Royals Host the Eagles

Royals Fall Short to the Eagles

Meghan Harrer, “Royal Times”

On Friday, February 14, the Wynford Royals hosted the Colonel Crawford Eagles in their final match up in the NCC. The Royals stuck with the Eagles throughout the entire game. The first half was a back and forth battle which the Eagles led at halftime 22-20. The second half was just as exciting and the Royals/Eagles battle continued. It was almost a given that the game was going down to the wire as the score continued to remain close throughout the third quarter with the Royals taking the lead at its end, 32-31. The fourth quarter brought the most excitement of the game with three minutes left to go in the fourth quarter junior, Mason Johnson, drains a three to bring the Royals with in one of the Eagles, 43-42. Each team continued to trade baskets at this point to add to the excitement. After Braxton Tea’s jump shot at the foul line made the score 50-49 in favor of the Eagles, the Royals were forced to foul and send Crawford to the line. The Eagles only connected on one foul shot giving the Royals a shot to tie. Alex Crall drives in the lane and makes a layup tying the game at 51 sending the game into overtime. Tucker Hall started overtime off by getting fouled and making a free throw giving the Royals a 52-51 advantage. The Eagles would take control after this and pull away from the Royals winning 58-52. The Royals were led in scoring by Alex Crall with 22 and James Ort with 14. The junior varsity falls to 9-9 overall and 6-6 in the NCC.

The varsity tipped off and the Royals got out to a fast start taking an early 2-0 lead, but that lead would be short lived. The Eagles drained back to back 3’s and never looked back taking an early twelve point lead with two minutes left in the first. Jake Glowaski finished the first quarter with a great post move for two of his 15 points; getting fouled and converting a three point play cutting the Eagles lead to eleven, 19-8. The Royals used this as a boost to start the second quarter. Coming out Mason Davis hit a big three continuing to cut into the Eagles lead. As the Royals gained momentum and got the Royal fans involved, Jake Glowaski makes a tip back bucket off a rebound to make it a nine point game. Later on in the second Austin Shutler makes two big three’s to make it a six point game. Although, the Eagles put a stop to the come back using great outside shooting; hitting three of their ten three’s on the night and pulled away at halftime, 41-29. During halftime, the Wynford varsity cheerleaders performed a routine that they have been practicing for weeks. Nicole Eckert, head coach, along with the Wynford fans were on their feet cheering for her squad. The name of the routine was called “Swagger Jagger”. Hoping to cut into the Eagles lead after intermission, the Royals tried to use a perimeter game to start the third. Mason Davis had the hot hand connecting on three of his six three’s on the night leading all scorers with 25 points on the night . The Eagles would not give in and also continued to shoot well from the floor. The Royals trailed 60-37 with two minutes left in the third, and Gage Roe tried to give the Royals another spark at the end of the third quarter by sinking a half-court buzzer beater making it 64-43. The Eagles were just too much for the Royals and continued on their winning ways to defeat Wynford, 74-61. The loss brings the Royals record to 4-14 overall and 2-10 in the conference. Austin Shutler also contributed 10 points for the Royals. Wynford will be back in action Saturday night for another NCC match-up against the Crestline Bulldogs.