The Morgan Academy Senators were unable to consistently make shots in their 79-58 loss Tuesday night to Tuscaloosa Academy, resulting in their first defeat of the year.

The Senators, who depend on making a lot of three point shots, went 6 for 36 from behind the arch and made only 8 of 19 free throw attempts in their worst shooting performance of the young season.

“They are a big physical basketball team and we didn’t shoot the ball well and they made us pay for it,” Morgan head coach Bob Taylor said. “That’s the bottom line. I’m not going to make any excuses; we just didn’t shoot the ball well. We had good looks but that’s basketball.”

The Senators were outrebounded 47-40 and Tuscaloosa Academy made 61 percent of their two-point shots in the win.

“We didn’t do a very good job in our press in the second half,” Taylor said. “I thought they did a really good job breaking the press. They have a good club and we got outrebounded and that was a big part of it. They took control of the boards and I was afraid of that happening.”

After leading by five after the first quarter, the Knights went on a 6-0 run before halftime to take a 10-point lead into the break. In the second half, Tuscaloosa Academy scored early and often to take a 50-28 with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Senators refused to go away though, going on a 17-10 run to get the lead down to 15 in the final minute of the third period. The Knights answered, scoring 15 of the next 19 points to grab an insurmountable 77-50 lead with 4:36 left to play. From there, Tuscaloosa coasted.

Most of the points were scored on fast break opportunities after breaking the Morgan press, something Knights head coach William Johnson talked to his team about at the half.

“I thought once we settled down and made some adjustments that we were able to settle down and make some layups,” Johnson said. “That’s what our message was at halftime, to make good passes look up the court and we’ll have some easy opportunities.”

Dalton Lee led the Senators with 22 points.

 

Tuscaloosa Academy 45, Morgan 25 (girls)

Despite a fourth quarter that saw the Senators play some of their best basketball of the season, Morgan Academy fell Tuesday night to Tuscaloosa Academy 45-25.

The Senators trailed 23-11 at halftime and were unable to inch closer in the second half.

“The fourth quarter was the best we’ve played and probably the most we’ve shot in one quarter,” Morgan head coach Jennifer Moore said. “I think they are finally getting comfortable with their shots and learning they have to move the ball in order to get open.”