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For the first time in four games, the Eagles basketball team was leading in the first quarter of a postseason game. This time, is was the Michigan Class D state semifinals and Bellaire had a double-digit lead in the first quarter, which it lost in the second half of a 58-55 loss to Cedarville at the Breslin Center Thursday.

Until the semifinal, the Eagles had to come from behind in the regional semifinal, final and the state quarterfinal against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.

This time around, Mike McClary led them to a dominating performance early. He scored 10 points in the first quarter, pushing the Eagles to a 16-6 lead. He also anchored the defense that held Cedarville scoreless the first four minutes of the game. Neither offense was stellar early, which Sexton noted in the postgame conference, but it was McClary and Bellaire that started their offense first.

A stealÊand lay-up by Anthony Garwood before the close of the first, gave the Eagles a nine-point lead going into the second.

BellaireÕs defense continued to be stingy in the second, with McClary and Scott Mason blocking Cedarville shots in the opening moments of the second. But McClary was starting to feelÊunder more pressure. ÒAfter the first quarter, I could tell they were paying more attention to me,Ó McClary said.

ÊMeanwhile, the Cedarville offense began to produce. The Trojans closed within four points of Bellaire in the second quarter, but the Eagles were resiliant. Brad Guy capped the second quarter with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, to put them back up 10 at halftime.

While more defensive pressure was put on McClary, Bellaire still held a doublefigure lead at halftime. Meanwhile, the Cedarville team wasnÕt down on themselves. Actually, the Trojans didnÕt think they were in too bad of position for the second half.

ÒWe were down 10 at halftime this time around, we were down 20 or 25 at halftime last year,Ó Cedarville coach David Duncan said. ÒI think we were doing all right and if we could get into the flow, and put pressure on Bellaire, we could get back into it.Ó

ÒWe felt good, but not confident,Ó Sexton said.

Garwood provided the Eagles a spark at the start of the third quarter, making a pair of lay-ups in the opening stages, putting Bellaire in front by 12 points. But then the Cedarville full-court pressure started getting to the Eagles.

ÒThey are a great pressure team and started to create turnovers,Ó Sexton said.