Highlanders top Union Christian Eagles

Eureka's Tabitha Willard dove for a lose ball and beat a Union Christian player to the orb during action Thursday night in Highlander gym. The senior girls defeated the Lady Eagles 56-47, and the senior boys also won 57-28 in a runaway. David McNeal / CCN [Order this photo]

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Makeup games with Union Christian Academy went the Highlanders way Thursday as both senior high teams posted wins, with the junior boys losing a close one.

Coach Aaron Hall's senior girls won 56-47, keeping them near the top of the 2A-4 Conference with a 9-16 overall mark, 7-5 in league play.

Coach Nolan Helder's senior boys went up 25-3 the first quarter and coasted to a 57-28 win. That gave them a 11-14 record, 6-6 in league play.

The junior boys came back from a 7-34 score after three quarters to a respectable 24-39 loss, good for a 5-14 record.

Senior High Girls

9-14, 22-24, 36-38, 56-47

It was tight all the way, with Tabitha Willard coming off the bench to ignite the team in the first quarter. Willard hustled from end line to end line and finished the night with 24 points, 10 of 13 from the line.

Coach Hall switched to a 1-3-1 zone defense in the second quarter and Eureka caught up at the half.

"We spread out wide, got steals and that gave us momentum," Hall said.

Union Christian poured in 3-point shots late in the third quarter to grab a lead as the Eagles Jordan Bryan hit 3 threes and scored 14 for the game.

Tanisha Morrell nailed a three to start the fourth quarter and it was nip and tuck the rest of the way until Union Christian's ace point guard, Hannah Smith, fouled out with 10 points at the 3:09 mark.

Willard took over, muscling for rebounds and putback baskets and scoring on fast breaks for 11 of her 24, adding 5 of 7 free throws to the end. Eureka was 9 of 14 at the line in the fourth quarter, 16 of 22 for the game.

"The first half Union Christian got every loose ball and had three or four shots every time," Coach Hall said. "The second half we didn't give them that. We got offensive rebounds and putbacks.

"Tabitha got two or three steals late that led to layups. She is so strong, gets fouled and makes her free throws. She and Miranda (Smith) work a nice high-low together."

Smith chipped in 13 points and had several blocks, plus some key rebounds.

Scoring- ES- Willard- 24, 10/13 Fts, 5/7 4th; Smith- 13; Emily Payne- 6, 2 3s; Morrell- 5, 1 3s; Mariah Sanchez- 4; Lacy Wolfinbarger- 3; Laura Winters- 1. Team- 16/22 Fts, 9/14 4th. UC- Bryan- 14, 3 3s; 10's- Cate, Smith; Mikula- 9. Team- 7/12 Fts.

Senior High Boys

25-3, 38-16, 57-21, 57-28

Union Christian, a power in years past, couldn't match up with the Highlanders, with the game over the first quarter. Smothering defense by Briar Sebby took the Eagles' top player out of the game, with the rest of the Highlanders dominating on the boards and scoring while shutting the Eagles off from any good scoring opportunities.

Scoring- ES- Jacob Worley- 17, 9/12 Fts; Dustin Morrell- 13, 1 3s, 2/2 Fts; Nick Bower- 11, 1 3s; Sebby- 9, 1 3s, 4/6 Fts; John Waite- 4; Peyton Troillett- 2; Robert Lawler- 1. Team- 16/22 Fts. UC- Connor McGinnis- 8, 2 3s.

Junior High Boys

0-14, 7-25, 7-34, 24-39

"They are really big, especially their post player, Jackson," Coach Helder said about the Eagles. "We boxed-and-one'd him and they hit twos and threes, so we went to zone to stop that and then Jackson did whatever he wanted."

Jackson, 6-3, scored 12 points over the much smaller Highlanders.

"They made shots and we couldn't," Helder said. "Jake McClung came off the bench and played great defense, and Ryan Sanchez did a good job passing."

Scoring- ES- Roy McGehee- 6, 2/4 Fts; 5's- Dalton Johnson, 1 3s; McClung, 1/1 Fts; Payton Gleeves- 4; Sanchez- 3, 1 3s; Caleb Tollett- 1, 1/2 Fts. UC- Jackson- 12; Smith- 7.