The Woodlands Eagles gave all they had as they tried to extend their season, but it wasn’t enough.
Woodlands Secondary School’s senior AA boys’ basketball team was eliminated from the playoffs on Monday, losing 69-59 to the Gulf Islands Scorpions in a play-in game in Ladysmith for the final berth at Islands.
“It was a good game and they battled the whole time,” said Joey Spillman, Eagles coach. “I told them they’re all winners.”
The game was full of momentum shifts, as the Eagles leaped to a 10-point lead in the first quarter but the Scorpions used their height advantage to take control and get the lead to as much as 12 points in the third quarter.
Woodlands had one last run in it and made a furious charge late in the third quarter, eventually tying the game 54-54 to start the fourth quarter.
But the Scorpions were not to be stopped.
“Gulf Islands did a really good job within their offence,” said Spillman. “We put a trap on them; they did a really good job breaking it.”
Erik Van Waes led Woodlands with 25 points and Bryson Cox had a triple-double of points, rebounds and steals.
Spillman said his players were taking the loss pretty hard.
“You could see on the court they really wanted it,” said the coach. “They’ve all got big hearts.”
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