CONVERSE Two and a half minutes into Tuesday nights boys basketball game at Oak Hill, Eastern had the Class 2A No. 3-ranked Golden Eagles looking at a 5-0 deficit.

The Comets looked cool and composed, hitting their first two shot attempts on a Sam Querry 3-pointer from the wing and Draeden Graber driving runner in the lane.

And then, just like that, everything went the other way in a hurry.

Eastern (7-11) managed just one more shot attempt in the first quarter as Oak Hill (15-2) reeled off 10 straight points for a 15-5 lead at the first stop. The Comets trailed by double digits the rest of the way, falling 54-30.

We got out to a good start and were doing some good things, Eastern coach Mike Springer said. We had some mental lapses and next thing you know were down 10.

With just under 5:00 to play in the opening frame, the Eagles found the scoreboard on a Cal Mann deuce that opened the flood gates. That basket sparked what would be a 19-0 Oak Hill run stretching well into the second quarter. During that same span, the Comets went more than nine minutes without scoring before a Nolan Smalley basket with 4:01 to play in the half stopped the bleeding.

At that point, the scoreboard showed a 19-7 Oak Hill lead. The Eagles went on for a 29-12 lead at the half as Eastern ended up with just nine field goal attempts in the first half while turning the ball over nine times once Oak Hill flexed its defensive muscle with a trap that had the Comets reeling.

Their trap really caused lots of problems for us, Springer said. We didnt handle it very well. I felt like we handled some pressure over the weekend a lot better and were ready for this but we just didnt attack it very well. And give them a lot of credit. They were a lot more athletic and a lot taller in certain places and it was obviously hard for us to get the ball down the floor. I guess thats why theyre as good of a team as they are.

Nolan Smalley hit all three of his second-quarter shot attempts, scoring all seven of the Comets points in the period and providing a bright spot for Eastern. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Nolan had a good game, good effort out of him on the offensive end especially, Springer said. We really wanted to look to him inside and we did for the most part. That was part of our game plan but obviously we couldnt get it to him enough. Their pressure was just too strong.

Tyce Frank paced Oak Hill with 20 points.

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BOYS BB: Explosive Golden Eagles roll by Comets - Kokomo Tribune