Eagles can’t keep up with larger Lions
By Brandon Miniard, Sports Writer, [email protected]
The Lanesville Eagles hosted rival Rock Creek Community Academy in a potential sectional preview last Wednesday. Despite fighting hard against the Lions for much of the contest, the Lions’ superior height and costly turnovers were the hosts’ undoing as they fell 54-43.
The Lions took advantage of their length early on, forcing a number of early turnovers en route to a 12-5 run, powered primarily by five points apiece from Jaleb Treat and LaDarius Wallace followed by three points from Gavin Gullion and a dunk by 6-foot-11 center Marial Diper. The Eagles’ points during the surge came courtesy of four points from junior guard Jack Crosby and a bucket from junior center Lucas Frazier. Junior guard Maddex Miller added a pair of buckets, including a putback against the imposing Diper at the buzzer to shrink the early deficit to 15-10.
The Eagles kept fairly even with the Lions to begin the second quarter with five points from Crosby and three from Miller, but the Lions concluded the period on an 11-3 run. Treat notched another four points, followed by a Wallace three-pointer, three points from Diper, a bucket from Keajuan Beco and a free throw from Johnathon Boggs to take a 28-18 lead into halftime.
Coming into the second half, the Eagles took their offense to the perimeter as 12 of their 14 points in the period came on three-pointers, led by a pair from junior guard Dawson Teeter along with long balls from Crosby and Miller. The Lions countered on the inside with five points from Treat alongside buckets from Beco, Diper and Gullion to take a 39-32 lead into the final quarter.
The hosts fought as hard as they could to close the gap as they got another Crosby triple, three points from Teeter, buckets from Miller and senior center John Morgan and a free throw from senior guard Carter Smith. The Lions kept their distance with four points from Wallace, buckets from Diper and Treat and Beco and Boggs going a combined 7 for 8 from the foul line to seal the 54-43 victory.
Crosby and Miller led the way for the Eagles with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Treat led the Lions with 16.
The Eagles salvaged the weekend when they traveled Friday to New Washington to confront the rival Mustangs in Southern Athletic Conference action, pulling out a 38-34 victory. They will prepare for their final road trip of the regular season starting on Friday when they travel to Crothersville to conclude SAC play, followed by heading to Crawford County on Saturday. The Eagles will conclude the regular season at the Eagles’ Nest on Tuesday when they host Austin. All three contests are set to tip at 7:30 p.m.
