Morgan Academy loses in second round of area tournament
Published 11:48 pm Friday, January 26, 2018
Morgan Academy lost 57-43 to the top-seeded Lakeside Chiefs in the second round of the area tournament at Fort Dale Academy on Friday after a close, frantic game.
The game remained within a few points throughout the first three periods.
A series of fourth-quarter mistakes and failures to capitalize by the Senators allowed the Chiefs to slowly build an insurmountable lead.
The two teams engaged in an offensive shoot-out in the first two periods, with the Senators proving capable of matching Lakeside’s talented offense.
Combo guard Dione Allen was Morgan’s most reliable scorer. He was able to keep Morgan intact offensively with dependable shooting from the paint and continuously drawing fouls. Allen finished the game with 23 points.
Center Hayden Bruner also had a strong performance, battling in the paint for rebounds and effectively finishing plays throughout the first two quarters.
Though the third quarter ended with the game still virtually tied, a few missteps were all it took for the game to slowly slip from Morgan’s grasp.
A series of turnovers with five minutes remaining in the game allowed Lakeside to slow the pace of the game and exercise their standout outside shooting to rapidly force a double-digit lead.
Although Morgan tried to answer by forcing Lakeside to the foul line, the Chiefs managed to hold the ball long enough to run out the clock.
Morgan assistant coach Luke Hutcheson praised his team’s effort and acknowledged their flaws.
“We turned the ball over too much in the fourth quarter, and our outside shooting wasn’t great,” said Hutcheson. “But we know we can beat them. The turnovers are what lost it for us.”
Morgan secured its place in the Elite 8 by defeating Northside on the Jan. 25 and will play its final game of the tournament on Jan. 27.
Other Scores
The Dallas County Lady Hornets lost 41-31 to the Southside Lady Panthers on Friday night. Ke’onna Pope led DCHS with 12 points, and Ebony Simmons scored nine.
Christina Watts and Kylan Brown both scored 14 points for the Lady Panthers.
The Dallas County boys basketball team defeated Southside 67-66 on Friday.
The Keith Lady Bears defeated R.C. Hatch 44-40 on Friday night. Shatavia Moore led the team with 26 points.
The Keith boys basketball team lost 59-56 to R.C. Hatch on Friday night. Kendarius Perry led the team with 18 points.
The Ellwood Christian Eagles boys team defeated Maplesville 80-60 on Friday night. Joseph Mahone led the team with 28 points. Justin Bufford and Loveless Craig both earned double-doubles. Bufford had 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Craig scored 10 and collected 10 rebounds.