OAK HILL (WVDN) – The new rankings came out Tuesday, Jan. 17, and the Greenbrier East Spartans basketball team remained ranked fourth in the Class AAAA Associated Press poll and sixth by the West Virginia Coaches Poll.
However, later that evening, East went to longtime rival Oak Hill, and unfortunately, came back home with a 53-51 defeat at the hands of the Red Devils.
The Spartans, typically an efficient team on the offensive end, failed to find a good rhythm on that end of the floor in this one.
After two Goose Gabbert free throws that gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead, the Red Devils would go ahead for the next 3 1/2 quarters. Jeremiah Jackson and Trevor Kelly both scored consistently, and after a Kelly jumper, Oak Hill led 8-2.
Oak Hill led 14-9 after one quarter.
Adam Seams made a nice pass to Gabbert that cut the Red Devils lead to 16-13 with 4:50 to go, but a few possessions later, Omar Lewis hit a 3-pointer, and Cole Legg followed with one of his own. The Red Devils secured a 26-21 advantage at halftime.
East was just 6-of-21 shooting in the first half.
Oak Hill controlled the third quarter. A 3 from Malachi Lewis extended their lead to 33-24, and another Legg trifecta put the Red Devils up by 10, 38-28. M. Lewis put in a layup at the buzzer to make the score 40-30 after three quarters of play.
However, as the Spartans always do, they battled back and won the fourth quarter. Gabbert and Bryson Brammer hit back-to-back 3s, and two possessions later, Seams stole the inbounds pass that led to an old-fashioned 3-point play by Monquelle Davis. East then took their first lead at 46-45 since that 2-0 score following a Gabbert layup.
The Spartans went up by 3, 51-48, on a Gabe Patton basket, but Kelly scored 5 straight points to make it the final of 53-51.
Patton missed a 3-pointer, and Seams missed a full court heave that ended the game.
East was led by Gabbert’s 19 points. He was the only Spartan in double figures.
Oak Hill was led by Kelly’s 16 points and 14 from Jackson.
East will be back home this Saturday, Jan. 21, for a matinee tip-off versus Washington. Game time will be at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Stats courtesy of 103.1, WRON.
