Eagles edge Eastside in first round

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Morrison’s Zach West (41) draws some tough defensive pressure from Eastside’s Zach Seamons while looking to throw a pass to Charlie Hennessee (32) during the second half of Monday’s night’s opening-round game. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

In a much-anticipated game between the No. 4 seed Morrison Eagles and the No. 5 seed Eastside Bulldogs, the Eagles soared to victory with a solid fourth quarter from the free-throw line to pick up a 38-31 win Monday in the opening round of the Warren County Elementary Basketball Association tournament.

Morrison will take on the top-seeded Centertown Warriors Thursday at 6:15 p.m. in semifinal action.

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening period, managing just four points each. Dustin Holland scored Morrison’s four points while Eastside’s four points came from Logan Seamons and Tyler Gilley.

In the second period pressure defense by the Eagles came up with several big steals, which resulted in Morrison controlling the quarter. Eastside went cold from the floor and was held scoreless in the period. Morrison on the other hand scored at will, hitting for 11 points as Bobby Fults hit for seven including a 3-pointer at the 2:40 mark which helped give Morrison a 15-4 lead at the half.

Eastside turned the tables in the third period with a little hard-nosed defense of its own. Morrison managed just six points in the period, while the Bulldogs came on strong with baskets from Morgan Wilcher and Zach Seamons as Eastside made it a six-point game at 21-15 just before the fourth period.

Wilcher pulled his Bulldogs within two points at 21-19 with back-to-back baskets in the opening minutes of the quarter. Eastside added a pair of 3’s from Gilley and Zach Seamons, but Dustin Holland was the man down the stretch. Holland hit 8-of-8 from the foul line to secure the win for Morrison.

Leading the way for Morrison was Holland with 14, while Fults hit for 12, Charlie Hennessee had eight, Casey Dunn hit for two, and Jake Perry and Zach West added one point each.

For Eastside, Wilcher hit for 12 points, Zach and Logan Seamons had five points each, Gilley had seven and Tyler Hillis had two points.