Redbirds came very close to upsetting Eldorado last night

Steve Dunford (franklincounty-news.com)

In the way the pools shook out, the West Frankfort Redbirds and the Eldorado Eagles faced each other in a semi-final game last night at Max Morris gym.

wf-redbirdsThe Redbirds were very patient on the offensive end with both teams tied at seven.  On defensive end, West Frankfort Coach Kevin Toney plays that 3-2 zone a lot where Noah Allen, Kyle Hammers and Andrew Sturgill were giving the Eldorado guards havoc by several traps on the wings.  It was tied at seven after the first quarter.

In the second quarter Noah Allen bombed three long threes, forcing the Eagles into a man to man for a while.  When the Eagles went man, Kyle Hammers was open on a couple cuts to the basket.  Both teams go the locker rooms with the Redbirds up 23-19.

In the third quarter.  The Redbirds had a seven point lead, which they held quite a bit thorough out the night.  There were a couple of times throughout the night the Redbirds extended the lead out to nine.

Andrew Sturgill came up with a couple of big offensive rebounds.  In my very unofficial stats I had Sturgill leading the Redbirds with seven boards.  I also had the Redbirds out rebounding the triple towers of Eldorado 22-21.  Eathan Partrige was held to eight points, and Jacob Traxler was held to three.

Here was the back breaker for the Redbirds.  The Redbirds led by nine until about the six minute mark of the fourth quarter.  They wre one shot and out on two possessions in a row.  Eldorado scores on each possession and cuts it to three.

Big man Braden Attebury hits a big three and ties it up around the 4:30 mark. He led the Eagles on the night with 15.  I felt the air go out of the balloon for the Redbirds as well as the red clad crowd.  The crowd in purple was going nuts.  It was a big momentum switcher in the game, in which West Frankfort had the momentum all night.

Down the stretch the Eagles showed why they are the number six team in the state in the latest class 2A Associated Press poll, receiving some first place votes, and 21-1 on the season.  This is a team that beat Mt. Carmel, who have beat up on some Indiana schools in their conference that would be 3A and 4A in Illinois.  They are also ranked above Pinckneyville in the state wide polls.

The Eagles made their free throws down the stretch and that wins High School basketball games.  They will play the Marion Wildcats tonight in the championship game of the Midwinter Classic at 8:30 tonight.   West Frankfort (8-9) will face SIRR Ohio rivals the Herrin (12-5) Tigers in the third place game at 7:00 p.m.

Noah Allen led all scorers on the night with 17.  Austin Glodich added nine for the Redbirds with seven in the second half.

Along with Attebury’s 15.  Raymond May came of the bench and added 13 for the Eagles.

In other MWC action today, the Christopher Bearcats (11-7) will face the Anna Jonesboro Wildcats (6-13) at 3:30 for seventh place.  The Cairo Pilots will play the Carterville Lions for fifth place.

You played your guts out Redbirds.  Don’t hang your head after this loss.

BOX SCORE:

ELDORADO:  (48)  Attebury 3 1 6-6 15; May 6 0 1-3 13; Partrige 4 0 0-0 8; Meredith 1 0 3-3 5; Ogelsby 1 0 2-4 4; Traxler 1 0 1-1 3 Kaiser 0 0 0-0 0

WEST FRANKFORT (44)  Allen 1 4 3-4 17; Glodich 4 0 1-2 9; Hammers 3 0 1-5 7; Sturgill 2 0 2-3 6; Thrash 2 0 1-1 5; Wolfe 0 0 0-0 0;

SCORE BY QUARTERS: 

ELDORADO:                    7    16    11    10  –  48  

WEST FRANKFORT:   7    12      8    21  –   44

 

 

 

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Speak Your Mind

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News