By By Adam Robinson – sports editor
Unlike their varsity teammates, the W.S. Neal B team used a big first quarter to help propel them to a 45-28 win over the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs Thursday night at home as they improved to 6-11 on the season.
Lawrence Bowman led the Eagles with 13 points on the night.
In the game, the Eagles opened with an 8-0 run courtesy of four points by Monterius Culliver and two each from Michael Thomas and Bowman.
Blacksher finally got on the board at the 3:22 mark with a 3-pointer, but W.S. Neal went on a 4-0 run to hold a 12-3 lead with 2:18 left in the first.
A two-pointer from the Bulldogs put the score at 12-5, but the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to end the first quarter with an 18-5 lead.
The second quarter started out looking like another route for the Eagles as they held Blacksher scoreless until the 2:46 mark while expanding on their 6-0 run from the first.
The Eagles made it a 15-0 run taking a 27-5 lead with 3:47 left before the half as Bowman contributed six points in the quarter.
Blacksher would close the gap to 29-13 at the half as they finished off the second quarter on a 6-0 run.
In the third quarter, after seeing both teams total 23 points in the first and 19 points in the second quarter, only nine points were scored with W.S. Neal only scoring three in the quarter as Blacksher cut the Eagle lead to 13 points at 32-19.
In the fourth quarter of play, things began to get a little tight as Blacksher opened the quarter on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 32-24 with 4:27 left to play.
W.S. Neal quickly used a 7-0 run to take a 39-24 lead and later used a 6-0 run to end the game with the 45-28 win.
W.S. Neal 32, Hillcrest 40
After defeating Blacksher Thursday night at home, the W.S. Neal Eagles faced the Hillcrest Jaguars on Friday and fell 40-32 dropping their record to 6-12 on the season.
The Eagles were outscored 15-2 in the first quarter, but were able to cut the lead to seven points at the half as they trailed 19-12.
In the third quarter, both teams scored nine points each as the Jaguars carried their seven point into the final quarter of play at 28-21.
In the fourth, Hillcrest continued to hold control of the game as they outscored W.S. Neal 12-11 and took the 40-32 win.
Jonathan Thames led the Eagles with eight points in the game.
W.S. Neal will be back in action on Thursday at home against the Flomaton Hurricanes.
Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in East Brewton.
On Friday, the Eagles will close out their season with a home game against the Georgiana Panthers.
Game time for the Eagles last game will begin at 5 p.m. Friday afternoon at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton.