Eads Edges Conference Foe McClave in 69-64 OT Shootout

By Betsy Barnett

January 16, 2004

Local basketball fans got their money's worth in Eads on Friday night as the Lamar Holiday runner-up McClave Cardinals came to town for a very important conference matchup. When the dust had cleared the Eads boys would find a way to knot the game late in the fourth and pull ahead in the OT period for the 69-64 win despite losing two starters who fouled out late in regulation time. The Eagles would extend their record on Saturday night in Crowley County defeating the 2A Chargers, 56-38, and setting their overall season record at 6-2.

Both Eads and McClave were evenly matched in their first conference game of the season resulting in a fast-paced, highly-charged encounter. McClave's Jeremy Mallard and Noel Cardinelli were almost all the Eagles' man defense could handle as the two seniors did the bulk of McClave's scoring. Mallard's excellent shooting and shifty inside moves would allow him to score inside and out and bothered Eads for much of the night. By halftime McClave looked to be gaining the advantage leading 36-29 despite three treys by Eagle junior swing guard Marcus Gilmore. In the second half Eads' defensive pressure began to wear on the Cardinals as their scoring production slowed behind some outstanding effort by Levi Kraft who played Cardinelli tough until he got into foul trouble early in the third and ended up on the bench by the end of the fourth. Dain Barnett and Adam Saffer would do an excellent side in the "help" defensive roles slowing down Mallard's penetration effectiveness and getting the ball out on the wing to Gilmore and older brother Steven Gilmore. The elder Gilmore would heat up the cords throughout the second half and into the overtime and became a force McClave could not contain. He would hit a couple of huge buckets late in the fourth quarter to get the tie and a chance to get the Cardinals in OT. In the extra period Gilmore would get two straight fouls and was forced to end his contribution to his team when he fouled out with less than two minutes remaining. With two starters out it looked bad for Eads but the rest of the Eagles continued solid defense and Marcus Gilmore continued to be the offensive threat hitting 10 of Eads' 14 points in the OT. But the game would come down to Mallard. After hitting a three pointer and bringing McClave within three very late in the OT period, Mallard was fouled behind the arc and given three charity shots with a chance to tie up the OT. To everyone's disbelief, the sharp-shooter missed all three. That would be the difference in the game as Eads managed to control the ball to the buzzer.

Both Gilmores had a phenomenal game with Marcus hitting for 34 points while Steven added 26 more. Mallard led the Cardinals with 23 while Cardinelli was a threat all night hitting for 18 points.

It was a more rounded scoring attack for the Eagles on Saturday night against a big and physical Charger team at Crowley County. The Chargers started five seniors and experience measured heavily in their court. However, the Eagles made a statement right away when Barnett hit a shot on the left baseline and they were off to the races. Eads' inside game got better which allowed the Gilmores free rein from the outside. However, this one was never determined until midway through the second half. Eads would only lead by two, 22-20 at half, but a 22 point explosion in the third led by two threes by