After a tightly contested first half, the Morgan Academy Senators used a strong performance in the third quarter to pull away and defeat the rival Meadowview Christian School Trojans 48-39 on Saturday.

Senators’ head basketball coach Bob Taylor said Morgan (8-6) played strong defense in the second half and was sparked by its man in the middle on the offensive end. “We settled down and ran our offense,” Taylor said. “Hunter Rogers came out in the second half and we were able to feed it down low to him and he did a good job of capitalizing on being able to catch the ball and lay it up. I also thought we did a better job second half of playing good, solid defense.”

After Meadowview’s Dylan Lawrence hit a buzzer-beating three to end the first half and make it a 24-19 game, he opened the second half with a mid-range jumper to bring the Trojans within three points at 24-21.

Morgan started working the paint as Rogers scored down low to make it 26-21 with 7:00 remaining in the third.

Lawrence answered with another jump shot and Morgan came back with another dose of Rogers to make it 28-23.

Meadowview’s Tanner Dismukes scored on a layup to make it 28-25, but Morgan kept feeding Rogers, who scored three unanswered baskets in the paint to put the Senators’ lead at 34-25 with 3:14 left in the third.

Meadowview’s Travis Stacey stopped the run with a basket, but Morgan outscored the Trojans and took a 39-29 lead into the final quarter.

The Trojans outscored the Senators in the final quarter and got within nine points, but could not manufacture enough offense.

Trojans’ head coach Lebo Jones said his team just didn’t do what it needed to in order to win.

“We were just dragging around all night on defense, we didn’t rebound, we didn’t make our free throws,” Jones said. “We’re a team that likes to run the floor and if we don’t rebound it’s hard for us to win.”

Connor Henderson led Morgan with 23 points, while Rogers had 13 points.

Lawrence led the Trojans with 21 points, while Stacey added 10 points.

 

Senators top Trojans

 

The Morgan Academy Senators’ varsity girls withstood and a late comeback attempt and a pair of game-winning shot attempts to defeat Meadowview 39-38 on Saturday.

Morgan head basketball coach Rand Smith said the Senators (4-10) just didn’t give up and kept playing hard.

“The key was not giving up,” Smith said. “Give it to Meadowview, they played hard all the way to the end and we gave them two shots to win it. We’re just fortunate they didn’t fall. I’m glad our girls didn’t stop and kept working all the way to the end.”

Morgan led 31-27 entering the final quarter, but Meadowview (1-11) chipped away at the lead as both teams exchanged baskets.

With the score standing at 39-30, Meadowview’s Katey McIntyre hit a shot and the free throw after being fouled to make it 39-33 with 0:47 left.

Meadowview stole the inbound pass and got it to McIntyre, who scored down low and hit the free throw after being fouled again to make it 39-36 with 0:38 remaining.the Senators missed a shot, the Trojans got it down court and Christina Espinola hit a jumper to make it 39-38 with 0:14 remaining.

The Trojans forced a turnover on the next possession and McIntyre raced down court with time ticking away and attempted a game-winning three, but it bounced off the rim.

The Trojans got the rebound with time still remaining on the clock and McIntyre got one last potential game-winning three attempt, but it did not fall.

Trojans’ head basketball coach Elyse McIntyre said she’s proud of the effort her team gave.

“I was pleased with the way they performed,” Elyse said. “To me, they played together as a team. I think a lot of our problem is just that we’re young and inexperienced, but other than that I think we’re on the right road to being where we want to be toward the peak of the season.”

Katey McIntyre led Meadowview with 27 points, while Lindsey Yeldell led Morgan with 13 points.

Both Morgan teams will take the floor again Monday in Montgomery against Eastwood with games starting at 4 p.m.

Both Meadowview teams will be at home on Tuesday against Southern with games starting at 4 p.m.