Eads Boys Go Third in Holiday Shootout with Loss to McClave

By Betsy Barnett

December 24, 2004

Although it wasn’t what the two-seeded Eads Eagles wanted, Eads was forced to play in the third place game on Championship Saturday in the 41^st Annual Lamar Chamber of Commerce Holiday Tournament, after they lost to the eventual champions, McClave, 60-53, in the semifinal round. Eads would get some satisfaction as they demoralized the top-seeded team in the tournament, Holly, 72-51, in the third place contest.

It was basically four teams who were so close no one could guess how they would all shake out in the Holiday Tournament. Holly came in top-seeded after an overtime win over Granada the weekend before. Eads and McClave both seemed legit, as well, as they both came in with good records and have a couple of the best players in the state. However, just as in the girl’s tournament when Eads revenged their previous overtime loss to Walsh in the semis, Granada revenged themselves on Holly in their semifinal contest. Eads drew McClave in the semis and struggled with their inexperience dropping to the third place game to take on Holly. McClave would eventually win the championship barely slipping by a very good Granada group.

The Eagles advanced to that disappointing semifinal game with a blowout in the quarterfinal round with Pritchett. Coach Shawn Randel didn’t know what to expect from the Pirates as they had gone into OT with Vilas the weekend before. However, Pritchett was no contest for the sharp-shooting Eagles as 11 long balls from Eads lit up the cords getting them the win. One of the best players in the state, Marcus Gilmore, led Eads with 24 points including three treys, while little brother Demetrius Gilmore added 20 points with four threes, and senior forward Dain Barnett added another 11 including a trey.

Although Marcus Gilmore was phenomenal in the McClave game hitting for 34 points, scoring seemingly at will at the post and on the perimeter, Eads could not find an answer for an equally phenomenal player in the Cardinal’s senior forward Noel Cardinelli who hit for 17 points in McClave’s successful bid for the tournament crown. Marcus would score the first 11 points for Eads until little brother Demetrius hit a sweet three at the 1:40 mark of the first quarter putting Eads up for the first time, 17-15. However, as the quarter continued Eads would get in foul trouble and was forced to go to a very young bench. Barnett pulled his third foul early in the second and was forced to sit for the rest of the first half. Eads still managed to keep pace but slipped somewhat with the foul trouble. By halftime, Eads was again trailing, 34-29. But it would be a devastating third quarter that nailed the lid on the coffin for Eads. Scoring production became almost non-existent for the Eagles while McClave spread out the wealth as Eads tried to focus on Cardinelli. The purple was outscored by the red 20-7 in the third and the Eagles found themselves dying on a very steep hill. Although, the Eagles put on a ferocious attack into the fourth where Marcus and Cardinelli went head to head and Eads outscored McClave 17-7 behind 14 points from Gilmore and another three by the young Gilmore, it would come down to the bench depth for McClave. They simply had more gunpowder on the bench than Eads, a fact that is also evident in their female counterparts.

With the loss the young Eagles were disappointed but came out with more poise and maturity against a Holly team that lost a heartbreaker to Granada the night before. Everyone in the gym thought the bigger, more athletic Wildcats would dominate the young Eagles but, though they are young, they are skilled and their quickness and shooting ability demoralized the Holly group. It was a high scoring contest early with Eads and Holly going up and down the court and exchanging a flurry of buckets. Eads was led by the Gilmores and some nice wakeup play by point guard Kenan Gooden who had been silent in the two previous tournament contests. After the first half the score was knotted 34-34 and Eagle fans were pleasantly surprised. Defensive adjustments at halftime were the difference in the game as Eads came out in a trapping defense that forced a number of Holly turnovers. Holly also got into foul trouble with one of their best, David Seufer, fouling out early in the fourth. With the fast pace of the game Eads was in their element as Gooden penetrated with his patented left-handed lay ups a number of times hitting for the bulk of his 22 points. After the third quarter, the game was all but over as the Eagles outscored Holly 26-7 in that quarter. Marcus Gilmore led all scorers with 26 points, averaging 28 points in the tournament, while freshmen Gooden and Demetrius Gilmore teamed up for 35 points.

Eads will get another chance at McClave immediately after the holiday break. They will need to travel to McClave with all aspects of their game ready, particularly at the post position, in order to shoot down the high-flying Cardinals.