By Kendall Patterson
Staff Writer
The Chester County Eagles put on a show for their fans during Homecoming Night and played one of their better played games to date this season.
They shutout Scotts Hill in the first and ended it quarter 22-7, which was the biggest lead they have had at the beginning of a game.
Then they continued to keep the good lead as they entered halftime with a lead of 39-27.
“The kids came out ready to play and made shots early,” head Coach Kody Howard said. “Really what it was, we sat down and guarded the other team well and with that happening it makes the offense a lot easier.”
The Scotts Hill Lions brought their “A” game in the second half though and slowly started to come back.
The Eagles were still winning at the end of the third, 62-54, but the Lions outscored them in the third 27-23.
After that, the game just continued to get more interesting as the Lions inched their way for a comeback.
Then, with the clock being under a minute with the Eagles still being in the lead 81-78, the Lions were not giving up yet.
After three or four three-point attempts to tie it, the Lions eventually knocked one down, tying the game 81-81 with 14 seconds remaining. The Scotts Hill fans were going wild as the Chester County fans were stunned.
The Eagles still had the chance to end it with the win if they were to score, so they went down the court, looking for the right play…looking for the right person to be open to take the final shot.
Then the magic happened.
Number 14, Evan Eads, was found in the post to make the final shot with one Lion guarding him. Being well guarded with two seconds remaining, he jumped from the side of the net for a distant layup, and it went in. Eagles fans everywhere were ecstatic.
The Eagles won 83-81.
In regards to Scotts Hill’s comeback, Howard said that the team sort of got relaxed winning since the good lead early on was something the team has not experienced this year.
He recognized the team’s defensive efforts as the factor that helped them win the game.
“It goes back to the kids sitting down and playing great defense which leads to easy offense,” he said.
Eads has not had a lot of game time this year, but he is still an important facet for the team in the post.
Howard said, “I told him in the locker room after the game, when you do things the right way, the game rewards you. He hadn’t got to play a ton this year, and he hadn’t complained a bit. And what do you know, the game rewards him.”
The Eagles then played Lexington in a tight battle.
After being down by approximately five points the majority of the game, the Eagles found themselves still in this position at the end. They lost 55-50.
Get a copy of the Chester County Independent next week for coverage of Chester County Basketball’s last regular season game against Adamsville.
