Eagles regroup, seek postseason ‘ jolt’
To Cutter Morning Star boys coach Jesse Slick, the Eagles’ late- season layoff seemed longer than it was.
After an open date, two postponements and a makeup game Slick said might have just as well not been played, CMS started regrouping for tournament play in Friday’s regular season- ending 51- 30 rout of Magnet Cove. Much of their success came on defense, the Eagles still showing some offensive rust.
CMS rebounded from Monday’s makeup loss to England, which was its first game since a Jan. 28 win at Mount Ida.
“We went up to England for an early game, and we didn’t come to play,” Slick said. “It was a wasted trip, really. It didn’t feel like we played again until tonight. It was hard to get into a rhythm. But everybody else is in the same position. It’s hard to say where we’re at.”
The Eagles, 14- 10 overall, finished 8- 4 in the 2A- 5 and are the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. They play the winner of Monday’s Abundant Life- Mount Ida game at 8: 30 p. m. Tuesday, needing a win to clinch a spot in the East regional at Carlisle.
“We have to find a way to do that,” Slick said. “When the postseason starts, that gives everybody a jolt. Hopefully it will give us the jolt we need.”
With its outside shots not falling against Magnet Cove — senior guards Spencer May and Bailey White each hit one three- pointer — CMS got an offensive boost from junior forward Dax York, who tied White with a game- high 12 points. York went 4 for 5 from the field in the second half, helping the Eagles pad a nine- point halftime lead.
Consistent production on the front line would bolster the Eagles’ tournament hopes, Slick confident of getting points from his four backcourt regulars ( May, White fellow senior Chance Taylor and junior Matthew Bates).
“All four of those guards do a good job for me,” he said. “I feel like on any given night three out of those four are going to score 11 or 12 points. When we get that four or five spot getting 11 or 12 points we’ll end up in the 60s.”
Senior post Ryan Scroggins had seven points, five consecutively for a 42- 18 third- quarter lead.
Magnet Cove, which got 10 points from Kaleb Jacks and nine from Eli Fisher, is the 2A- 5 tournament’s No. 4 seed, plays No. 4 Mountain Pine at 5: 30 p. m. Tuesday.
The semifinalists advance to the regional, with Slick eyeing the next step with his five seniors in mind
“These seniors are a good group of kids,” he said. “I’d really like to send those guys out by going to the state tournament. That’s what we’re shooting for.”
*** The 2A- 5 girls tournament starts Monday with No. 6 Mountain Pine playing No. 7 Abundant Life. The Lady Eagles ( 11- 12), the No. 4 seed after Friday’s 55- 31 loss to Magnet Cove, plays No. 4 Mount Ida at 4 p. m. Tuesday.