TUPPERS PLAINS, Ohio — Snapping the skid.
The Eastern basketball team ended a five game losing streak Saturday night with a 52-49 victory over South Gallia in a Tri-Valley Conference matchup at “The Nest”.
The Eagles (2-8, 2-4 TVC Hocking) started the game with a three-minute 6-to-2 run to take the early lead. South Gallia (3-7, 1-4) rallied back with an 8-to-3 spurt to end the period with a one point advantage. Kirk Pullins scored all nine of Eastern’s first quarter points.
EHS regained the lead early in the second and out scored South Gallia 15-to-11 through the first 6:30 of the quarter. The Rebels scored four unanswered to retake the lead and end the half.
The Eagles began the second half with a 6-0 run but SGHS answered back with a 14-to-9 run to end the quarter. The score was knotted at 39 with one period remaining.
Five minutes into the fourth quarter the score was once again tied, this time at 46. SGHS took the lead with a free throw at the 2:40 mark. Eastern closed the game with a 6-to-2 to get back in the win column for the first time since December 14th. ^
“We did what we were coached to do tonight,” Eastern coach Corey Britton said after the game. “We have talent, we have kids that play hard but we just can’t follow a game plan.”
The Eagles were led by Pullins with 17 points, and Chase Cook with 11. Max Carnahan marked eight points, Zakk Heaton added seven and Troy Gantt finished with five in the triumph. Cameron Richmond rounded out the Eastern scoring with four points on the night, while having Eastern’s lone three pointer.
“Playing on the road is tough,” said South Gallia coach Larry Howell. “You can’t give a team second chances and we gave them plenty tonight with offensive rebounds and hustle plays.”
South Gallia was led by Kody Lambert with 17 points including a trio of three-pointers. Landon Hutchinson had 12 points in the games, all of which came in the second half, Brayden Greer had 11 points, and Michael Wheeler added four. Ethan Swain finished with three points and Gus Slone had two points to round out the SGHS scoring.
The Eagles held a 25-to-20 advantage in the rebounding category but South Gallia had a 15-to-17 advantage in turnovers. EHS shot 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) from the free throw line, while the Rebels were 12-of-24 (50 percent).
“It was an unbelievable effort by our kids,” Britton said. “Now we just need a little bit of consistency, it’s what we haven’t had all year but hopefully we can get that Tuesday night.”
Eastern has won two consecutive home games, while improving to 2-2 in “The Nest”. South Gallia has lost three consecutive contests and falls to 1-4 on the road this season.
“We play good enough to stay in a game but we don’t play good enough to win a game,” Howell said. “We have to figure out that we need to play 32 minutes of basketball and take advantage of the opportunities we have.”
The Eagles will go for the season sweep of SGHS on January 25th in Mercerville.
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