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| 2/1/2009 8:04:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Allen East can't hold onto lead over Perry
By Virginia Bandy
Ada Herald Editor
Allen East turned on the jets in the beginning, perhaps fired up because it was Parent's Night, and scored on their first four possessions. They held Perry off for three minutes before the Commodores could land their first basket. The Mustangs dominated the first half with starters Blake Truex, Aaron Swaney, EJ Laing and Greg Patterson all scoring easily against the Commodores, who were not connecting with the hoop.
Beginning in the third, Perry gained the lead for the first time in the game, and then the teams started exchanging leads right until the end. The last two minutes were intense, with many fouls being committed, adding to the score. Perry was able to hold on to a slim three point lead until the final second.
"It's a tough way to lose," Head Coach Chris Cockerell lamented. "I feel bad because the kids keep playing hard and they keep getting better. Hopefully we can win a few because they deserve it."
"We got off to a great start, we played with a lot of enthusiasm, which is what I wanted," Coach Cockerell continued. "But we lacked a little bit of spark in the third quarter, and we didn't get some rebounds that I think we should have."
Laing and Patterson both scored 18 points in the contest, with Swaney earning 11.
3-pointers: Swaney (2), Laing (2), Patterson (2).
Scoring 18 points for the Commodores was Devonaire Johnson, while Brandon Riepenhoff and Davion Williams both netted 12.
3-pointers: Riepenhoff (4).
AE 15 15 7 19 56
Perry 13 10 18 18 59
The Allen East junior varsity team won over Perry, 29-27.
Allen East faces Lima Central Catholic next Friday, which Coach Cockerell said their team is "very good, so it will be a tough matchup for us. Hopefully our kids will rise to the challenge," Coach Cockerell concluded. "We're getting better, that's all you can ask for."
In Friday evening's contest with Delphos Jefferson, the Wildcats clawed the Mustangs 71-56. "They've got seven or eight guys who are in their third year of varsity basketball," Coach Cockerell explained. "We got into some foul trouble against them, which hurt." Laing scored 14 points and Casey Rex earned 13.
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