Eagles to Face Host Nashville Warriors in Regional Championship

Video Highlights: Eagles in Regional Semifinals

For the area's premiere independent school team, the figurative road from Augusta to Nashville has gone through Memphis.  After defeating the West Tennessee Christian Gryphons in Thursday's quarterfinal round, the Augusta Eagles faced another Memphis based team, the Memphis Eagles, in Friday's semifinal game.  In an exciting game filled with scoring runs by both teams, Augusta buried ten 3 pointers and secured the 57-50 victory.  Saturday's championship game opponent, the hometown Nashville Warriors earned its right to compete for the NCHBC Regional Championship by defeating yet another Memphis based team, the Memphis Nighthawks.

Augusta Guard Austin Crown

Augusta's prospects looked bleak early as Memphis's high scoring guard Jessee Pierce buried two early 3 pointers, leading his team to a 10-0 advantage.  But Augusta's explosive guard duo of Austin Crown and Matt Miller ignited 23-7 Augusta scoring run before establishing a 34-25 halftime advantage.  "I hit a deep 3 early in the game, and I just felt it after that," Crown said of his offensive production.

Memphis then opened the 3rd quarter with a 17-4 scoring run, punctuated by another Pierce three pointer over the outstretched arms of Augusta's Dominic Brown.  But Augusta made the last surge, finishing by scoring 19 of the game's final 27 points, earning the 7 point victory.  Austin Crown's deep 3 pointer gave the Eagles a 53-46 advantage late in the fourth quarter and assured the Augusta victory.

"The boys played extremely well, especially after trailing early.  Even though we are on the road, the players have been inspired by the outpouring of support received from family, friends, and fans in Augusta," Eagles coach Chad Cook shared after the win.

A determined Paul Jones

Crown led all scorers with 30 points.  Miller added 19.  Freshman Jacob Greenway and junior Paul Jones contributed timely 3 pointers and made major defensive contributions.  Jones handled his particularly difficult defensive task of guarding the bruising 6'5" Memphis forward Avery Sanders very effectively, holding Sanders to two field goals during the game.

Jessee Pierce led Memphis with 24 points in the loss.

The Augusta Eagles face the tournament's #1 seeded Nashville Warriors Saturday at 4:50 P.M. Central Time.