The Greenbrier East Spartans traveled to Shady Spring on Monday night, January 24, to face the defending Class AAA state champion and 4th ranked Tigers.
After a double digit lead at halftime, the Spartans could not muster up enough mojo in the second half and dropped a tough 66-64 decision.
The Spartans (6-6) got six points from Adam Seams in the opening quarter and they played well, but Shady’s Cole Chapman drained a top-of-the key three at the buzzer to end the quarter and gave the Tigers an 18-14 lead after one.
The Spartans’ second quarter was their best of the night.
Seams scored on an acrobatic layup and then the following possession drained a pull-up 3-pointer over the defense. Kaiden Huffman then followed that with a three as East went ahead 24-22 with 4:21 left in the first half. The Spartans made only five more field goals in the quarter, but each one was a three, which amazed the games announcing crew as they labeled the Spartans as being “on fire and unconscious.”
Cam Manns answered with a trifecta to end the half for the Tigers (9-1), but East had a nice 41-31 lead at the break.
After the half, the Tigers settled down and owned the third quarter. Cole Chapman, Braden Chapman and Jaden Holstein controlled the game in that period. The Spartans struggled to stop the Tigers penetration, something they were doing well in the first half, and Shady took complete advantage. With the Tigers bigger at almost every position, they just got to the hoop and the free throw line and converted more times than not. Shady outscored the Spartans 20-6 in the quarter and led 51-47 heading into the fourth.
Huffman hit two from the charity stripe and then had a nice assist to Goose Gabbert who calmly sank a trey to pull the Spartans within two at 60-58 with 3:00 left in the contest.
With the score 62-58, Seams was called for his fifth foul which sent him to the bench for the night. Gabbert and Monquelle Davis kept the Spartans close until the final buzzer, but Cole Chapman’s perfect foul shooting down the stretch sealed the win for the Tigers.
The Spartans were just 15-for-25 at the free throw line. Shady went 13-for-15.
The Spartans were held without a 3-pointer in the second half after knocking down eight in the first half.
Seams led East in scoring with 13 points. Gabbert had 11 and Huffman contributed 10.
Cole Chapman led Shady and the game in scoring with 22.
The Spartans difficult schedule does not get any easier as they will face the Huntington Highlanders this Saturday, January 29.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.