Oak Ridge picks up victory over Magnolia West
MAGNOLIA — After an early stretch with seven games in the first week or so of the season, the Oak Ridge War Eagles played last Tuesday at Willis and then took the rest of Thanksgiving week off.
Oak Ridge first-year coach Marlin Cloudy wasn’t sure how his team was going to respond off that. But they looked just fine Tuesday night at Magnolia West.
The War Eagles extended a six-point lead at halftime to a 77-54 win over the Mustangs in nondistrict play.
“I worried we may be a little rusty,” Cloudy admitted afterwards. “We just took off the rest of the week. But they came in and they were fresh and they were sharp and they were aggressive. We played probably the hardest we’ve had all year.
Oak Ridge (2-6) had a good night on both ends of the floor. It had three players in double figures scoring and 11 War Eagles contributed points overall. Defensively, the War Eagles out-rebounded Magnolia West and forced 20 turnovers.
“We want to keep ours under 15,” Cloudy said of the turnover battle. “So if we force a team over 20, that’s a good game.”
The Mustangs (4-4) shot the ball extremely well from the outside as they were 13 of 24 from beyond the arc as a team.
“That’s our bread and butter is the 3-pointer,” Magnolia West coach Michael Clifford said. “We have a lot of kids who shoot it really well. We’re going to live and die with the 3. And it kept us in the ballgame tonight. We shot the ball fairly well.”
Griffin Datcher got Oak Ridge off to a good start in the first quarter. He totaled 10 points in the frame as he showed his versatility. Griffin hit a 3-pointer, made a finger roll, hit a floater and sunk the ensuing free throw on the foul and then hit an open jumper.
Spencer Cochran totaled all 10 of his points in the first half, including seven in the first quarter as Oak Ridge led the Mustangs 20-15 after eight minutes of play.
Magnolia West’s first seven baskets on the night all came from long range. Logan Greathouse made three of those 3-pointers to lead the Mustangs with nine points at halftime.
Out of halftime, Oak Ridge picked up the intensity and outscored Magnolia West 26-16.
The War Eagles balanced scoring helped them close out the game.
“We play hard and we love what they are trying to do,” Clifford said. “We had a tough time playing very athletic teams. That team out-athleted us.”
Datcher and De’Aveon High each had 14 points to lead Oak Ridge.
Cloudy said afterwards that he felt it was his team’s most complete game of the young season.
“Any time you make shots and you score 77 (points) and then you play defense the way we played (you give yourself a chance),” Cloudy said.
Greathouse finished with 12 points (all on 3-pointers) to lead Magnolia West. Chris Lynch added 10 points. Cameron Carter, Jaylen Wysinger and Michael Stamps each hit a pair of 3-pointers.
As well as the Mustangs shot, Clifford felt like his team needed to improve in other areas.
“We didn’t free throws well and we didn’t take care of the ball well,” Clifford said. “And we got outrebounded.”
Oak Ridge is off until next Monday at Katy Taylor. The Mustangs will compete in the Needville Tournament this weekend.