#2 Eaglecrest Outlasts #10 Cherokee Trail
The Centennial League match up of undefeated #2 Eaglecrest Raptors and the #10 Cherokee Trail Cougars was a classic match up of talented teams and individual players. The Cougars jumped out to an early lead but were unable to put the Raptors away. Eaglecrest over took the lead midway through the third quarter and never let the lead slip away despite the best efforts of the Cougars.
The first quarter was all Cherokee Trail and senior forward David Thornton. The 6’4 senior was nearly unstoppable early in the game scoring at will in the paint. He and the Cougars showed patience early in the game versus the Eaglecrest zone working the ball side to side then eventually to an open Thornton or senior Ian Kelly in the post. Kelly also had a good first quarter for Cherokee Trail, as he and Thornton combined for 12 of Cherokee Trail’s 14 points. Eaglecrest’s offense was slowed down the Cherokee Trail zone dense as well in the first quarter, junior standout Colbey Ross was help scoreless and senior Elijah Wilson was the only consistent threat in the first quarter. Cherokee Trail led 14-8 at the end of the quarter.
The second quarter the team basically switched roles. Eaglecrest’s zone defense started to turn over the Cougars and Eaglecrest went on a run. The Raptors had 6 different players score in the quarter. The biggest buckets of the quarter were 3-pointers by senior Jalaughn Jackson and junior Joshua Walton. Walton’s 3-pointer with 50 seconds left until half time capped a 8-0 Raptor run to give them a 22-20 lead. The Raptors defense and rebounding held the Cougars to eight points in the quarter but Thornton had all eight points including the game tying basket in the final moments of the quarter. The score was 22 all at halftime.
Even though junior guard Jaizec Lottie started the quarter off with a 3-pointer, the Cougars struggled to put the ball in the basket immediately after halftime. Cherokee Trails missed four lay ups in a row and committed a number of turnovers to start the quarter. Eaglecrest did not fare much better but where able to match each Cherokee Trail basket. This time is was Eaglecrest having the success in the paint as Ikenna Ozor scored six points in the quarter all in the paint as Eaglecrest broke down the Cherokee Trail zone and hit the weak side post for easy baskets or put backs. Ozors last bucket gave Eaglecrest a 32-29 lead with a little under three minutes left in the quarter. The Raptors would not relinquish the lead again. After the Ronnie Barfield free throw made it 34-37 with just under 10 seconds left Ross did this for the Raptors.
The fourth quarter was intense and Eaglecrest couldn’t put the Cougars away and the Cougars couldn’t make the shots in the final minutes to tie the game. Eaglecrest only made three field goals in the quarter and didn’t make one in the final two mites. The Raptors final points all came off of free throws. The Cougars made a five point run run and cut the Raptor lead to 46-45 with three minutes and change left in the game but they could not make the shot or the free throws to over take Eaglecrest in the final minutes. The Cougars had their chances too, but missed lay ups and air balled three pointers didn’t help. Eaglecrest however was great on the defensive boards and helped create turnovers as well in the final quarter. Both Ross and sophomore Victor Garnes made clutch free throws in the final 15 seconds to seal the win. 55-51.
Double Digit Point Scorers
Eaglecrest
Ross 12
Garnes 12
Cherokee Trail
Thornton 27
