By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
Etowah High boys basketball coach James Graves summed up his team’s 75-42 loss to Ramsay on Wednesday (Feb. 19) in the Class 5A Northeast Regional Tournament at Jacksonville State, noting that the above outcome is what happens when a team without a big post player fails to make perimeter shots.
Etowah shot just 23.2 percent (13-for-56) from the field and 8.3 percent (2-for-24) from three-point range.
“We hit our shots early and jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but our shots quit falling and we couldn’t match up with their size inside,” said Graves.
Ramsay (21-13) took advantage of its size advantage to break open a close game in the second half.
The Blue Devils (22-4) raced out to a 5-0 lead with 6:52 to go in the opening period capped off by a layup by Jordon Powell and a 3-point basket by Courtland Harris.
The Rams fought back and took a 12-11 lead after one quarter.
The second quarter was back and forth, with Etowah tying the game at 20-20 with 5:02 to go in the first half.
The game was tied three times and the lead changed hands three times in the first 16 minutes.
Etowah took its final lead of the contest at 24-22 with 3:04 to go in the half on a lay-up by Jordon Powell. The Blue Devils would not score again until 5:01 remained in the third period.
The half ended with Ramsay holding a 33-25 lead.
The Rams opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run to build a 43-27 lead and never looked back. The third quarter ended with Ramsay in command 56-33.
The fourth quarter saw the Rams banging the ball inside and closing the game out with a 19-9 outburst.
Jordon Powell led Etowah with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Jalen William scored seven points, while Dominic Avery grabbed seven rebounds.
Ramsay was led by Jordan Millsap’s 22 points, followed by Mitchell Baldwin with 18.
Powell made the all-tournament team.
Graves had nothing but praise for his team’s effort.
“We had an outstanding season going 22-4, and this is a good bunch of kids. I wouldn’t trade these guys for anyone.”