Reed Brinager drops 35 points in rivalry win over Eastern
By: Evan Johnson
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REEDSVILLE, Ohio (WOUB) – For Eastern (7-14, 4-5) and Southern (16-2, 8-0), the two games they play against each other are the two biggest games of the season. It was back and forth through the first half, but Southern pulled away quickly, winning 70-42.
For the Reedsville and Racine faithful, this decades-long rivalry means everything. That showed in the atmosphere as both fanbases packed The Nest.
“It’s always a good atmosphere when you play this game,” said Southern Head Coach Jeff Caldwell.
From tip-off, both teams were hitting big-time shots. The match-up of the night was between Colton Lloyd and Reed Brinager. They both were knocking down shots early as Brinager ended the first quarter with 13 points.
In the next eight minutes, the game remained close. The Tornadoes were able to use good ball movement to control the possession, while they also kept feeding Brinager.
The Southern defense kept adjusting throughout the game, switching between a zone and man coverage. This resulted in them eliminating the paint, which is where Eastern thrives. The Eagles were able to keep the game within six points heading into the half.
In the third quarter, it was all Southern as they dominated the boards, especially on the offensive end. The defense continued to slow down Eastern, which was able to score just six points in the quarter.
Turnovers would become the biggest problem for the Eagles in the second half, as they allowed Southern to extend their lead. In the final quarter, Southern ran away with the game, winning 70-42.
“When the sun rises, you’ve got to get your boots on and get back to work. I’ve told these boys for years; you can’t change the past. There is no point to dwell on it, but you have to learn from it,” said Eastern Head Coach Greg Lloyd.
Reed Brinager ended the night with 35 points, accounting for half of the team’s points.
Eastern will look to bounce back on Feb. 14 against Fort Frye, as the Eagles will also honor their eight seniors.
The Tornadoes will play South Gallia, also on Feb. 14. It will be the final chance for both teams to earn RPI points.