Eagles have tournament experience

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 15, 2000

MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / March 15, 2000

RESERVE – Reserve Christian has been invited back to the Big Dance.

And this time the Eagles are quite familiar with the dance hall.

Reserve Christian punched its dance ticket with an 82-73 victory over Holden in the Class B quarterfinals Friday night at The Eagles Nest. It isthe second straight season the Eagles have advanced to the Top 28 Tournament in the CajunDome in Lafayette. Reserve Christian fell toeventual state champion Gibsland-Coleman in the semifinals last season.

Reserve Christian (38-8) will play Dubach in the semifinals Thursday at 5 p.m. Dubach defeated Calvin, 85-73, Friday. The winner will face thewinner of the Florien-Lacassine semifinal in the championship game Saturday at 2 p.m.”We know what we have to do now,” senior co-captain Aaron Vogel said of the Eagles’ return trip to Lafayette. “We know what it’s about. Now wehave to step it up but we are going to be ready.”Holden, the District 11-B champion, finished its season at 25-11.

Reserve Christian, which had defeated Holden twice this season, found the going much tougher this time around. The Eagles jumped out to a 9-4 leadbehind a 3-pointer by Vogel. Holden came right back as Judah Richardsonburied 3-pointers from the top of the key on consecutive possessions to tie the game at 12 with 2:41 left in the first quarter.

Reserve Christian went back ahead by four as Eric McClain followed his own miss for a put back. The Rockets answered as Derrick Taylor foundBrad Addison inside to cut the deficit to 18-16 at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles opened the second quarter in a 6-0 run to increase the lead to 24-16. McClain started the run by taking a steal by Vogel in. After Vogeldrove in from the left side, McClain hit a jumper in the lane for the eight- point lead. Chris McClain answered a 3-pointer by Richardson with one ofhis own from the left corner to make it 31-23.

The Rockets began chipping into the lead, pulling to within three on two free throws by Chaz Barthel and a layup by Addison. Matt McGee followedwith a fadeaway jumper from the right baseline, giving the Eagles a 35-30 halftime lead.

Reserve Christian opened the second half on another run. Larry Smith hit ajumper in the lane and Vogel scored off a steal in the backcourt, increasing the lead to 39-30 with 7:30 left in the third quarter. A put backby Smith and a free throw by Vogel made it 48-36 with 5:01 left.

Holden again refused to go away, pulling to within 50-41 on Colby Wagner’s jumper from the right wing with 3:20 left. A three-point play byAddison Ellis and jumpers by Smith and Eric McClain built the lead back to 57-43 at the 1:18 mark. A drive by Chris McClain gave the Eagles a 59-45lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Reserve Christian took its biggest lead at 67-51 on Eric McClain’s alley- oop pass to Smith with five minutes left. But the Eagles could not maketheir travel plans yet as Taylor scored twice inside and Wagner hit a jumper in the lane to make it 68-59 with three minutes left.

Ellis then came up with one of the biggest plays of the game. JaredSimoneaux was fouled after taking a pass from Ellis inside and made the first of two free throws. Simoneaux missed the second free throw butEllis grabbed the rebound, drove in and was fouled while laying the shot in.

Ellis hit the free throw, making it 72-59 with 2:55 left.

Holden had one final charge as 3-pointers by Chad Courtney and Richardson brought the Rockets to within 74-68 with 1:25 remaining. After EdmondWeathersby hit 3-of-4 free throw throws, Wagner hit another 3-pointer from the left wing to cut the deficit to six. Eric McClain was then calledfor a charge with Taylor hitting both free throws to make it 77-73 with 33.3 seconds left.Weathersby was fouled in the backcourt and made the first of two free throws. Weathersby grabbed a rebound on the defensive end but was calledfor traveling. The Rockets turned over the ball right back, however, on afive-second call.

Vogel was fouled in the backcourt and hit the first of two free throws with 13.5 seconds left. Vogel then grabbed a steal and was fouled, hittingthe second of two free throws for a 80-73 lead with 11.2 seconds left.”That team there is a really good team,” Reserve Christian coach Timmy Byrd said of Holden.

“They put pressure on you and can shoot the lights out. They didn’t goaway. Their coach never quits and his kids never quit. They could very wellbe in the Top 28.”Eric McClain and Smith each had 16 points for the Eagles. McClain also hadfive rebounds and two steals. Ellis added 15 points and led the team with11 rebounds.

“Addison has done everything for us,” Byrd said. “He’s our No. 1 stopper ondefense, he can shoot from anywhere on the floor. He’s come up with thebig plays for us when we needed it.”Vogel contributed 14 points and three rebounds. Chris McClain had ninepoints and three steals.

Taylor led Holden with 21 points, 15 in the second half. Addison andWagner had 16 points apiece while Richardson had 13 behind four 3- pointers.

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