WCMS boys stun Bulldogs in finals

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Eastside’s Ethan Womack runs over Warren County Middle’s Andy Southard while bringing the ball upcourt during Saturday’s title game.

Eastside entered Saturday night’s championship game with a undefeated season, with their only loss of the year coming at the hands of the Warren County Middle School’s seventh-grade team in the pre-season tournament.

But the Bulldogs’ season-long dominance didn’t faze the Pioneers, as WCMS used all 24 minutes to edge Eastside in the tournament championship game, 51-49.

In the first period Eastside’s Michael Jones put in six points to help keep his team close. WCMS used the 3-pointer, one by Josh Moore and one by Lane McCoy, to give itself a 12-10 lead by the end of the quarter.

Eastside turned up the pressure on defense in the second period, which caused several turnovers by WCMS. The Pioneers struggled from the field, with only six points in the period, while Eastside used its run-and-gun offense to take the lead with an eight -point run with just under two minutes to play in the half.

Darrin Rogers broke away from the Pioneer defense and laid in six of the Bulldogs’ 12 points in the period, helping his squad to a 22-18 lead at the break.

Justin Bouldin opened the third period with a long range ‘3’ for WCMS to make it a one- point game. In the closing minutes of play in the third, Pioneer Kyle Mullican drove down the middle of the paint and hit for eight points.

Ethan Womack gave Eastside a 31-27 lead with 1:57 left in the period, and Eastside added five more points to go up 36-32 with 48 seconds left in the period. Donte Weir tied the game from the line for WCMS to end the third at 36-36.

In the final period the game was tied at 38-38 with 4:04 left on the clock. Relentless defensive pressure by the Pioneers disrupted Eastside’s offense, which resulted in five unanswered points for the Pioneers as they extended their lead to 45-40.

Rogers was fouled behind the arc which sent him to the line for three shots as he pulled Eastside within two at 45-43 with two minutes left in the game, but McCoy put the Pioneers up by three with 30 seconds to play.

As the tension mounted, Kenny Roberts of Eastside made it a 50-49 game with 17 seconds on the clock. With five seconds left in the game Warren County turned the ball over, giving Eastside one more chance.

But the inbounds pass went long, sailing out of bounds turning the ball back over to WCMS.

Josh Moore stepped to the line with 1.3 seconds showing on the clock and calmly hit one of two to give the Pioneers the championship.

For the Pioneers, Bouldin led the way with 19 points. Mullican hit for 11, Moore had eight, Chris Weitzel put in six, McCoy had five and Weir added two points.

Rogers led Eastside with 19 points followed by Womack with 12, Jones had 10, Roberts and Jared Vanatta had four points each.