FAIRLEA- For the second consecutive night the Spartan Gym in Fairlea hosted a senior night, this time for the boys’ team right before the Greenbrier East Spartans tipped off against the Princeton Tigers on Valentine’s night, Wednesday evening, Feb. 14.
After honoring Peyton DeHaven and Gabe Patton, the Spartans kicked into all business mode and picked up a big 62-51 victory. It was just East’s fifth win of the year but can be a springboard with sectionals just about a week away.
Once the Spartans corrected their turnover issues early on in the contest. They played some good basketball. Patton ended the first quarter with a banked 3 off the glass that gave East a 16-10 lead after one.
East extended that lead even more in the second with good teamwork and timely scoring. Nathan Dixon scored a little floater from the baseline that put East up 10, then Dixon knocked in the second buzzer-beating triple of the game when he swished one from the left wing as the Spartans led 32-19 at the break.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter, with Princeton and Nic Fleming on a furious comeback and cutting their deficit down to just two points, Patton then made a living at the free throw line to keep the Spartans out in front and in complete control of the game. He went 11-for-12 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter alone as the Spartans picked up arguably their best win of 2024.
Patton led the way with 19 points. Brody Hamric added 11 points.
Fleming scored 26 for Princeton.
East will return to action at home on Thursday night, Feb. 15 in a makeup game with the Shady Spring Tigers. East has played Shady twice already this season and lost both but are hoping the third time may be the charm to keep the momentum rolling forward from this win.
