It’s safe to say Ellwood Christian is not a first half team, but the Eagles have shown a knack over the last few weeks of making things interesting over the final two quarters.

Less than a week ago, Ellwood nearly rallied from a 26-point deficit against Wilcox Central. On Tuesday against Prattville Christian there’d be no such comeback, although the Eagles gave it a good run. Ellwood rallied within 28-15 in the third quarter before Prattville put it away with an 18-0 run. All 18 points came off 3-pointers, including three triples by Peyton Meadows.

Even after Ellwood finally made a basket to end the run, Mitchell Davis tacked on an old fashioned 3-point play to keep the momentum going for the Panthers.

“They are the best shooting team I’ve seen in a long time,” said Ellwood Christian coach Darrell Walker. “They are almost like a miniature Golden State Warriors. They come off so many screens and so many back screens.”

Ellwood started slow again Tuesday. The Eagles fell behind 10-2 early and trailed 28-13 at the end of the first half.

The game was decided at the 3-point line.

Prattville Christian made four 3-pointers in the first half and 12 in the game overall. The Eagles made only one 3-pointer — on a fourth quarter shot by T’Markus Simmons — and it came once the outcome was already decided.

The second half started with a Rayford Mitchell steal and layup to pull Ellwood within 13. Meadows answered with a 3-pointer — his first of four in the second half — as the Panthers began to pull away.

Chris Caldwell, one of six seniors celebrated during their last home game, made a tip-in to pull Ellwood back within 31-17. Justin Buford made a layup on Ellwood’s next possession to get the Eagles within 14 again, but that was as close as it’d be the rest of the night.

With the game out of reach, Walker turned to his seniors and let them finish the game out.

“I wanted my seniors to come out and play a large percentage of the fourth quarter,” Walker said. “That’s the way the ball bounces and we’ll get in here tomorrow and get ready for Marengo on Thursday.”

Caldwell fouled out with six minutes left to play, but finished the game with nine points to lead Ellwood. Buford scored five points. Mitchell and Chris Lee had four points apiece.

Meadows scored 23 points and Davis chipped in another 20 for Prattville.

 

Prattville Christian 42, Ellwood 21 (Girls)

James Spears has seen his Ellwood Christian team improve this year.

Now he’s hoping to see the Eagles put together a complete game before the season ends.

Ellwood rallied from a 19-0 hole Tuesday against Prattville Christian, but couldn’t keep it close. The Eagles lost 42-21 and again left their head coach wondering what might’ve been if they could consistently score the basketball.

“If we could score nine or 10 points in every quarter, or more, we’d be in good shape,” Spears said. “We probably had more shot attempts they did, but we just couldn’t hit any shots.”

Arianna Withers and Brianna Dower led Ellwood with six points apiece.

Ellwood closed to within 24-13 at halftime but managed only eight total points in the second half.

Emily Stephenson scored 14 points to lead Prattville Christian in scoring in the game.