The Eagles got off to a 6-0 start off a putback on a missed free throw and two easy fastbreak layups as their Coach screamed orders from the sidelines. Nico Ortman hit Avyn Morales for the Dons’ first bucket. Brody Darin then hit Sam Bishop on a nice curl cut who found Drew McKenzie for the and-1 to put us down just 6-5. McKenzie found Morales down low for another score and Bishop added a follow up to close the quarter on a 9-0 run giving us a 9-6 lead.
The first part of the second quarter was marred by turnovers. The Eagles opened up the second with another fast break layup off a steal in the half court set. The Dons eventually steadied the ship as Maddox Malm found Braedon Christie twice off the same inbounds play for buckets, Ortman nailed a three, and Christie added a follow up that had the Dons up 18-14. Bishop added a free throw to give the Dons a 19-16 lead going into the locker room at the half.
Points were very hard to come by for the Dons in the third while the Eagles defensive pressure continued to generate sloppy turnovers and easy looks on the other end. Christie finally got the Dons on the board with two free throws that made the score 21-20. Elijah (#2) answered with a nice jumper on the other end. Christie then found Bishop for a three as the shot clock expired to put the Dons up 24-22. An Eagles three point play and another bucket gave them a 27-24 advantage at the end of the third.
The game was a nail biter until the final minutes as both teams went back and forth. Bishop scored on a drive to tie the score at 27 with about five minutes to go. McKenzie made a huge block and Christie scored down low to tie it again at 29. A McKenzie free throw gave the Dons a 31-30 lead at one point but we were unable to generate any further good looks on offense. Elijah iced the game with a gorgeous pass to a cutting Robert (#14) that put the Eagles up one plus two free throws and another easy layup off a steal for the 37-31 final.
The Dons were led by Christie with 9 points, Bishop with 8 and McKenzie 7. The Eagles got 18 from Elijah including 8-10 from the line while Robert and Nico (#5) both added 9. Dons were 5 for 10 from the line while Clayton finished 11 for 18. We won the battle from deep making two threes while the Eagles were shutout.
The Dons fall to 5-9 on the season and 2-3 in league play. Wednesday, January 26th we travel to Miramonte for a 4pm start. Lastly, Friday, January 28th rubber match at Northgate at 4pm. GO DONS!!!