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Eastern (Pekin) left Gainbridge Fieldhouse Saturday partying like it was … 2017.
The Musketeers captured their second Class 2A state championship after taking a 50-32 victory over Oak Hill. Eastern’s first title came nine years previously with a victory over Oak Hill.
Eastern (21-7) repeated the feat thanks to a cold-shooting start by the Golden Eagles and a defensive effort that kept Oak Hill from getting into an offensive rhythm.
“Sometimes,” Oak Hill coach Kerri Barcomb said, “you come out and hit your shots; sometimes, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. We ran into someone that wouldn’t allow us to get it going.”
Eastern’s defense - especially on Oak Hill’s top scorer, 6-1 sophomore Brianna Dailey - forced the Golden Eagles into missing their first seven and 10 of their first 11 shots. That allowed the Musketeers to take a 12-7 lead after one quarter that they expanded to 26-15 at halftime.
In fact, Eastern led the entire game.
“We knew (Oak Hill) would have a serious height advantage on us,” Eastern coach Taylor Drury said. “But, we took care of business (inside). The amount of toughness (my) team has is why we were here and why we won.”
The Eastern defense held Dailey to eight points (roughly half her average) on only seven shots from the floor the entire contest.
And, when the Golden Eagles (24-4) were able to get shots off, most were unsuccessful. Oak Hill hit only 11-of-40 for the game, a cool 27.5 percent.
Two other factors – rebounding and turnovers – were largely in Eastern’s favor.
Oak Hill committed 16 miscues to just eight for the Musketeers, while the winners also held a 35-26 rebounding advantage – 15-8 on the offensive end.
“I thought the flow of the game played into our favor,” Drury said. “We wanted extra possessions any way we could get them and when it comes to rebounding and 50-50 balls, we have girls that can go get them.”
Oak Hill was only able to close within seven points (34-27) after three quarters, but shot 2-of-10 from the floor in the fourth quarter to stymie any hope of a rally.
Sidney Burton led Eastern with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Addison Smith added 13 points. Oak Hill did not have a double-figure scorer.
Drury started as a forward on the 2017 championship team, but felt this title was more satisfying.
“This one is sweeter,” she said. "(As a coach) there are a lot of things you don’t have control of. You just prepare them as best you can and send them out there. At the end of the day, I knew walking out of the locker room, these kids would take care of business.”
Eastern completed a double for the Southern Conference as Borden topped Fremont earlier on Saturday in the Class A title game.
Oak Hill, which didn’t start a senior Saturday, has now finished runner-up in 2A four times. The Golden Eagles won the title in 2019.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA basketball: Eastern Pekin defense stymies Oak Hill in 2A title game
Continue reading...
The Musketeers captured their second Class 2A state championship after taking a 50-32 victory over Oak Hill. Eastern’s first title came nine years previously with a victory over Oak Hill.
Eastern (21-7) repeated the feat thanks to a cold-shooting start by the Golden Eagles and a defensive effort that kept Oak Hill from getting into an offensive rhythm.
“Sometimes,” Oak Hill coach Kerri Barcomb said, “you come out and hit your shots; sometimes, you can’t hit the broad side of a barn. We ran into someone that wouldn’t allow us to get it going.”
Eastern’s defense - especially on Oak Hill’s top scorer, 6-1 sophomore Brianna Dailey - forced the Golden Eagles into missing their first seven and 10 of their first 11 shots. That allowed the Musketeers to take a 12-7 lead after one quarter that they expanded to 26-15 at halftime.
In fact, Eastern led the entire game.
“We knew (Oak Hill) would have a serious height advantage on us,” Eastern coach Taylor Drury said. “But, we took care of business (inside). The amount of toughness (my) team has is why we were here and why we won.”
The Eastern defense held Dailey to eight points (roughly half her average) on only seven shots from the floor the entire contest.
And, when the Golden Eagles (24-4) were able to get shots off, most were unsuccessful. Oak Hill hit only 11-of-40 for the game, a cool 27.5 percent.
Two other factors – rebounding and turnovers – were largely in Eastern’s favor.
Oak Hill committed 16 miscues to just eight for the Musketeers, while the winners also held a 35-26 rebounding advantage – 15-8 on the offensive end.
“I thought the flow of the game played into our favor,” Drury said. “We wanted extra possessions any way we could get them and when it comes to rebounding and 50-50 balls, we have girls that can go get them.”
Oak Hill was only able to close within seven points (34-27) after three quarters, but shot 2-of-10 from the floor in the fourth quarter to stymie any hope of a rally.
Sidney Burton led Eastern with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Addison Smith added 13 points. Oak Hill did not have a double-figure scorer.
Drury started as a forward on the 2017 championship team, but felt this title was more satisfying.
“This one is sweeter,” she said. "(As a coach) there are a lot of things you don’t have control of. You just prepare them as best you can and send them out there. At the end of the day, I knew walking out of the locker room, these kids would take care of business.”
Eastern completed a double for the Southern Conference as Borden topped Fremont earlier on Saturday in the Class A title game.
Oak Hill, which didn’t start a senior Saturday, has now finished runner-up in 2A four times. The Golden Eagles won the title in 2019.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA basketball: Eastern Pekin defense stymies Oak Hill in 2A title game
Continue reading...
