Redbirds fall to top-seeded Bulldogs

West Frankfort Senior Trenton Easley shoots under heavy guard from the Harrisburg Bulldogs at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament on Saturday.

By BRUCE A. FASOL

The Harrisburg Bulldogs may well win the 2012 Eldorado Holiday Tournament, but or a brief moment, at least one team threatened to block their path. Playing aggressive basketball in their quarterfinal match-up, the upstart West Frankfort Redbirds led 15-13 after one quarter Saturday afternoon.

The Redbirds came out of the locker room with nothing left to lose except take it to the #1 seeded Bulldogs.

The Redbirds got to the bracket match-up with a thrilling last second 3-point shot by Braxston Koehl the day prior. In the first quarter against Harrisburg, the Redbirds were patient and used skillful passing to build the lead.

The first points of the second quarter came on a 3-point shot by Tyler Smithpeters, giving Harrisburg a 16-15 lead. Whatever Coach Randy Smithpeters said to his ballclub between quarters ignited a fire inside his team.

Harrisburg exploded for a 31-9 second quarter advantage to re-establish their credibility.

By the half, the Redbirds found themselves hopelessly out of reach, 44-24.  In that decisive frame, Smithpeters had three swishes beyond the arc as part of his 12 point second frame total.  By the end of the third quarter the score was 66-36. That 30 point advantage involved the continuous clock at Duff-Kingston Gym.  The final score was Harrisburg 72-41 win. It was similar to the first day’s first round win over Hardin County for Harrisburg.

Game high scorer was Tyler Smithpeters, who burned the nets for 30 points. The Redbirds were led by 14 points from sophomore Christian Dunning. Trenton Easley also scored in double figures for the ‘Birds with 10 points. Other Redbird scorers included: Maller and Koehl with 4 apiece, 3 points for Sisk, 2 for Keller, and a single point for Korolenko.

Harrisburg had a huge rebounding advantage in the game, 33-21. WF turned the ball over 16 times, Harrisburg 15 times.

With the loss the Redbirds drop to 3-7 for the season. They continue in the Eldorado Holiday Tournament with an 8:30 a.m. game Monday morning. In the breakfast meeting, they will play Union County, Kentucky. Union County dropped a 46-44 game to Massac County on Saturday, in which the Braves had three consecutive misses under the basket as the game ended.