ECS moves on to semifinals round with win over Harding Academy
Kameron Jones and Hadden Burgess have had to play at a high level all season to put ECS in position to win games. Tuesday night at home in a second round matchup against Harding Academy, Jones and Burgess put on…
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Continue ReadingKameron Jones and Hadden Burgess have had to play at a high level all season to put ECS in position to win games.
Tuesday night at home in a second round matchup against Harding Academy, Jones and Burgess put on a show and carried the Eagles to a 79-60 win over the Lions to advance to a semifinals matchup on Friday against Lausanne.
The loss marked the end of six seniors for Harding Academy, with one of them not being able to play due to being sick.
Here are 3 takeaways from the ECS Eagles’ win over the Lions:
ECS shoots the ball well
The Eagles can space the floor due to players making shots. Jones, a junior point guard, made five 3s in the win. Sophomore guard Grayson Saunier converted on three 3s. Burgess converted on one of his own, and junior guard Dominic Brown added one of his own. Harding Academy couldn’t zoom in all night on Jones, because he has teammates that can make shots from the outside.
Kameron Jones and Hadden Burgess put on a show
Jones had 25 points heading in the final eight minutes. He was able to break every trap that came his way. Jones finished the night with 38 points. Burgess ignited the crowd in the third quarter with a one-handed dunk. He was all over the glass. Burgess finished with 22. Burgess and Jones were two of the three best players on the floor Tuesday night.
Before the game, Burgess was presented with a crystal ball for reaching 1,000 points. He went into the game at 1,136. Burgess hit the 1,000-mark on Jan. 31 against University School of Jackson.
The end for 6 important seniors at Harding Academy
First-year head coach Greg Eubanks had the opportunity to coach the likes of Jordan Gray, Evan Burton, Myles Neely, Anthony Howard, Bobby Parks and Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez didn’t play Tuesday night due to being sick. Rodriguez, who’s roughly 6-foot-4, would have been a plus for the Lions on both ends of the floor.
Parks, who reached 1,000 points Monday night against University School of Jackson, led Harding Academy with 21 points. Sophomore guard Luke Campbell added 13.
It was a big transition for Eubanks, who came from Ensworth, to come coach a different group of players who were so accustomed to former head coach Kevin Starks. But in the end, Eubanks felt it was all worth it to coach this year’s senior class for a full season.
“These guys have been everything you could have hoped for,” Eubanks said. “They’re hard workers, competitors. They’ve given everything they have. That’s kind of how we measure success, just by the effort that you give. Not necessarily the wins and the losses, but by how much effort I give every single day.
“So, these guys have been outstanding. I’m really, really proud of them. Alex wasn’t here tonight, and I hate that. He would have helped us on the floor. I also hate that he wasn’t in there with his teammates at the end of the game.
Scores from the rest of the tournament
FACS defeated Jackson Christian, 70-35. Jayden Williams led the Crusaders with 13 points. TJ Thomas had 11. Corey Savage, Kobe Wilkes, Daniel Egbuniwe and Josh Ward each finished with 10. FACS will play Tipton-Rosemark Academy on Friday. The Rebels defeated the Trojans, 45-38. Alex Anderson led TRA with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Isaiah Hatley added 12.
Lausanne defeated Sacred Heart of Jesus, 69-47. Moussa Cisse led the Lynx with 17. Jalen Bo Montgomery and Nick Floyd had 15. Johnathan DeJurnett added 14.