The first game of the third day of the 50th City of Palms Classic features a consolation matchup between McEachern and Westminster. We feel like one of two things is going to happen: Both teams are going to get up and down the floor and there will a variety of highlight plays OR the teams are going to play too fast for a 9:30AM game and play will be sloppy with more turnovers than points.
The Indians of McEachern got into the groove first with a free throw from Nnadoie Onyirimba and a three-pointer from Jack Sparks to grab a 4-0 advantage after one minute of play. Alex Constanza got Westminster on the board with a cut to the basket and then Dwayne Wimbley knocked down a three to give the Lions a 5-4 lead. Jaye Nash scored for the Indians but a transition basket from Alex Lloyd and a three-point play from Jeremiah Police gave Westminster a 10-6 advantage with just over five minutes to play. An 11-2 run by the Indians, five of those coming from John McQueen, turned the tables in favor of McEachern to give them a 17-13 lead. Westminster tied the game at 17-17 with a floater from Constanza and a bucket in the lane by Police with 1:38 to go in the first. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way and after one period the score was tied at 21-21.
A Police bucket for Westminster gave the Lions an early lead but Ace Bailey knocked down a three for the Indians. Constanza responded with a three for Westminster to return the lead to the Lions. Isaiah Dulaney tied the game on a floater then McEachern took a 28-26 lead with a steal and slam by Bailey. After Lloyd tied the game at 28-28, the Indians got some breathing room as Sparks hit a three and Bailey put back a miss to make the score 33-28 with 4:26 to play in the half. Wimbley hit two free throws and Lloyd put back a miss to draw Westminster to within one. Bailey knocked down a mid-range jumper a bit later, but a transition jam from Constanza and a transition basket from Lloyd gave Westminster a 36-35 lead with 1:36 left in the half. The lead returned to the Indians with a bucket inside from Onyrimba but Lloyd tied it up at 34-34 with a free throw with twenty-four seconds left. Just before the horn, Onyrimba got loose on a drive and scored for McEachern. At the half of a well-played game, McEachern led 39-37.
The Indians looked they would seize control to open the third period as Bailey hit from mid-range and McQueen dropped in a three make the score 44-37. Fortunes quickly change in basketball at all levels and that is what happened here. Westminster took off on an 8-0 run, four by Lloyd to grab a 45-44 lead with 3:32 to play in the period. A lob to Bailey stopped the bleeding for the Indians and gave them back the lead. With two minutes left and the score tied at 48-48, Lloyd of Westminster dropped in four free throws. A pair of those came from a blocking call on Bailey, his fourth foul of the game. He hit the bench but McEachern was able to stay afloat without him. The Lions grew their advantage to five at 54-49, but a late three from Dulaney of McEachern made it a two-point game, 54-52, with one period left to play.
Westminster scored first to grab a four-point lead, but then McEachern erupted with a 12-0 run as Bailey took over with a dunk inside, a three, as well as a tough finish in traffic. Westminster missed six three-point attempts in a row during this time and with 4:12 to play, McEachern was up eight, 64-56. The Lions extended their defensive pressure and got some stops and points, eventually getting to within 73-71 but with only six seconds left, it was too little too late. McEachern advances in the consolation bracket with a tough 75-71 win.
McEachern was led by Bailey’s 26 points and 18(!) rebounds. Onyirimba added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Nash added 10 points.
For Westminster, Lloyd led the way with 27 points. Constanza added 18 while Police finished with 13 points and Wimbley tallied 10 points.