This year’s Eupora squad hasn’t been the team that East Webster has grown accustomed to facing on the basketball court.
The Eagles have nearly doubled the win total that they had the last two seasons combined and they were coming to Cumberland on Tuesday looking to win. A 13-0 run in the second quarter proved that as the Eagles had a six-point lead, but EWHS answered back.
After roaring back to take a lead into the locker room, the Wolverines didn’t look back and would comfortably win in a 74-50 victory over the rival.
“Coach (Austin) Burl has done a good job with them and we knew that they were better coming into the year,” EWHS head coach Jon Ginn said. “It’s a big game so they came here and they were ready and knocked us on our heels. Midway through the second quarter, they looked like they were the better team so to finish out like that, it set the stage.”
The second quarter was critical in the ball game.
After EWHS used an 11-2 run to end the first quarter with a 21-12 lead, Eupora came out in the second frame and went on a 13-0 run to take a 25-21 lead and would have a 29-23 advantage at one point. EWHS got the momentum back before the half, however, as they went on a 12-0 run to take a 35-29 lead and they only built it from there.
“I think that 12-0 run they went on got our guys down a little bit,” Burl said. “We got into some foul trouble at the end and sending teams to the line really changes the flow of the game, especially when you’re a high-energy team.”
The Wolverines (15-3) had a nice balanced evening from their team and they were led by Prentiss Cork’s 17 points in the contest while Dee Bingham scored 10 points.
The potential is beginning to be realized from the talented Cork. The defensive end for the football team, Cork took some time to transition to basketball this season but he’s becoming a valuable piece in the post with Omarion O’Briant.
“We’re trying to get to where we can function well with him and Omarion playing at the same time,” Ginn said of Cork. “He’s great at getting to the free throw line and is a good rebounder. He’s a perfect compliment to what we’re trying to do. When he plays well, it helps us play much better.”
Eupora (7-9) had 15 points from Tre Johnson and another 10 points from KJ Gary. The Eagles are preparing for the start of Class 2A, Region 4 play on Friday evening as they travel to Union and Burl believes his team is ready for that competition.
“I think the guys are starting to understand what it means to play hard,” Burl said of his team. “We’ve still got a lot to work on offensively. We’re weak on the offensive side of the ball, but playing hard on defense has carried us all season.”
Ginn and the Wolverines will also be in division play taking on Aberdeen on the road in Class 3A, Region 4 action on Friday night.
Girls
Coach Courtney O’Briant-Wright played a lot of players as the depth of the Lady Wolverines took hold of the ball game against a Eupora team down to just six players and grabbed a 71-26 victory.
Without Alexia Johnson, Eupora had just three players score with Caleesia Davis carrying the load with 22 of the team’s 26 points. Only two players were able to score field goals in the game for the Lady Eagles and the team had just one made shot in the second half.
“I think we started out great and played more as a team and then we got lazy and tired,” coach Cody Ramer said. “Caleesia is a great guard who has really improved this season as a ball handler, captain and a leader. I just have to have more younger players step up.”
EWHS was leading 17-9 in the first quarter and just 32-19 at halftime before exploding in the second half. The team outscored Eupora 39-7 in the second half including surrendering just four points in the third quarter.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter with 1 minute left that the Lady Eagles were able to score their first bucket of the second half.
“At the beginning we started out slow. I reminded them that we were up 10 points against Starkville Academy and then lost. We had to take care of business from the beginning,” O’Briant-Wright said. “We missed a couple of layups but we got it going once they understood that we’ve got to get better every day, especially with division play coming up.”
For the Lady Wolverines (12-6), they needed to establish a dominant win after two tough losses in the East Webster Christmas Classic against Pillow Academy and Starkville Academy. The next four games will determine whether or not the Lady Wolverines will be the district champions as they start a four-game stretch by taking on Aberdeen on the road on Friday night starting at 6 p.m.
Eupora (6-9) will start division play at Union on Friday and the Lady Eagles are hoping to break up a five-game losing streak.
