Coppell Boys Basketball challenged one of the state's top-ranked programs Friday night, taking a halftime lead against No. 22 Prosper Walnut Grove before falling 76-61 at Coppell High School Arena.

The Cowboys trailed 14-10 after the first quarter but responded with 23 points in the second, taking a 33-31 advantage into halftime against the Wildcats, who entered the season ranked No. 22 in Class 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

Walnut Grove regained momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Coppell 23-11 to take a 54-44 lead entering the final eight minutes. The Wildcats added 22 points in the fourth to secure the victory.

Iorna Handem, Brody McCormick and Robert Watson led Coppell with 16 points each, accounting for 48 of the Cowboys' 61 points.

Handem delivered an efficient offensive performance, making six of 11 shots while adding six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

McCormick provided Coppell's strongest perimeter shooting, connecting on four of nine three-point attempts. His four three-pointers accounted for all but one of the Cowboys' makes from beyond the arc.

Watson contributed another 16 points, including six free throws, along with six rebounds and three assists.

Crawford O'Connor added four points, six rebounds and a team-high four assists. He also drew two offensive fouls, providing valuable defensive contributions.

Coppell finished with 13 offensive rebounds and scored 20 points off turnovers, creating additional scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Shooting consistency proved challenging, however, as the Cowboys made 22 of 62 shots overall and five of 27 from three-point range.

Despite the loss, the Cowboys' second-quarter performance demonstrated their ability to generate offense against a competitive opponent. The team will look to build on those stretches while improving shooting consistency and execution as the season continues.

Coppell returns to action Saturday, November 14, against Lake Ridge at 5 p.m. in the Burleson Centennial Showcase at Centennial High School.