Eagles Team Camp Results

On Saturday, June 18, The Augusta Eagles hosted the "Augusta Eagles Team Camp" at Saint Mark United Methodist Church.  Nine high school teams from Georgia and South Carolina participated.  Teams travelling from as far away as Easley, South Carolina, and McCormick, South Carolina, participated.  Fans observed teams consisting of players from large schools, smaller schools, public schools, private schools, and even home schools.  These are some results and highlights from the day:

Game 1 - Aquinas Fighting Irish 51, Evans Knights 45
After Aquinas established a 34-21 halftime lead, Evans came roaring back and eventually tied the game at 45.  But Aquinas was able to score the final 6 points of the contest and earn a hard fought 51-45 victory. 

Michael Scott and Ray Thompkins contributed 10 points each for the Fighting Irish.  Scott distributed the ball effectively, setting teammates up for open baskets regularly.  Damion Foreman and Jacob Buchanan led Evans, scoring 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Game 2 - Easley Guardians 46, Lakeside Panthers JV 11
After travelling almost three hours, the Easley Guardians, a home school basketball team from Easley, South Carolina, wasted no time in sprinting out to a 17-2 advantage over the Panthers.  The Guardians' man to man defense put pressure on Lakeside, forcing turnovers that led to transition baskets.  That pressure, combined with Easley's rebounding, hustle, and accuracy from the three point line, was too much for the Panthers to overcome.  "We have been running drills and doing a lot of conditioning.  I think one of the reasons our players played so hard is because they were happy to be able to play and compete in a real game," Easley Coach Scott Whiteside stated after the win.

Game 3 - Evans Knights 40, Lakeside Panthers 31
The second and final game of the day for Evans High School was a successful one as the Knights defeated county rival Lakeside High School.  The teams traded baskets and leads throughout most of the game before Evans pulled away for a 9 point victory.  Isaac Patrick led all scorers with 12 points in the win.

Game 4 - Augusta Eagles 61, Easley Guardians 41
A tired Easley team was unable to withstand the pressure of a rested Augusta Eagles unit early in the 12PM contest.  The Eagles pressed early, causing turnovers that led to easy baskets, and shot well from the perimeter, making 7 three pointers.  Matt Miller scored 16 first half points, Paul Jones made 4 three pointers, and Jacob Greenway added 11 points in the Eagles victory.  Although the early lead proved too large to overcome, Easley exhibited impressive resolve by fighting fatigue and outscoring the Augusta 28-27 in the second half.

Game 5 - Glenn Hills Spartans 62, McCormick Chiefs 38
After falling behind 14-8, Glenn Hills used a full court trap to create turnovers and transition scoring opportunities that led to a 25-16 halftime lead for the Spartans.  The lead increased in the second half as the combination of outside shooting and athleticism proved to be too much for McCormick.

Game 6 - Lakeside Panthers 47, Washington Wilkes Tigers 38
In Lakeside's second and final game of the day, the Panthers took an early lead and never relinquished it.  Lakeside's 1-3-1 zone defense forced Washington Wilkes into making difficult passes and taking long jump shots that the Panthers succeeded in converting into transition scoring opportunities.

Game 7 - Augusta Eagles 60, McCormick Chiefs 44

The Augusta Eagles sprinted out to a 13-6 advantage before taking a 32-22 lead into halftime.  Augusta's Austin Crown scored 16 first half points and Paul Jones added 12 points in the opening half, making 4 three pointers.  Early second half jump shots by Augusta's Matt Miller helped extend the Eagles' lead, and Austin Crown continued to score in various ways, eventually recording a game high 28 points.  Crown, who just one week earlier returned to the court for the Eagles after recovering from a wrist injury, played an impressive all around game.  Paul Jones scored 15 points, making 5 three pointers, and Matt Miller added 14 for the Eagles.

Game 8 - Glenn Hills Spartans 82, Washington Wilkes Tigers 31
The Glenn Hills Spartans finished their day with a flurry of steals, fast breaks, exciting dunks, and their second win in as many games.  Leroy Graham caught the attention of the crowd as he attacked the basket in the open court and threw in a one handed, lean in dunk.  Graham was one of many Spartans that played impressive basketball throughout the day, and Glenn Hills appears to be in position to have a strong 2011-2012 season.

Game 9 - Aquinas Fighting Irish 63, McCormick Chiefs 62 (Double Overtime)
The final game of the day may have been the event's most exciting.  Playing their third game in five hours, the McCormick Chiefs played aggressive man to man defense and made a flurry of three point shots, never conceding to a strong Aquinas program.

Aquinas appeared to be in control early as Michael Scott had success finding Ray Thompkins and other teammates for scoring opportunities against McCormick's man to man defense.  But after McCormick's Maurice Jefferson and the twin duo of Terrence Bryant and Torrence Bryant got hot from the perimeter, the teams traded baskets throughout most of the second half.

Aquinas, leading by 2 points late in the game with possession of the ball, committed a costly turnover that led to a Terrence Bryant layup and the day's first overtime session.  After each team scored a pair of baskets in the first overtime, the Chiefs established a 1 point lead late in the second overtime.  With time expiring, Aquinas's Michael Scott was fouled on a 16 foot jump shot and made the free throw to give his team a 63-62 victory.  Aquinas finished the day with two victories.