EHT: Confidence Boost
There is a transition going on in the Eldorado boys' basketball program that head coach Josh Bradley realizes wasn't there a year ago.
"Our guys are starting to feel confident right now," Bradley said. "We're no longer showing up to compete, we're showing up to win and that's nice to see the transition from last year to this year so far with these guys."
One of those guys that is playing with more confidence - 6-foot-5 junior Ethan Partridge - who had his way and scored at will, dropping 28 points in Eldorado's 74-39 win over Galatia Saturday night at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament.
Bradley said for those not scoring at home, what the forward did Saturday, was something that he has been doing all season.
"He's using his athleticism, he's going strong to the hole, he's committed to playing that 4 spot for us and when he shows up on a nightly basis, if he's not the best player on the floor, he's pretty close," Bradley said. "He's playing pretty confident right now and if we can ride that out going forward, he's got a chance to have a really good tournament and the rest of the season."
Braden Attebury had 15 points for the Eagles as they put a total of 11 players in the scoring column in their win over the Bearcats.
Galatia was led by Kody Matthews' 11 points and the Bearcats filled up the scoring column as well, putting 8 players in the loss.
Size and strength was the difference in this game as Eldorado outmanned and outmuscled the Bearcats at nearly every position on the floor.
"Absolutley. They're big and we played hard," Galatia head coach Kendall Hankins said. "I was proud of the kids for playing hard, but we were just outsized tonight.
"When you have that big of a size and strength advantage, you should have a game like (Partridge) had and he had a very good game. I think what hurt us was just not getting back on transition defense. They just beat us up the floor in the first half and really, there's no excuse for that no matter what your size is."
Despite the advantage, Bradley said his Eagles still have some work to do in that department as well.
"We have to get tougher, it's one of the things I keep telling the guys. We have to commit to boxing out. You don't have be the most athletic or gifted kid to box out. It's all about heart and wanting the ball a little bit more than the guys beside you."
Sam Coker had six points for the Eagles, while Clay Boulds finished with five. Adam Partridge and Jacob Traxler each finished with four points, while John Meredith and Kale Oglesby each had three points. Max Kasiar, Stanton Hathaway and Payton Price all had two points.
Ethan Patterson added eight points for Galatia, while Austin Stricklin, Luke Lawrence, Devyn Verbeck and Sean Mondino all had six points. Austin Stevens finished with four points, while Will Pulliam had two points.
The win sets up a Eldorado-Harrisburg showdown in the quarterfinals of the EHT, while the Saline County showdown stays alive on the consolation side of the bracket with Galatia and Carrier Mills meeting Monday at 11:30 a.m.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.
Galatia 12 10 13 14 - 49
Eldorado 22 20 20 12 - 74
Galatia: Stricklin 1 4-7 6, Lawrence 2 2-2 6, Matthews 2 6-7 11, Verbeck 2 1-2 6, Mondino 2 2-2 6, Patterson 4 0-0 8, Stevens 1 2-2 4, Pulliam 0 2-4 2. Totals: 14 19-26 49.
Eldorado: Meredith 1 0-0 3, Kasiar 1 2-4 2, Attebury 6 0-0 15, Partridge 13 2-3 28, Boulds 1 3-3 5, A. Partridge 2 0-0 4, Traxler 2 0-0 4, Oglesby 2 1-2 3, Hathaway 1 0-0 2, Coke 1 0-4 6, Price 1 0-0 2. Totals: 31 8-16 74
3-point FG: GHS 2 (Matthews, Verbeek), EHS 4 (Attebury 3, Meredith). Fouls: GHS 17.