The Morris Eagle varsity basketball team began their 2023 postseason journey on a winning note this past Friday evening.
The Morris Eagle varsity basketball team began their 2023 postseason journey on a winning note this past Friday evening.
The Eagles led wire-to-wire in their decisive 84-14 win over the Dove Science Raptors in the Class 3A, Area IV, District 3 championship game at the Don Shoemake Sports Complex in Morris.
The Morris squad’s next postseason action will come Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at home against the 13th-ranked Keys Cougars in the winner’s bracket of the Class 3A, Area IV, regional tournament.
A win over the Cougars will put Morris into Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. regional championship game against the winner of Thursday’s other winner’s bracket game at Jones High School between Millwood and the host Jones Longhorns, while a loss to Keys Thursday will drop the Eagles into Friday’s regional consolation semifinal round at 3 p.m. in Morris against Thursday’s consolation quarterfinal winner in Jones between Harding Fine Arts and Star Spencer.
In last Friday’s district title game against Dove Science, the Eagles took the opening frame by a 30-6 margin, then outscored their opponents 25-2 in the second period for a commanding 55-8 lead at halftime.
The Morris gentlemen put the finishing touches on their decisive playoff- opening win by taking the final two quarters 14-4 and 15-2, respectively, for the 84-14 decision.
Xavier Harjo led the way offensively for the Eagles, finishing with a gamehigh 14 points. Steven Bender and Tucker Kelsey also tallied double-digit scoring for Morris last Friday with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Other Eagle scorers against Dove Science were Cody Smith with eight, Jerrick Raines seven, Trey Robinson and Bobby Baker six each, Ryan Benavidez, Jaylen Zackery, and Robert Woods four apiece, Koen Burgess three, Kyan Brooks and Evan Felts two each, and Trey Daniels one.
--- Class 3A District Tournament Championship
Morris 84, Dove Science 14
Dove: 6 - 2 - 4 - 2 (14) Morris: 30 - 25 - 14 - 15 (84) Morris Scoring: Xavier Harjo 14, Steven Bender 12, Tucker Kelsey 11, Cody Smith 8, Jerrick Raines 7, Trey Robinson 6, Bobby Baker 6, Ryan Benavidez 4, Jaylen Zackery 4, Robert Woods 4, Koen Burgess 3, Kyan Brooks 2, Evan Felts 2, Trey Daniels 1.
