By Staff
FROM STAFF REPORTS
W.S. Neal Middle School Blue Eagles basketball coach Ray Patterson does not have a recording of the speech he gave his players at halftime of Thursday's home contest against the Carver Blackcats, but he probably wishes he did.
The Blue Eagles (4-2) responded to Patterson's words with a dominating second half performance, as they rallied for a 27-20 win.
Carver had a 13-8 halftime edge, but W.S. Neal's defense surrendered just two field goals and only five total points over the last two quarters.
Meanwhile the Blue Eagles' offense used five third quarter points from Percy Travis to help pull even with Carver at 15-15 by the end of the frame.
Travis added six more points and Kenny Kiser also had six in the final frame, as W.S. Neal ended the game on a 12-3 run.
The Blue Eagles suffered their first road loss of the season Tuesday when they were upended by Ernest Ward 26-22.
W.S. Neal, which was outscored 6-0 at the free throw line, led 12-10 at halftime. Ernest Ward rallied in the third quarter with an 8-4 run to take an 18-16 lead and outscored the Blue Eagles 8-6 in the final frame to secure the win.
Cordarius Day led W.S. Neal with seven points, while Quinton Burnett and Kenny Kiser each had four.
W.S. Neal's girls (0-6) dropped a pair of decisions, as they fell 15-0 to Ernest Ward and 18-9 to Carver.
Jakeshia Hunter delivered a team-high seven points against Carver.
W.S. Neal's next action is Monday when it hosts Brewton. Play starts at 4 p.m.
Tuesday's games
Girls
W.S. Neal 0 0 0 0 – 0
Ernest Ward 9 3 3 0 – 15
W.S. Neal 7 5 4 6 - 22
Ernest Ward 4 6 8 8 – 26
W.S. NEAL- Day 7, Burnett 4, Kiser 4, Travis 3, Adkins 2
Thursday's games
Girls
Carver 4 0 4 10 – 18
W.S. Neal 0 2 0 7 – 9
W.S. NEAL- J. Hunter 7, E. Hunter 2
Carver 7 6 2 3 - 20
W.S. Neal 2 6 7 12 - 27
W.S. NEAL- Travis 13, Kiser 9, Campbell 2, Culliver 2, Burnett 1