Advertisement

Bellaire started the game strong, as they posted an initial 6-3 lead. The Trojans relied on 3-pointers throughout much of the first quarter to keep themselves in the mix. After being down 12-7, Brent Patton, Alex Scott and Byron Patton all did their share to help reclaim the lead.

Strong guard play from the EaglesÕ Cody Bock and Anthony Garwood helped Bellaire maintain consistency through many of the tougher times. However, the Trojans ended the first quarter on a nice run, as Brett Mosher and Zach Light guided them to a 21-15 first quarter advantage. Bellaire stormed back in the second quarter with pinpoint shooting from Bock and Mike McClaryÕs force in the paint. Central LakeÕs seven point lead was vanquished in no time flat when McClary took an out pass and scored three points the old-fashioned way to tie it up at 25.

The end of the second quarter marked the time when Bellaire began to take precedent. Bock found some twine on a 3-pointer and Jordan Nevarez established himself down low en route to a 38-31 halftime lead.

"Central Lake did a really good job of getting to the hoop and scoring some layups in the first half,Ó"Bellaire coach Stan Sexton said. "We didnÕt do a very good job on help out defense. Luckily, we were able to get out of the half with the lead."

Central Lake had a hard time closing the gap in the third quarter. Bellaire seemed to have an answer for every Trojan bucket. They did manage to get to within three points after Byron Patton, Scott and Light scored six straight points near the end of the third. Despite the rally, though, Bellaire held a 54-49 lead with a quarter to play.

After taking the 59-51 lead in the fourth, it was time for Central Lake to step up. They did just that and garnered some steam as the fourth quarter wore on. Brent Patton and Zach Light strung together some points to inch the Trojans to within two points of the lead, 59-57.

But the EaglesÕ savvy leadership and veteran play was too much for Central Lake to cope with and the Eagles closed the game on a 7-0 run to grab the 66-57 district playoff victory.

"We had four guys in double figures, and that was big,Ó"Sexton said.

"Central Lake did a nice job of defending McClary and Jordan Nevarez stepped up.

Ò"his is the second big game where Nevarez has really come to play"

"I thought we played really hard,Ó"Trojan coach Quinn Barry said. "We knew going in that we'd have to play a heck of a game to win, but we werenÕt discouraged. IÕm proud of our guys and proud of the way they came and played their hearts out."

Bock finished the game with a team-high 24 points, with four steals.

"Cody was in a little slump there for a few games, and he had an illness, but heÕs back on track now," Sexton said.