MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 3, 1999

RESERVE – Nine players scored as Reserve Christian stayed in first place in District 13-B with a 83-58 victory over Maurepas Friday night.

The Eagles improved to 24-13 overall and 2-0 in District 13-B. Maurepasfell to 15-14 overall and 0-2 in district play.

Aaron Vogel had a team-high 16 points and added seven rebounds and four assists for the Eagles. Jared Simoneaux tossed in 14 points while EricMcClain added 12. McClain also had a team-high six assists and threerebounds.

Matt McGee led the Eagles with eight rebounds to go with his eight points.

Larry Smith added 11 points and led the defensive effort with six block shots. Addison Ellis contributed eight points and six rebounds.Maurepas’ Rocky Brown led all scorers with 17 points. Evan Balfantz added16 points while Mike Thomas tossed in 10 and Matt Cowart nine.

Reserve Christian never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 6-2 lead on a jumper by Vogel. The Eagles’ bench came through after Maurepas pulled towithin 6-5 on a 3-pointer by Silas Lee as Ed Weathersby scored on a put back.

With the starters back in, Vogel buried a 3-pointer from the left corner.

Ellis then grabbed a steal off the press and found Vogel inside to make it 17-6. The Eagles kept the press on, causing Maurepas to turn the ball overagain and forcing the Wolves to call a timeout with 1:14 left. Another 3-pointer by Vogel made it 20-9 at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles continued to build their lead as the second quarter opened as McGee scored inside and McClain drained a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 25-11. A jumper by Smith and a put back by Ellis made it 37-19with 2:45 left in the second quarter.

Maurepas began to chip away at the deficit as the half drew to a close.

Balfantz knocked down a 3-pointer from the left side to start the rally.

After a jumper by Ellis, Thomas scored twice inside and Balfantz hit two free throws to make it 39-28 at the half.

Brown took a pass from Balfantz inside to cut the deficit to single figures on the Wolves’ opening possession of the third quarter. That was as closeas Maurepas would get as the Eagles answered with McClain finding Smith inside.

After Smith’s sixth block of the game, Vogel popped in a jumper, grabbed a steal at midcourt and took it in to make it 45-30. Simoneaux scored insideand hit two free throws before Maurepas called a timeout with 5:57 left in the quarter.

Late in the quarter, Smith juked in the lane after taking a pass from Vogel, hitting the free throw to make it 58-36. Reserve Christian wouldtake a 60-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

A 3-pointer by Ellis from the left side gave the Eagles a 66-45 lead with 4:30 left in the game. Simoneaux would then drive from the right side andwas fouled, completing the three-point play to make it 72-49 late in the quarter.

Simoneaux had a layup and three free throws and McGee scored on a three- point play down the stretch. Free throws dominated in the final minutes asReserve Christian built its final 25-point lead.

The Eagles’ run was keyed by its bench strength which was able to wear down the Wolves. Reserve Christian coach Timmy Byrd said he wanted toplay 10 guys with the starters playing zone and the second group playing full-court man press.

“Tonight was one of our better games,” Byrd said. “The effort wasexcellent and the intensity level was there. It was our best game of theseason effort-wise. We did good in all phases of the game.”It was the second straight game that Reserve Christian was able to take care of business early after upsetting Mount Hermon on the road in the district opener Jan. 22. The loss snapped Mount Hermon’s four-yearwinning streak at home and two year winning streak in district.

Reserve Christian will play host to the Yellow Jackets Friday night.

“I am real pleased with the maturity of this team,” Byrd said. “We areplaying smart. We are limiting our turnovers (14 Friday night). “We are taking care of the basketball and starting to understand the importance of every possession.”

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