Big runs by the Bayside Academy Admirals in the first and third quarters spelled a 55-27 defeat for the W.S. Neal varsity Eagles Friday night in their area tournament game in Cottage Hill. The 28-point loss ended the season for the Eagles of East Brewton with a 5-19 record.
Bayside Academy jumped on W.S. Neal early and often as they held W.S. Neal to only three points in the first quarter to take a 16-3 lead.
In the second quarter, both teams scored 12 points each as W.S. Neal trailed 28-15 at the halftime break.
In the third quarter, W.S. Neal raced out to a 19-6 run to open the second half to grab a 47-21 lead heading into the final quarter of play. In the fourth, Bayside Academy edged out W.S. Neal 8-6 to get the big win.
D.J. Hodges led W.S. Neal with five points while Treylon Watson added four. Antwan Jones and Malik Jones both chipped in three points each while J.T. Lane, Jacobey Hawthorne, Kenny Walker and Troy Lewis all had two points each. Robin Swift rounded out the Eagle scorers with one point.
“Congrats to the players and coaching staff from Bayside on a well-played game,” first-year W.S. Neal head coach Anthony Hayes said. “We fought and continued to play and lost to a better team today. Thanks to our administration, athletic director, school and community for their support this season. I’m really proud of this team for the improvements they have made since day one. Each of them has done all that myself and Coach Sam Ewing has asked. We asked this group to go out and compete each night out and to play the game the right way. Thanks to our seniors for their effort and commitment. We are looking forward to the opportunity of the continued growth of our basketball program here at W.S. Neal High School.”