LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
Championship Game
It was a busy afternoon of basketball play at Eveland Gymnasium, and there was lots of excitement filling the stands, as the Lions defeated the Eagles, in a close game of intense play and back-and-forth scoring. In the first quarter of play, the Eagles held a thin 10-8 lead, but if there was a deciding quarter, it was the second.
The second and third strings of the Lions were impressive and it was obvious they were there to help their starters, as they added 11 points to the board. They held the Eagles to no scoring and the Lions led 19-10 going into the half. In the third quarter, the Eagles got to work as they outscored the Lions 8-5 and now trailed 24-18.
Fourth quarter and the Lions were still making those baskets, while the Eagles struggled. The Lions defeated a talented Eagles team, 34-22.
Lions player William Dennis led with his 17 points. Charlee Dennis trailed her brother with 8 points. Jocelyn Martin was credited for 5, and Tinley Luth and Gwen Garwood each had a bucket.
Zion Howard, a sixth-grader, led the Eagles with 10 points. Gavin Helwig finished with 6 points and Zyron Howard had 4. Kingston McKim rounded out the scoring with his bucket.
Third Place Game
The Cards and the Tigers matched up for the third-place game with the Tigers taking the win after an overtime battle. The first quarter of play was pretty even and at the end, it was tied at 4.
Second quarter and the second and third stringers poured on the juice, and soon the Cards were finding themselves trailing 18-8 as the teams headed to the locker room. Once again hitting the hardwood, the Cards outscored the Tigers during the third, but still were trailing 26-18.
It was the final quarter of play, when the Cards made a good run for the basket and added 16 points to the board, while holding the Tigers to 8 points, and just like that the game was tied and headed to overtime.
The Cards were able to put in a bucket during OT, but it was the free throws that secured the game for the Tigers. They were 5 out of 10 at the free throw line and that gave them what they needed to wrap up third place. The final score was 39 to 36.
The Tigers were led by Zayne Rogers with his 13 points and Justin Evard with 8. Chanse Pitts, Ethan Pitts, Hunter Rollings and Lexie Sallee each had 4 points. Bo Gibson added a bucket for 2.
Syrus Osborne was top scorer for the Cards with his 13 points and Sam Weir wasn’t far behind with 10. Leo Smith popped in another 7 points, and Hunter Ford and Krayten Trogdon each added 2.
Consolation Championship
In this game, it was the Bears and the Colts, with the Bears taking a 36-8 victory. First quarter and the Colts led 4-3. The Colts were unsuccessful in scoring during the second and the Bears pushed onward and now led 15-4. Third quarter and the Colts still struggled with making contact with the basket, and that allowed the Bears to get farther out of sight, as they now led 27-4. Final quarter of play, the Colts added four to the books, but too little, too late and the Bears took a 36-8 win.
Bears player Trevan Brown led the way with his six points, but he had some help with teammates Deegan Starr and Bryce Pope, as they pumped in five points each. Mason Webb, Keaton Pruiett and Tess Barrett, got in on the action with each scoring four points. Benson Lorenzen and Jagger Craig each had a bucket and a free throw for three. Keaton Cary was the final scorer for two points.
Coby Beals led the Colts with his six points, and Kayden Kennedy and Kinley Kindred each had a bucket.
Consolation Runner Up
First quarter of play and both teams were fighting for bragging rights, with a 6-5 score, and the Panthers possessing a narrow one-point lead. But once again, it was those second and third stringers for the Panthers that gave them new life. Before long, the Panthers were leading 22-8 and headed to the second half.
The Hawks added three points during the third but couldn’t keep pace with the Panthers, as they added 10 more points and now led 32-11. Final quarter of play and things were happening for the Hawks. They put 10 points on the board and held the Panthers to eight, but there just wasn’t enough time and the Panthers won 40-21.
The Panthers were led by Killion Davis with 10 points and trailed by his brother, Fender, with eight. Carter Gore also added eight points to the books and Claire Cornwell chipped in three baskets for six. Becher Blair, Bryson Mills, Grayson Jones and Gigi Bradley each added two.
Mayo sixth-grader Kelsey Reel had seven points for the Hawks. She was followed very closely by Spencer Drake with six. Hudson Gilbert and Liam Eveland had three each and Zane Cusick finished with a bucket.