It was another exciting physical game for the No. 8 ranked Eufaula Ironheads (30) as they shut down the Henryetta Knights offense in a 6230 victory. The Knights made the first period interesting by playing tough in the paint until Eufaula head coach Grant Callison unleashed the unrelenting Ironhead defense led by Jentry James, Ty Sparks and Doltyn Lane. The trio made multiple steals and scored in transition. The Ironheads continued to play an unselfish game as team players made great passes and assisted teammates that were open and scored. Keaton Parish, Jentry James and R’Reon Marrow were sensational from the perimeter, as Eufaula led 19-9 to end the first period.
Henryetta tried to chip away at the lead 19-13 to start the second period but James had one of his best defensive games of his career as tormented the Knights with his speed and quick hands forcing multiple turnovers.
The physicality of the Ironheads in the paint wore the Knights down as Logan Plant and Parish played with aggressiveness rebounding and putting shots up. Eufaula ended the period with a three-point bucket from Parish then Marrow to take a 34-16 lead into the halftime break.
The second half was all Eufaula, as they got hot shooting from the perimeter and forcing turnovers and scoring in transition. The Ironheads had eight steals in the third period alone. After resting his starters, Callison had Eufaula ready to finish strong as they outscored Henryetta 16-7 with great effort by his team to seal the 62-30 victory.
Eufaula had three players in double-digits with Parish 17, James, 14 and Marrow 13. Ty Sparks seven and Plant had six points.
“We played hard again tonight. I felt like Coach Johnson’s team was very scrappy defensively… we did not shoot it particularly well and we turned it over way too much. We’ve got to clean things up moving forward in those areas. Overall I was pleased with our defense and we won easily so we’ll take it and learn from it,” Eufaula head coach Grant Callison said.
Lady Ironheads hand Henryetta 58-31 defeat The No.16 Class 4A Eufaula Lady Ironheads (3-0) had to rally in the second period to shake off a tough and capable Henryetta team, to earn a 58-31 win. Eufaula started off with a threepointer from senior Johna Bumgarner followed by an Olivia Hamby rebound and score to take a 5-0 lead but the Lady Knights would tie the game with great play in the paint by Allie Davis and Zoe Boatright. Hannah Needham would score but Henryetta would end the period with a 11-7 lead.
Eufaula bounced back with a three-pointer from Lauren Gray followed by a big-time rejection by Ariel Greenlee and a Needham three-pointer to take a 13-11 lead. Davis would score again as the battle in the paint was furious by both Davis, Greenlee, Hamby and freshman Ava Neill. With the game tied 13-13 the Lady Ironheads began to take control with plays by Kristee Thompson, Neill, Gray and Bumganer as they ended the period leading 20-14.
Greenlee would score first for Eufaula as they began their offensive onslaught on the Lady Knights. Eufaula moved the ball with authority down the court and made great plays like Gray’s pass to Greenlee in the paint to make it a 31-17 game. Then Bumgarner began to hit her perimeter shots as they extended the lead 41-20. The period ended on a Needham threepointer 49-20.
Eufaula head coach Jason Radomski has to be pleased with the effort from his freshman guard Ayana Siers. Siers was effective at forcing steals and bringing the ball up court. Briley Gragg was also effective from the perimeter as finished with six-points. The dominance of Eufaula in the final minutes with reserve players was impressive as they rolled on to a 58-31 victory.
Bumgarner led the team with 14 points, Needham 8, Gragg and Neill 6, Thompson and Gray each had fivepoints.
Bethel Tournament
Eufaula boys (5-1) fell to Tecumseh 59-61 in the opening round of the Bethel Tournament on Thursday. Blanchard played five guards and made it difficult for the Ironheads to guard them.
“I felt like it was a crazy game. We never really got in a rhythm on either end of the floor. We got in foul trouble and we couldn’t be as aggressive as we wanted to be. I thought we played hard and scrapped but we just couldn’t get over the hump,” Eufaula head coach Grant Callison said.
Parish earned the honor of being on the All-Tournament team.
Parish had 16 points; Marrow 14 and James added 15 points for Eufaula.
The Ironheads bounced back winning their next two games in the tournament. On Friday Eufaula topped Pauls Valley 55-41 and on Saturday defeated Sallisaw 50-43. R’Reon Marrow was hot, scoring 19 points, including three, three-point buckets in the win. Eufaula forced turnovers and scored from the perimeter and ended with three players in double figures with Marrow 19, Parish 14 and Jentry James 13.
Eufaula will travel to Checotah on Thursday to face in-county rival Checotah Wildcats. The game starts at 6 p.m.
The Eufaula Lady Ironheads lost the first two tournament games by a total of six points. Blanchard edged Eufaula 41-38 on Thursday. Ava Neill led Eufaula with 12 points while teammate Johna Bumgarner finished with 11 points. Blanchard outscored Eufaula 24-9 in the final period to get the win.
Perkins-Tryon defeated Eufaula on Friday 36-32 but the Lady Ironheads left the tournament with a 49-43 victory over Tecumseh on Saturday.
