Region 2-1A Boys Basketball Quarterfinal Action
Oakdale Advances to Semifinals
By Terry Futrell
The Oakdale Eagles are the only Morgan County team to advance beyond the Region 2-1A quarterfinals. Their quarterfinal losses ended the season for Sunbright and Wartburg.
Oneida vs Rockwood
The Oneida Indians, runner-up in District 3-1A, took a 19-11 first quarter lead over District 4-1A third-place finisher Rockwood and cruised to a 64-50 victory over the Tigers. Rockwood gave the Indians all they could handle for the next two quarters, almost matching Oneida point-for-point. Oneida led 36-25 at the half and 48-37 after three quarters. The Indians added to their lead in the fourth and closed out the game with a 64-50 victory. Rockwood’s Ty Pryor led all scorers with 27 points, while Mason Keeton led the Indians with 17 points. Oneida advances to play Harriman in the Region 2-1A semifinals Tuesday evening at Harriman.
Oliver Springs vs Midway
The Oliver Springs Bobcats, District 3-1A champions, jumped on the Midway Greenwave early, taking an 11-7 first quarter lead and expanding that to 33-16 at the half. Midway came roaring back in the third quarter, trimming Rockwood’s lead to 47-41. The Greenwave cut the Bobcat lead to four points at 50-46 early in the fourth period. Oliver Springs then went on a 15-4 scoring run to take a 65-50 lead with 2:40 remaining. Midway closed the gap to 11 points, but Oliver Springs took the victory 68-57. Oliver Springs advances to play District 4-1A runner-up Oakdale in the semifinals on Tuesday at Harriman.
Sunbright vs Harriman
For the first half of the game, it looked like the Sunbright Tigers might pull off the upset of the tournament as they faced the District 4-1A champion Harriman Blue Devils. The tigers led 15-14 at the end of the first period, then trailed Harriman by only three point, 28-25, at the half. Harriman jumped ahead by 11 points, 41-30, midway through the third quarter, but the Tigers closed the gap to six points, 46-40, with just over a minute to go in the third. Harriman then went on a 19-0 scoring run to increase their lead to 65-40. The Blue Devils closed out the game with a 70-50 victory over Sunbright. Harriman advances to play Oneida in the semifinals Tuesday evening at Harriman.
Oakdale vs Wartburg
In one of the finest displays of teamwork that we have seen all season, the District 4-1A runner-up Oakdale Eagles brought a crushing end to the Wartburg Central Bulldog’s season, 71-56. There were no superheroes wearing capes or leaping tall buildings, just five players working as a unit, each giving their all and fulfilling their role on the team. With a combination of fast break and smothering zone defense, the Eagles stymied every offensive attack by the Bulldogs.
The first period was close, with the Eagles taking a slight 13-11 lead. Oakdale pulled ahead by six, outscoring the Bulldogs 19-14 in the second period for a 32-25 halftime lead. The ethird period brought more of the same as Oakdale’s potent offense put 15 more points on the board, while Wartburg could muster only 11 points. In spite of 11-points by Wartburg’s Caleb Quinney and six points by Taner Branstetter in the final period, the Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 24-20 as Sydney Gregory scored 10 points and Joseph Summers added six points. The Eagles converted 9 of 13 free throws in the final period.
Oakdale was led by Gregory with a game-high 24 points. Summers added 18 points, Roy Huskey scored 11 points, and Nehemiah Cooney added 10 points. Caleb Quinney led the Bulldogs with 16 points, Tanner Johnson scored 14 points, and Branstetter added 10 points.
Oakdale advances to the semifinals to play District 3-1A champion Oliver Springs on Tuesday evening at Harriman.
