The Eagles face off against the 7th-ranked Pocola Indians in the Big House, for a shot at the Semi-Finals.
The Eagles started out winning the tip off, and Jael Torres immediately put 2 on the board for Hennessey. James Sims would then put a three on the board for the Eagles. Pocola would respond with a bucket and a three of their own, as well as a few free throws. Shots by Layton, Jael, and James would both fall for the Eagles, but Pocola had a 6’7 Dakotah Terrell down low, and had a lot of foul opportunities and put backs. The first quarter closed at a 13-11 lead for Pocola.
The second quarter was unkind to the Eagles, only getting 2 shots to fall down as Pocola’s lead grew. Terrell had a lot of free throws, and Pocola was taking their time with each bucket. James Sims had 3 fouls at the half. Terrell was 6 for 8 from the free throw line, and have 12 points and 5 rebounds. The Eagles were led by James Sims’s 3-4 from the field and 7 points. The Eagles lost the second quarter 11-4, hoping for a rebound in the 2nd half, something that has been all to familiar this season for the 4th ranked Eagles. The score was 24-15, the Eagles with a 9 point deficit.
Jael Torres started out his second half incredibly hot, with back-to back-to-back baskets. He would then score AGAIN. On the next possession, I bet you couldn’t guess who was headed to the line for 2 free throws. He hit both of them, giving him 10 in the second half. Finally, someone not named Jael would score following a James Sims bucket. Even though Pocola would respond occasionally, the momentum was on the Eagles side of the court, and a Layton Choate 3 pointer cut the Eagles deficit to just 1. Pocola would score the last bucket of the 3rd. The score 33-30 headed to the 4th.
The 4th was very back and forth, a lot of controversial foul calls and some Pocola stalling, but the score was 37-37 following a nice Jael Torres bucket. Once again, they would trade scores. With 2:19 left in the 4th, the state quarterfinals score was 39-39. Unfortunately, a foul was called on the Eagles. To the free throw line Pocola went, knocked down 1 of the 2, and the Eagles lost. Jael Torres had 15 points in the second half, but it just wasn’t enough. A one-point loss, and the Eagles season came to a close. Final score Pocola 40 – Eagles 39. Story by Taylor Ladwig photos by Jack Quirk
