The Escambia County Middle School tipped off its basketball season Monday as the eighth grade and seventh grade boys earned victories over the Foley Lions in Foley.

The eighth grade Eagles defeated the Lions 39-27, while the seventh grade team crushed Foley 51-16.

 

8th Grade-Eagles 39

8th Grade-Lions 27

In an opening night match up, the Escambia County Eagles started off the 2011 season with a 39-27 victory over the Foley Lions in Foley on Monday.

The Eagles (1-0) dominated the game leading from beginning to end as they were only outscored in quarter of play.

In the first quarter, the Eagles and Lions both faced offensive woes, but the Eagles came out of the period leading 7-4.

Escambia County extended their lead in the second period outscoring Foley 14-5 to head into halftime leading 21-9.

Following the break, the Eagles would continue their domination throughout the third and fourth quarters of the game.

In the third period, the Eagles of ECMS scored eight points to the Lions six and pushed out to a 29-15 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Foley finally put together a strong offensive showing in the fourth period outscoring ECMS 12-10, but the damage had been done as the Eagles held on for a 39-27 win.

Leading the Eagles in the game were Anthony Fountain and Gatelyn Thames who each scored nine points. Fountain finished the contest with 12 rebounds, while Thames had five steals and four assists.

Trae Thompson finished the game with six points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Dalvin Patterson led the Eagles in rebounds with 16, while scoring four points.

Thompson and Thames performed well in their first game controlling the Eagles offensive sets, ECMS head basketball coach Robert Smith said. Patterson and Fountain held their own pulling down rebounds, he added.

“Trae (Thompson) and Gatelyn (Thames) did a great job running our offense in the first game of the season,” he said. “Dalvin (Patterson) and Anthony (Fountain) controlled the board all night and outplayed our opponent to get us a lot of opportunities.”

Timothy Finklea added three points for ECMS, while Devonte Lee scored two points to go with eight rebounds and Jarvis Jackson scored two points with four rebounds and two blocks.

The Eagles next game is Thursday on the road at Central Baldwin Middle School in Robertsdale. Tip off is at 4:30 p.m.

 

7th Grade-Eagles 39

7th Grade-Lions 27

 

Escambia County Middle School’s seventh-grade Eagles basketball team opened their season in impressive fashion on Monday as they crushed the Foley Lions 51-16 in Foley.

The Eagles (1-0) began the rout in the first quarter held their lead throughout the contest.

In the first quarter, the Eagles hit shot after shot as they jumped out to a 17-3 lead over Foley.

Escambia County added onto their lead in the second period picking up eight points and holding the Lions to four points to go into halftime leading 25-7.

After the break, the Eagles continued to roll over Foley as they outscored them in the third and fourth periods.

The third period proved to be the icing on the cake as the Eagles won the period 19-3 to move into the fourth quarter leading 44-10.

In the final period, ECMS took their foot off of the gas and only scored seven points in the period, while only allowing Foley to score six to come away with a 51-16 win.

The Eagles were led by Chille Ford who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He also had three steals.

Devon Robinson added nine points for ECMS, while Jamontre Lee scored seven. Robinson also had two assists and two steals and Lee had nine rebounds and two blocks.

T.J. Knots scored three points, but led the team with 10 assists.

Knots assists came through his leadership of the offense, ECMS head basketball coach Robert Smith said.

“T.J. (Knots) did a great job of running the offense dishing out several assists,” Smith said.

Tyderian Sims (five points) and Eric Williams (two points) rounded out the scoring for the Eagles.

The Eagles next game is Thursday on the road at Central Baldwin Middle School in Robertsdale. Tip off is at 4:30 p.m.