The final score may read ER-59, RHS-49 and make the casual reader think it was not much of a game, but the Gladiators threw a serious scare into the Eagles and their 16-game win streak tonight. RHS led for most of the first half, it was still tied midway through the third quarter, and still very much in doubt until the Eagles finally pulled away in the last four minutes, largely due to some serious RHS foul trouble.
The Gladiators played one of their best games of the season as Ben Agnor started things off with a three from the right corner barely 15 seconds into the game. Moments later, Kendall Casto added a bucket and it was 5-0 Gladiators before the Eagles scratched. The Big Red took a couple more five point leads, the last being at 13-8 before the Eagles started to chip away.
East Rock took its first lead of the game at 19-18 at the 2:41 mark of the second quarter but Riverheads surged back to a 21-21 tie before a late stickback by Logan Lam sent the home team into the locker room ahead 24-21.
As we all know, the first few minutes of the third quarter will often determine a game and East Rock came out with some heavy pressure, forced a quick turnover, and immediately took their largest lead of the game at 26-21. At that point, it might have appeared that they were ready to take complete charge of the game. However, Riverheads did not wilt under the pressure and stormed back to a 28-28 tie midway through the period.
Again East Rock moved out in front, 33-28 this time, before Graham Cash knocked down one of his three triples on the night to pull Riverheads back within a bucket at 33-31. The third quarter ended with East Rock ahead 37-33.
Riverheads was still within three at 43-40 before the Eagles scored six quick points to take their largest lead of the night at 49-40. By that time, the fouls were mounting up big time as the two biggest Gladiators, Casto and Tripp Agnor, would eventually foul out. East Rock was able to end the game on the double bonus and that enabled them to pad the margin a bit, but yet keep it a very respectable loss for the Gladiators. I cannot imagine Coach Coffey being disappointed in the effort he received tonight.
Cash led the Gladiator scoring with 18, and five of his teammates scored between five and eight. As for the Eagles, Lam seemed quiet by his standards, so I am not sure who led their scoring.
I understand that Lee won at Wilson, so that sets the stage for tomorrow night's action, which will be right back at East Rock. The Gladiators and Hornets will tangle in a re-match of last year's consolation game, and the Leemen and Eagles will likewise hook up again in the championship game.
Sources here on the board are saying that Conference 35 has scratched the rest of its playoffs. So I assume that to mean that after tomorrow night's C-36 results are in, we will hear who will play who in next week's first round of regional action. If I understand the system, Wilson and Riverheads will travel "up north" on Tuesday, and East Rock and Lee will host a pair of C-35 teams, again following the pattern of last year's regional action.
The Gladiators played one of their best games of the season as Ben Agnor started things off with a three from the right corner barely 15 seconds into the game. Moments later, Kendall Casto added a bucket and it was 5-0 Gladiators before the Eagles scratched. The Big Red took a couple more five point leads, the last being at 13-8 before the Eagles started to chip away.
East Rock took its first lead of the game at 19-18 at the 2:41 mark of the second quarter but Riverheads surged back to a 21-21 tie before a late stickback by Logan Lam sent the home team into the locker room ahead 24-21.
As we all know, the first few minutes of the third quarter will often determine a game and East Rock came out with some heavy pressure, forced a quick turnover, and immediately took their largest lead of the game at 26-21. At that point, it might have appeared that they were ready to take complete charge of the game. However, Riverheads did not wilt under the pressure and stormed back to a 28-28 tie midway through the period.
Again East Rock moved out in front, 33-28 this time, before Graham Cash knocked down one of his three triples on the night to pull Riverheads back within a bucket at 33-31. The third quarter ended with East Rock ahead 37-33.
Riverheads was still within three at 43-40 before the Eagles scored six quick points to take their largest lead of the night at 49-40. By that time, the fouls were mounting up big time as the two biggest Gladiators, Casto and Tripp Agnor, would eventually foul out. East Rock was able to end the game on the double bonus and that enabled them to pad the margin a bit, but yet keep it a very respectable loss for the Gladiators. I cannot imagine Coach Coffey being disappointed in the effort he received tonight.
Cash led the Gladiator scoring with 18, and five of his teammates scored between five and eight. As for the Eagles, Lam seemed quiet by his standards, so I am not sure who led their scoring.
I understand that Lee won at Wilson, so that sets the stage for tomorrow night's action, which will be right back at East Rock. The Gladiators and Hornets will tangle in a re-match of last year's consolation game, and the Leemen and Eagles will likewise hook up again in the championship game.
Sources here on the board are saying that Conference 35 has scratched the rest of its playoffs. So I assume that to mean that after tomorrow night's C-36 results are in, we will hear who will play who in next week's first round of regional action. If I understand the system, Wilson and Riverheads will travel "up north" on Tuesday, and East Rock and Lee will host a pair of C-35 teams, again following the pattern of last year's regional action.
