EA tops Monroe Academy 51-43 in region action

Bradley Geck and Blake Allen scored 10 points each to help lead Escambia Academy to a 51-43 area victory over Monroe Academy earlier tonight.

With the win, the Cougars improved to 8-4 overall, and 1-0 in AISA Class 3A, Region 2 play.

EA coach Hugh Fountain said the boys played tough and fought during the entire game.

“They played with tenacity,” Fountain said.

Monroe and EA played different defenses to start the contest with the Cougars choosing to show man-to-man.

The game was close throughout the entire first period. EA jumped out to a 5-2 lead on a 3-pointer from Allen, and Brad Quimby added a turnaround jumper a few minutes later to give the Cougars a 8-7 lead.

To help provide a little spark, Gary Campbell split the lane and got a runner to go for a 3-point play with 1:21 left in the first.

MA’s Scout Carson tied it at 10-all from the top of the key, but Campbell added a jumper to end the opening period with a 12-10 lead for his team.

Early in the third period, the Cougars built a 7-point lead after a H.T. Fountain 3-pointer and a nice steal and conversion from Tyler Sells.

At the break, EA led 25-19.

The Cougars came out firing in the third period, starting the second half on a 4-0 run.

Utilizing a full court press, EA held tight with its rival and went up 31-27 on a Allen lay up with less than 4 minutes left.

However, MA’s Mark Alan Jeffcoat added a trey soon after to cut the game to within one at 31-30.

That didn’t deter EA as the Cougars shot out to a 8-0 run, which was led by a steal-and-you-get-the-tip conversion on the other end from Campbell, a put back on an offensive rebound from Fred Flavors and a nice pass from Flavors to Allen for an up and in to put the game away.

Trae Lee got a rebound and a put back in the fourth to give EA a 45-35 advantage in the fourth.

Sells added seven points in the win.

In girls action, the Lady Cougars had their way with MA in a 56-36 win.

EA had one of its stand out players back from suspension in Alia Snow, who chipped in 25 points. Snow scored 15 in the third period.

EA’s Mikayla Spruill got a jumper, drained a pair of free shots and dished in a long jumper to build a 9-1 lead in the first period.

The Lady Cougars led 26-12 at halftime.

By the end of the third, EA led 45-20.

Bailey Lancaster scored 15 points, and Spruill added 11 in the win.

EA visits Central Christian tomorrow night in a regular season contest. The Cougars travel to Greenville for a region game against Fort Dale on Friday.

Over the weekend, EA’s boys went 1-1 at the Morgan Academy Holiday Tournament.

The Cougars fell to Autauga 59-51, but beat Marengo 54-53 on a Sells 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Campbell scored 15 to lead the Cougars. Allen had 11, and Flavors chipped in 8.