Elks Run By Lions, 61-42
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
ELKHART – As part of the Elkhart Basketball Tournament, the Lovelady Lions traveled north to take on the Elkhart Elks. The Lions were fresh off of football season and were trying to get their basketball legs under them while the Elks already had five wins on the season.
The game was close throughout the first half, but as the contest wore on, Elkhart began to pull away and eventually won by a final score of 61-42.
As the game began, Elkhart’s Ky Thomas was a beast as he dropped in nine of the Elks’ 11 first quarter points. Cale Starr knocked down the other two.
The Lions were a bit more balanced during the first eight minutes of play and took a 13-11 lead by the end of the quarter. Seth Murray had five and Carter Murray knocked down a three. Slade Murray and Kaven Rollo had two apiece while Shamar Terry added one.
The Lions still didn’t have an answer for Thomas as the Elkhart center powered in eight second quarter points. Cade Starr drained a three while three other Elks – Messiah Birdow, Josh Davis and David McMorris – all had two.
Lovelady’s shooting cooled off in the second as they only posted 11 points and fell behind 28-24 at the break. Slade Murray converted four free throws and Jaedin Watts drained a three. Seth Murray and Jacob York also had two each.
Following the break, it seemed as if the Lions had found an answer to Elkhart’s big man. Unfortunately for Lovelady, while they held Thomas in check during the third quarter with four, McMorris torched the Lions for nine.
Cale Starr added a three and Birdow chipped in two as the Elks opened up a 46-35 lead after three periods of play.
Seth Murray tried to keep Lovelady in the game with five while C. Murray, Slade Murray and Nick Ochoa all chipped in two.
The Lions were unable to mount a comeback in the fourth, however, as their only points came from Slade Murray with four and Jaedin Watts with three.
Birdow paced the Elks in the final period of play with six points while Cade Starr and Thomas both had four. Davis converted one of two from the line to close out the Elkhart fourth quarter scoring.
On the game, Seth and Slade Murray both scored 12 for Lovelady. Jaedin Watts netted a pair of three-pointers and Carter Murray dropped in five. Nick Ochoa, Kaven Rollo and Jacob York all had two apiece while Shamar Terry added one.
The Elks were led by Ky Thomas with a game-high 25 points. David McMorris poured in 11 and Messiah Birdow had 10. Cade Starr had seven, Cale Starr added five and Josh Davis had three.
The win over the Lions moved the Elks into the championship game of the tournament where they defeated the Normangee Panthers 61-48.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
