PURDIN — The undefeated Meadville High School Eagles know they face a challenge of going farther in this year’s Class 1 state basketball tournament than they did a year ago, when they reached the quarterfinals.
Friday night, they impressively gave themselves the opportunity to do so.
Ripping off 7-2 and 8-0 spurts in first 6:03 of their Class 1 District 12 Tournament championship game against Tina-Avalon and then a 11-2 sprint in the second and a killer 18-3 spree in the third and early fourth, the Eagles improved their record to 27-0 and secured a berth in the state tourney again with a systematic 57-36 shredding of T-A.
“We started, in the (Carroll-Livingston Activity Association) conference tournament, talking about playoff basketball,” MHS boys head coach Darren Smith reflected after the decisive win.
“Every game’s a playoff game. Let’s play it like it’s playoff basketball. And I’ve thought they’ve done a great job of staying focused. We haven’t looked past anybody all season, I haven’t felt like.”
Now, there’ll be no worry about looking past anyone however long they Eagles continue to play.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, they’ll meet the LaPlata Bulldogs (25-2) at Brookfield High School in a rematch of last year’s sectional-round game at the start of state play. Meadville won that one 52-44.
Joining the Eagles at nearby Brookfield this year will be Meadville’s girls, who also took charge early in their clash with Tina-Avalon and won 58-30.
The Lady Eagles (25-2) will tip off state tournament action meeting District 11 champion and 2009 state runnerup Marion County at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
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PURDIN — The undefeated Meadville High School Eagles know they face a challenge of going farther in this year’s Class 1 state basketball tournament than they did a year ago, when they reached the quarterfinals.
Friday night, they impressively gave themselves the opportunity to do so.
Ripping off 7-2 and 8-0 spurts in first 6:03 of their Class 1 District 12 Tournament championship game against Tina-Avalon and then a 11-2 sprint in the second and a killer 18-3 spree in the third and early fourth, the Eagles improved their record to 27-0 and secured a berth in the state tourney again with a systematic 57-36 shredding of T-A.
“We started, in the (Carroll-Livingston Activity Association) conference tournament, talking about playoff basketball,” MHS boys head coach Darren Smith reflected after the decisive win.
“Every game’s a playoff game. Let’s play it like it’s playoff basketball. And I’ve thought they’ve done a great job of staying focused. We haven’t looked past anybody all season, I haven’t felt like.”
Now, there’ll be no worry about looking past anyone however long they Eagles continue to play.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, they’ll meet the LaPlata Bulldogs (25-2) at Brookfield High School in a rematch of last year’s sectional-round game at the start of state play. Meadville won that one 52-44.
Joining the Eagles at nearby Brookfield this year will be Meadville’s girls, who also took charge early in their clash with Tina-Avalon and won 58-30.
The Lady Eagles (25-2) will tip off state tournament action meeting District 11 champion and 2009 state runnerup Marion County at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
