April 25, 2024

Eagles succumb to swarm of Class 2A fourth-ranked Cardinals

By KALEB CARTER
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East Union junior Olivia Eckels leaps for a loose ball going out of bounds during the Eagles' 75-26 home loss to Central Decatur Friday. Eckels had a team-high 13 points. (CNA photo)

AFTON — Central Decatur employed its press to near perfection in the first quarter of Friday’s road game at East Union. The class 2A fourth-ranked Cardinals used their early advantage to cruise to a 75-26 Pride of Iowa win.

Emma Atwood was’t shy in attacking the hoop in the first quarter and used that to propel herself to a 29-point effort to lead the Cardinals.

Olivia Eckels’s 13 points helped keep the Eagles’ spirits up as East Union played more loosely on offense after falling behind 20-2 within the first three minutes of the game. East Union trailed by 23 after a 30-7 first quarter.

“Our press usually gets us going,” Central Decatur coach Curtis Boothe said. “We got some easy shots snd even in some of the transition stuff... Emma and Alli finishing at the end of our press was quite effective.”

At half, the Cardinals led 50-15 and three of their players were in double digits. Atwood’s night led the way, but Alli Masters contributed 19 with most of them coming in the first half and Raegan Boothe netted 12.

“We talked about it at halftime. We’re down 35, we know it’s a continuous clock coming back out here,” East Union coach Mike Cooley. “And it’s like ‘well, let’s work on some things we worked on during the holidays.”

Down by a sizeable margin, the Eagles played more loose on the offensive end after struggling mightily against Central Decatur’s lenghty press.

The Eagles took their fair share of jumps shots and were able to get looks against the Cardinals’ man-to-man defense, if not as many open looks as they would have liked.

Cooley mentioned that the girls had showed grit against Wayne Thursday, with Sidney McFee having a performance of 13 points and 12 rebounds and Olivia Eckels grabbing 17 rebounds. McFee notched seven points Friday to compliment Eckels’ scoring.

UP NEXT —East Union (1-9) hosts Southwest Valley (4-6) Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.

CD (75) — scoring — Emma Atwood 12 5-10 29, Alli Masters 7 2-2 19, Ragean Boothe 5 0-0 12, Erica Kauzlarich 2 0-0 4, Riley Bell 2 0-0 4, Jentri Hullinger 1 0-0 3, Lily Simon 1 0-0 2, Kennedy Buckingham 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 6 (Alli Masters 3, Raegan Boothe 2). FG Shooting — 31-60 (52 percent). Rebounds — 25 (Emma Atwood 9, Alli Masters 4, Raegan Boothe 3). Assists — 20 (Alli Masters 5, Lily Simon 5, Raegan Boothe 3), Steals — 14 (Emma Atwood 4, Alli Masters 3, Jentri Hullinger 3). Blocks — 1 (Raegan Boothe 1) — Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — None.

EU (26) — scoring — Olivia Eckels 5 3-4 13, Sidney McFee 3 0-0 7, Callie Gossman 1 1-2 3, Mara Weis 1 0-0 2, Kendra Kirkland 0 1-2 1. Totals — 3-point goals 1 — (Sidney McFee 1). FG shooting — 10-33 (30 percent). Rebounds — 23 (Olivia Eckels 9, Sidney McFee 4, Callie Gossman 3, Kendra Kirkland 2). Assists — 5 (Sidney McFee 2, Mara Weis 2) Steals — 5 (Sidney McFee 2) Turnovers — N/A. Team fouls — 11. Fouled out— None.

CD (75) — 30 20 17 8

EU (26) — 7 8 3 7