After an extended Christmas break due to icy conditions and a bomb threat, Rhea County High School basketball finally returned to action Tuesday night in Evensville.

The Golden Eagles greeted the new year with a 63-40 loss to Walker Valley High School.

Rhea County looked recharged in the first quarter and trailed the reigning District 5-AAA and Region 3-AAA champion Mustangs by only one point after the first quarter, 12-11.

Despite dropping to a nine-point deficit midway through the second, the Golden Eagles pulled back to within four by halftime with the help of their foulshooting. Rhea County sank six of 10 shots from the charity stripe in the first half and seven of 13 on the night.

The wheels fell off the wagon in the second half, however, when Walker Valley's Cody Burrell found his sweet spot and drained three three-pointers in the third.

Mustang Josh Williams also came on in the quarter, sinking five field goals, helping extend Walker Valley's edge to 18 points by the fourth quarter.

Rhea County's guests went on to outscore them 12-7 in the final quarter.

Branden Logsdon led the Eagles with 10 points on the night, followed by Hunter Daniels and Andrew Facciani with nine points each. Daniels topped Rhea County's stat sheet with four rebounds and two blocked shots.

Meanwhile, Rhea County's girls (3-8) fell to Walker Valley's Lady Mustangs 60-17 in a game in which the clock ran continuously from the 3:02-mark in the third quarter due to the TSSAA mercy rule.

The Lady Mustangs sank seven of seven shots from the foul line, a far cry from Rhea County's 16.7 percent. Walker Valley also scored 30 points in the paint, compared to RCHS's 10.

Even so, Lady Eagle Head Coach Shane Johnston found some positive notes on the night.

"We played the No. 8 team in the state. I thought our effort was good, we were just out gunned and outmanned," Johnston said. "We challenged the girls to attack the boards at half time and Mary Hickey and Alex Hughey responded. I thought Brittany Landreth did a good job of trying to lead and being aggressive."

Hughey and sophomore Sarah Nixon led the team offensively with four points apiece. Alli Mooreland led Walker Valley with 16 points.

"Now we're focusing on Soddy Daisy, Ooltewah and McMinn County. Those are three games we feel we've got a shot at. We'll see how much better we've gotten since the first time we played them," Johnston said. "The kids have got to stay focused. To be as young as we are, we've accomplished a lot."

Rhea County was slated to face Soddy Daisy High School Friday night ,but results were not available at press time. Their next match will be at District 5-AAA foe Bradley Central High School Monday at 6 and 7:30 p.m.

Cathy Barnes can be contacted at cathy.barnes@rheaheraldnews.com.