Prep Hoops: Maddening Effort

It was a valiant effort, but Eldorado's attempt at bucking McCracken County High School feel short Thursday night in a 77-34 loss.

The Mustangs cranked up the heat on a cold night Thursday at the Mustang Madness shoot out, part of the Bluegrass Classic Showcase, holding the Eagles scoreless in the first four minutes of the second quarter, starting on a 9-0 run and closing out the second stanza outscoring Eldorado 26-8 to take a 40-18 halftime lead.

Eldorado (3-6) shot 7-of-16 in the first half and played the Mustangs close in the early going as the Eagles trailed 14-10 after one period.

Eldorado was forced into 11 first half turnovers, including eight in the second quarter.

The miscues didn't get much better in the second half as Eldorado coughed up the rock six times in the third quarter and went into the final eight minutes of the game down 58-31.

The proverbial wheels feel off for Josh Bradley and company in the fourth quarter when Eldorado didn't score until the 1:23 mark.

Nathan Burnett led the Eagles in scoring with 11 points, while Ethan Partridge and Adam Ninness each finished with five points. Clay Boulds banked in four points, while Josh Pilkington and Adam Partridge each tacked on three points. Jacob Traxler scored two points and Max Kaiser tossed in a free throw.

The Eagles finished shooting 38.2 percent from the field, going 13-for-34, while 5-of-7 from 3-point range and 3-for-10 from the foul line.

In the turnover department, Eldorado finished with 24, while McCracken County only had nine miscues.

The Mustangs put two players in double figures as Jarrett Mauk scored 16 and Cole Smith tossed in 11.

McCracken County (9-6) shot 45 percent on the night, going 27-for-60 and 12-of-30 from 3-point range for 40 percent and 11-for-19 from the foul line.

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.