The Eastside boys and girls varsity basketball teams were each handed a region loss Tuesday night, as the Loganville Red Devils entered the Nest Eastside and snatched a pair against the host Eagles.
For the boys, it was a close game, as the Eagles (5-2 overall, 1-1 Region 8-AAAA, Sub-region B) ultimately fell in the end, 48-38. They trailed all the way entering the fourth, unable to make the necessary plays down the stretch to steal one away from the Red Devils (5-0, 2-0).
As for the girls, it was the same result but more disastrous, as the Lady Eagles (1-3, 0-2) fell to the Lady Red Devils (4-1, 2-1), 71-30.
"We were very disappointed in the loss, but even more so, this was the first time this group didn't play the way we are accustomed to see them play," said Eastside boys head coach Michael Gerald. "I felt we didn't give the effort we had been giving the entire season thus far.
"We won't look at this as a setback, but as a benefit, showing us that we need to work harder on certain things that we didn't do as well as we could have," added Gerald.
The Eagles were never able to get into a rhythm offensively or defensively against Loganville, and it winded up costing them late in the game.
Although they outrebounded the Red Devils, the Eagles failed to outshoot them. At halftime the game was set for the taking as the score was 23-20, advantage Loganville.
After the halftime break, the Red Devils were able to slowly gain momentum of the game and the score was proof of that.
The Eagles could not get the lead in the second half, and trailed by four after the third quarter. With one minute and 57 seconds left in the fourth, Loganville's Tyler Gunnett converted a three-point play, pushing it to an eight-point lead. As a result, Eastside couldn't creep any closer.
Eastside was led behind the shooting of Artis Clanton, who dropped 12 points. Cameron Robinson added eight, and Brian DeVaughn chipped in with five.
Gunnett scored a game-high 14 points. Luke Baker and Clivins Volcy each added nine for the Red Devils.
For the girls, the Lady Eagles entered the game looking to bounce back, but were unable to get out of the box fast, allowing the Lady Red Devils to take advantage.
"We have got to learn to score the ball more consistently," said Eastside girls head coach Jason Grooms. "When we score more consistently it will help us with our transition defense a lot. We also have to get to work in a couple categories, especially free throw shooting as we went 6-of-26 from the line, which is just unacceptable."
Loganville started the game on a 16-3 run and never looked back. One of the major reasons was the Eastside turnovers they were able to capitalize on, and the Lady Red Devils were again able to take advantage.
As a result of the sloppy ball control, Eastside was down 39-15 entering halftime.
But in the second half, the Lady Eagles showed some life, as they were able to make some nice layups and pull-up jumpers. However, the Lady Red Devils were able to match the intensity the Lady Eagles demonstrated, and thus went on to win the contest.
