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Eastern beats Trimble, snaps 4-game losing streak
By: Andrew Woods
Posted on:
GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB)- The Eastern Eagles (8-7, 3-2 TVC-Hocking) broke their 4-game losing streak by spoiling homecoming for the Trimble Tomcats (2-12, 1-4 TVC-Hocking), winning 62-49.
The game started quickly for Trimble, but Eastern would soon pull even. While Trimble made good passes to set up short field goals, Eastern began making triples early and often. By the end of the first quarter, the game was tied 15-15.
Soon after the second quarter began, however, the game began to take a turn. Eastern fired off a long 12-2 run, fueled by a passing game that found open lanes to the basket and a strong three-point game. Meanwhile, Trimble could only make three field goals in the half. These disparities lead the Eagles to an 8-point lead at halftime.
The third quarter played similarly to the first, where both Eastern and Trimble were scrapping for points. By the end of the quarter, however, the Eagles would extend their lead to 12 by the end of the quarter. Trimble head coach Tracy Blevins noted that this was not the first time Trimble struggled late, saying “We’ve had a patter where we’ve been in games in the first half…and we come out and have a mental lapse in the second half.”
In the fourth quarter, Trimble began to mount a charge. The Tomcats began hitting threes, just as Eastern had all game. After a 6-0 run, with just under five minutes left in the game, Trimble pulled within six points of Eastern. However, the Eagles would soon slam the door thanks to an 8-0 run fueled by Derrick Barnes’ pair of threes and a strong transition game. This final push by the Eagles secured them the 62-49 win.
After the game, Trimble head coach Tracy Blevins noted that in Eastern’s final push, “there were times down the stretch that we just didn’t execute on offense or especially on defensive transition,” noting that the team was focused on it. Still, Blevins saw some positives in how the team plays, saying that after the game, he told his players that “I can’t ask you to play any harder than what you guys have done.”
Eastern’s lead scorers were Barnes and Gavin Murphy, who scored 18 points each, but in very different ways. Murphy was “Mr. Inside”, scoring all 18 of his points from the paint. Murphy also proved a defensive workhorse, securing a double-double with 12 rebounds and adding 5 steals. Barnes was “Mr. Outside”, sinking six three-pointers on ten attempts. Barnes did not attempt a single shot from inside the arc.
Trimble was led by Brady Jajczyk, who scored 12 points, and Mason Coffman, who racked up 11.
Both teams have long waits for their next games. Eastern will wait a week for their next game, as they play Waterford next Friday. Trimble will wait two fewer days, playing Wellston next Wednesday.