Pikeville – Round 1: Spring Creek Gators vs Eastern Wayne Warriors
First Quarter: Warriors Set the Tone Early
The Eastern Wayne Warriors struck first in their FCA Tournament matchup against the Spring Creek Gators, opening the game with a quick two-point layup. The Gators’ first possession came up empty, and the Warriors followed by capitalizing at the free-throw line, sinking one of two attempts to grab an early edge.
Spring Creek responded with a much-needed spark as No. 3 Hunter Gunn drilled a deep three-pointer to put the Gators on the board. Momentum continued when No. 1 Jaayden McLean came up with a big steal, finished on the other end, and converted the and-one opportunity at the line. With energy building, the Gators called a timeout to regroup and review the game plan.
Out of the timeout, Spring Creek found the basket again, trimming the deficit to 10–8. However, Eastern Wayne quickly regained control and closed the first quarter on a strong run, pulling away to a 21–11 lead.
Second Quarter: Warriors Maintain Control
Eastern Wayne opened the second quarter with the first basket, keeping pressure on the Gators. Spring Creek answered when No. 14 Ethan Rivers knocked down a big shot to get things moving. After another Warrior layup, No. 14 Ethan Rivers was fouled on a three-point attempt and went 2 for 3 from the free-throw line.
Despite the effort, the Warriors refused to slow down, attacking the paint with another strong layup. The Gators responded with a big three from No. 12 Tristan Pate, but Eastern Wayne continued to dictate the pace. With the score at 29–19, the Gators called a timeout with 4:42 remaining before halftime, searching for a spark with limited time.
The Warriors wasted no time out of the break, scoring quickly inside. Spring Creek answered with a layup by No. 11 Jaden Turner, but Eastern Wayne kept up the pressure with yet another basket. The Warriors’ fast-paced offense and aggressive defense proved too much, as they headed into halftime with a commanding 41–22 lead.
Halftime Recap
At the break, the Spring Creek Gators found themselves down 19 points. While players like No. 14 Ethan Rivers and No. 3 Hunter Gunn managed to generate some offense, defensive struggles against Eastern Wayne’s speed and inside presence proved costly. The Warriors, meanwhile, showcased balanced scoring and dominance in the paint, firmly in control of the game.
Third Quarter Surge Seals It
Both teams traded baskets early in the third quarter, but the Warriors soon extended their lead to 50–23. Spring Creek searched for momentum, but a powerful dunk by Eastern Wayne ignited the crowd and shifted energy even further in the Warriors’ favor.
The Gators briefly slowed the run with a basket of their own, but miscommunication on both ends of the floor continued to hurt them. After a foul sent the Warriors to the line where they missed both attempts Eastern Wayne still pushed the lead to 67–27.
Following a Warriors timeout, Spring Creek’s No. 3 Hunter Gunn caught fire, hitting a series of impressive three-pointers that briefly energized the Gators. Despite the late shooting surge, Eastern Wayne continued to score with ease and maintain control as time wound down.
Final Score: Eastern Wayne Warriors 80, Spring Creek Gators 46
