Friday night’s boys championship game brought together two of the most powerful offensive teams of the year -- the Morrison Eagles versus the Warren County Middle School Pioneers.
They split during the regular-season matchups, both winning by 10 points. But on Friday it would be all WCMS against the Eagles, winning by a final score of 29-22.
C.J. Taylor carried the load for WCMS, scoring a game-high 14 points for the Pioneers. Taylor even ended the first quarter with a long range 3-point shot finding its mark as the buzzer sounded.
Dawson Waldren and Kason Holder would lead the offense for the Eagles with six points each.
Coming out after halftime, WCMS would have a commanding 19-7 lead. The Eagles definitely had their work cut out for them if they would overcome the first-half deficit.
The Pioneers would come out and try and slow the pace, which actually worked in favor of Morrison. Two minutes in and the Eagles had found their way to the rim for two easy baskets in close.
WCMS would call for time to regroup after the missed communication. The Pioneers would come out of the timeout with new focus and make a late run in the third quarter, ending the quarter with a 25-17 lead.
The Eagles were eager to get back on the floor, but the shots were just not falling for Morrison in the fourth. With help from post players inside, WCMS would not give Morrison very many second looks for scoring.
Points were few and far between for both teams in the fourth quarter. Pressure defense and chaotic passing kept both teams running, which was an advantage for WCMS as time ticked off the clock.
Early on, WCMS would jump out to a quick 12-4 lead in the first quarter. The Pioneers moved through the pressure defense will little resistance from the Eagles. Morrison was able to catch a few turnovers from the Pioneers but was unable to convert them into points. Taylor’s 3-point shot at the buzzer would excite the crowd.
The second quarter would be the worst quarter for Morrison as Dawson Waldren would be the lone Eagle to produce any offense, connecting on a 3-pointer. The second quarter belonged to the Pioneers, even though their offense had slowed slightly from the previous quarter. Turnovers and bad shots caught up to the Eagles and left them down heading into the half behind by 12.
PIONEERS – C.J. Taylor 14, Case Simerly 7, Donte Elam 4, Tyzuan Ladet 2, Kayden Jordan 2
EAGLES - Dawson Waldren 6, Kason Holder 6, Ryland Holder 5, Dominque Betancourt 3