The Morgan Academy Senators picked up some momentum going into the regional tournament, as they defeated the Monroe Academy Volunteers 50-31 Friday on senior night.

Bob Taylor, head boys basketball coach of Morgan (20-6), said it was a good win for his team, as it now sets its sights on hosting the regional tournament starting Thursday.

“It was a good win for us. We got to play a lot of people on senior night. Seniors did a good job, it was a good win for them, and that was our 20th win of the year,” Taylor said. “That was the goal that we kind of set out to get, and we reached it. Overall, I don’t think we played exceptionally well, but we played good enough to win. We’ve got Monday and the regional tournaments to get ready for two days after that, so we’ve just got to come out and play, be ready to go and try to get in the Elite 8.”

The Senators held a 23-13 lead at halftime and kept their lead at double digits, until Monroe’s Hunter Glass scored on a layup and hit the free throw after being fouled to make it a 29-20 game with 2:27 left in the third.

But Morgan’s Zach Singh answered back with a bucket that sparked a 9-0 run, which included baskets by Dalton Lee and Trey Powe, as well as a 3-point play by Powe where he hit a layup and the free throw after being fouled while shooting, helping the Senators take a 38-20 lead into the fourth.

Morgan’s Ford Manderson scored on a layup to open the fourth, making it 40-20.

Monroe’s Ethan Nall hit a pair of free throws and teammate Connor Morgan hit a 3-pointer to cut the Senators’ lead to 40-25, but Manderson responded with a three of his own that extended the lead to 43-25, as the Volunteers were outscored 7-6 the rest of the way.

Manderson led the Senators with 13 points, while Singh had 9 points, and Lee and Hunter Webster each had 8 points for Morgan.

Glass and Caleb Smith each had 5 points for Monroe.

Morgan’s next opponent will be Bessemer Academy on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., as the Senators will host the regional tournament.