-0 run to finish the first half. Scott stopped and dropped in a 3-pointer. Rashaun Gibson scored in transition, and Michael Shipman canned another 3 to end the quarter with Copperas Cove ahead 34-17.

A pair of 3-pointers from freshman Qualyn Newton provided a lift for the Vikings in an otherwise tough third period. Ballom had five of his points in that quarter, getting a three-point play.

Copperas Cove 83, Bryan 43

COPPERAS COVE (13-11, 4-5) -- Tyler Wilson 1 2-4 0 4; Deion Robinson 2 1-2 0 6; Rashaun Gibson 3 1-1 2 7; Michael Shipman 2 1-3 2 8; Ryen King 2 2-2 0 8; Cedric Carlisle 2 0-0 0 4; Cory Scott 12 2-3 2 31; Trivez Tucker 2 0-0 2 4; Rashard Odomes 2 7-12 3 11. Totals: 28 16-25 11 83.

BRYAN (3-18, 1-8) -- Quaylon Newton 2 0-0 1 6; Marquest Merrett 2 0-0 3 4; Jabrel Hanks 1 0-0 0 2; V.J. Banks 4 0-1 1 8; Josh Gibbs 2 0-0 4 4; Sterling Whitley 1 0-0 0 2; Hollis Ballom 6 4-5 3 17. Totals: 18 4-6 17 43,

Copperas Cove 17 17 27 22 -- 83

Bryan12 5 13 13 -- 43

3-pointers: COPPERAS COVE -- Scott 5, King 2, Robinson, Shipman. BRYAN -- Newton 2, Ballom.

JV: Copperas Cove 74, Bryan 70. BRYAN -- Juwan Thomas 22, Dejric Mitchell 17.

Next: Bryan is at Harker Heights and Copperas Cove hosts A&M Consolidated on Tuesday.