Lukas Phillips, pictured in a previous game, guided his Morrison Eagles to a big win at home Thursday over Centertown.
Morrison saved its best basketball for the second half Thursday night, rallying from an early deficit to stun Centertown 28-27 in one of the most dramatic finishes of the elementary boys basketball season.
The Eagles trailed 13-6 after the first quarter as Centertown's Noah Simpson scored all six of his points in the opening period. Christian Simpson provided another spark for the Warriors in the second quarter, but Morrison refused to let the game get away.
Following a halftime speech, the Eagles came out with renewed energy. Trey Hawkins scored six of his team-high eight points after the break while Sawyer McCormick delivered all six of his points in the second half to fuel the comeback.
James Starkey provided two of the biggest points of the night, knocking down a pair of clutch free throws as Morrison completed its comeback in front of the home crowd.
Hawkins finished with eight points, followed by Starkey and McCormick with six apiece. Mason Kuehnhold and Luke Harris each added four.
Greyson Eubanks led Centertown with nine points, Colt Bratcher scored eight and Noah Simpson finished with six. Christian Simpson contributed four.
The one-point victory gave Morrison a statement win against a Centertown squad that had beaten Irving College 28-24 just two nights earlier.
Dibrell keeps rolling against Irving College
Dibrell continued its winning ways Thursday, defeating Irving College 31-23 behind a strong start and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch.
The Wildcats wasted little time taking control on their home floor, racing to a 13-3 first-quarter advantage. Jeb Culwell punctuated the opening surge with a 3-pointer as Dibrell threatened to run away with the contest.
Irving College battled back, gradually cutting into the deficit and putting itself within striking distance by the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats had an answer at the free-throw line.
Culwell went a perfect 4-for-4 at the stripe in the final period while Jean Garcia connected on three of his four attempts, allowing Dibrell to turn late fouls into points and preserve its lead.
River Rice paced the Wildcats with 12 points while Culwell added 10. Garcia finished with five and Owen Willis and Mason Kieffer contributed two apiece.
Ryan Yates led Irving College with nine points, followed by Tucker Fann with eight. Tucker Crestman, True Lusk and Gannon Powers each scored two.
The defeat was Irving College's third straight after losses to West and Centertown earlier in the week.
Mathis powers Hawks past Broncos
Asher Mathis did all his scoring damage early Thursday, but it was more than enough to put Hickory Creek in control of a 27-14 victory over visiting Boyd Christian. Mathis poured in all 12 of his points in the first half, helping the Hawks build a 13-6 advantage after the opening quarter.
Hickory Creek's defense took over from there.
The Hawks held Boyd scoreless throughout the second quarter, stretching their lead to 21-6 at halftime and leaving the Broncos with a sizable deficit to overcome.
Heath Judkins and Jax Burger provided Boyd with a lift after the break, but the Broncos couldn't overcome Hickory Creek's dominant first half.
Mathis led the Hawks with 12 points while Beckett Butler added seven. Caleb Lippe, Easton Underhill, Noah Mallett and Po Haywood scored two apiece. Judkins paced Boyd with nine points, Burger finished with three and Samuel Ferguson added two.
Tuesday's makeup game
Centertown opened its week with a 28-24 road victory over Irving College on Tuesday, overcoming a 12-9 halftime deficit with a 13-point third quarter.
Greyson Eubanks led the Warriors with 11 points, Colt Bratcher scored nine, Noah Simpson added six and Maddox Underhill finished with two. True Lusk led Irving College with 11 points while Ryan Yates contributed five. Tucker Fann and Weston Walker scored three apiece and Gunnar Powers added two.
Irving College had led by as many as seven before Centertown's third-quarter surge turned the game around. Yates connected on a fourth-quarter 3-pointer, but the Warriors held on for the win.
