DECATUR — In a game which had the early makings of another 43-point blowout win for the Eagles, Argyle had to buckle down and fend off some threats from Vernon to win its Class 3A Region I quarterfinal game, 62-44.

DRC/Gary Payne

Argyle’s Billy Bruce Carroll, rear, looks to pass the ball against Vernon’s Winston Jones during a Class 3A Region I quarterfinal game Tuesday in Decatur. The Eagles won 62-44. Click here for more photos.

The No. 2-ranked Eagles (34-3) advance to Lubbock next weekend for the regional tournament to play Brownfield, the team that knocked Argyle out of the playoffs last season. Argyle defeated Borger 78-35 in the area round on Friday.

“I think the days of 40-point wins for this team are over,” Argyle coach John King said. “To play a game where we had to focus for a full four quarters and hold off a comeback was big for us.”

After the first quarter, it seemed as if the Eagles were well on their way to another snoozer as they outscored the Lions 17-3 in the opening frame and led 30-13 at the half.

Vernon (19-11) came out in the second half and went on a 7-2 run to start the third quarter and pulled to within nine points with just under two minutes to play in the third quarter thanks to some timely 3-point shooting and good work on the offensive glass.

King said his squad came out just like he likes to start the game, but might have relaxed a bit in the third quarter.

“We talk about the first four minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the third quarter as being the most important eight minutes of the game because that’s where you set the tone for the entire game,” King said.

Early on, the Eagles used their decided size advantage to dominate the boards, led by senior Cory Dixon, a Northwestern State signee. Dixon finished the night with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

“They had a size advantage, but we’ve been dealing with that all season long,” Vernon coach Jeff Bontrager said. “We’re athletic but I think we were too spread out and when you’re spread out, it’s easy for the other team to get rebounds.”

Bontrager said Dixon isn’t what makes the Eagles as good as they are – he’s just part of the formula.

“He’s definitely good,” the Vernon coach said. “But what makes them such a good team is that they have so many guys. If a team has one good player, you can handle that, but they have so many weapons.”

Added King: “I’ve always said the best thing about this team is that if you stop one particular player we have several more that can step up and get the job done. If you focus on stopping the post play, there’s no question our guards can get it done.”

Argyle got 13 points from 6-4 point guard Caden Dickerson and nine from Josh Drake. Erik Katzen and Brandon Peck each scored eight, but Peck provided the highlight reel material for the evening.

With 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter and Vernon trying to stop the bleeding of an 11-0 run, Dixon pulled down a rebound and threw an errant outlet pass to Peck, who had to dive into the scorer’s table to save the ball back in bounds.

He got up, snuck over to the baseline outside the arc, caught a pass and drove in for a reverse layup.

Peck also got things started for the Eagles entering the fourth quarter, when they had just a 13-point lead, hitting an off-balance spinning layup. Seconds later, he stole the ball at mid-court and went uncontested for a layup, bringing the raucous Argyle crowd into a frenzy.

King, who won the coin toss with Bontrager and got the game at Decatur instead of Wichita Falls, said the home-court advantage was evident.

“I just appreciate the fans coming out,” King said. “The student section behind their bench played a huge difference in tonight’s game, there’s no question.”

Now, lying ahead for the Eagles is No. 7 Brownfield, and King said his team won’t have any trouble getting up for the squad that knocked it out last season.

“It’s a good thing we’re playing Brownfield,” King said. “They’re a top-10 team right now, but this is the team that beat us last year and I just think the kids will have a little extra in them just because of the team we’re playing. We’re really focused right now.”

ADAM BOEDEKER can be reached at 940-566-6872. His e-mail address is aboedeker@dentonrc.com .

Argyle 62, Vernon 44

Vernon (19-11) – Donovan Wilkinson 8, Dametrias Murray 13, Deonte Martin 2, Winston Jones 9, Kyle Campsey 3, Darien Williams 6, Bryce Clifton 3.

Argyle (34-3) – Cory Dixon 19, Caden Dickerson 13, Brandon Peck 8, Josh Drake 9, Erik Katzen 8, Billy Bruce Carroll 5.