Sports
Belpre Makes Big Plays to Get Past Miller
By: Joseph Payton
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With the Miller Falcons holding onto a four point lead late in the 4th quarter, a steal and a fast break looked like it would lead to a huge layup in transition to extend the lead. However, Belpre’s Deijon Bedgood leapt up and strongly pinned the layup off the backboard, changing the momentum over to the Golden Eagles. The huge defensive play sparked an 8-0 run, giving the Golden Eagles a 54-50 lead, which they would hold on to as they defeated Miller 63-52 at Meigs High School.
Belpre started the game on a 9-0 run which quickly evaporated as Miller answered with a 22-5 run to win the first quarter by eight points. The Golden Eagles narrowed the gap by retaking the lead 29-28 with a 3-pointer from Brayden Longfellow as the 2nd quarter clock hit zero.
The third quarter featured five lead changes as Miller took a 44 to 43 lead into the final period of the game.
After Belpre’s Brayden Longfellow nailed a triple with 1:31 left in the game to give the Golden Eagles a six-point lead, the rest of the team sealed the victory at the free-throw line.
Bedgood finished the game with 14 points, two steals, and two rebounds, as Nathan Mason also added 14 points with nine rebounds.
Leading Miller in scoring was Carson Starlin with 18 points. Starlin shot 50% from the 3-point, hitting four from beyond the arc. He also recorded six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the season-ending loss.
The win earns the Golden Eagles a Sectional Championship and a berth in the OHSAA District Tournament at the Convocation Center in Athens, OH. They will take on the No. 1 seed Sciotoville East Tartans in the District Semi Final at 6:15 PM on Mar. 1st.