Boys Team Gets First Win

December 10, 2009

The high school boys basketball team hasn't had a lot of feel good games in the last couple of years but Thursday at the Marion Classic they were able to fend off a very pesky Bluestem team and come away with their first win of the season.

Eureka got off to a very quick start with buckets from Seth Spore, Hunter Moore, and Braden Barrett to take an early 10-4 lead. Bluestem fought it's way back into the game by hitting the offensive glass and were able to tie the score up 12-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Tornadoes were able to take care of the ball tonight which allowed more opportunities and they took advantage of it during the second quarter as they jumped out ahead by as many as 7 as Junior Braden Barrett hit several big buckets during that stretch. Sophomore Billy Holcomb came in off the bench and gave some very solid minutes and important rebounds. The Tornadoes went into half with a 21-19 lead.

Barrett with 3 of his game high 22.

Junior Braden Barrett led all scores with 22 on 8/21 shooting while hitting 4 three pointers during the night. Eureka continued to take of the ball, scrap for loose balls, and hit just enough shots to keep the Lions at bay. At the end of the 3rd quarter Eureka led 32-27.

Bluestem would not go quietly into the night but Junior Tyler Spore hit two baseline jumpers, Junior Braden Barrett buried a 3 from the corner along with 2 big free throws to put Eureka up 4 with under a minute to go. Bluestem was able to bank in a long 3 to cut the lead to one and then fouled Sophomore Seth Spore with 2.9 seconds. Seth calmly hit both free throws to put Eureka up 3. Bluestem got off a very good shot that bounced off the front rim as the horn went off and the Tornadoes won 45-42.

Scoring for Eureka, Barrett 22, S. Spore 7, T. Spore 6, Kuhn 3, Moore 3, Boyer 2, Holcomb 2. Rebounds: Barrett 9, T. Spore 8, Holcomb 7, Moore 3, S. Spore 2, Boyer 2.

The Tornadoes only turned the ball over 12 times to Bluestem's 18. Eureka had 18 steals with Barrett having 6, T. Spore 3, S. Spore 3. Eureka was 17/56 from the field, 6/20 from 3pt. FT's: 5/9

Up next for the Tornadoes will be the winner of Belle Plaine/Oxford on Saturday at
1:15pm in Marion.