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Warren Harding beat Beaver Local 101-21
Harding dunks Beaver Local
By J.J. BENSON Tribune Chronicle
WARREN - Warren G. Harding owes the rim manufacturer an apology after Tuesday's game against Beaver Local.
The Raiders abused the basket with an array of dazzling dunks in their 101-21 Steel Valley Conference victory, and spared the steel cylinder only when they got nothing but net from 10 3-pointers.
It was the first time Harding scored 100 or more points since doing it against Rayen in the 2001-02 season.
Five Harding players finished with double-digit scoring, led by Damion Eargle's 15 points and 12 rebounds. O'dell Eargle had 17, Brian Wright scored 14 and Ta'Shan Williams and Keelyn Franklin each had 13.
Harding coach Steve Arnold had no complaints following the 80-point victory. His biggest concern was keeping the victory from enlarging the Raiders' heads.
"I don't want the kids to get a false sense of security,'' Arnold said. "After this 3-0 start we are really trying to keep our kids grounded.
"You hate to be in such a lopsided game. I give Beaver Local credit. They played hard for four quarters.''
The Raiders led 28-5 after the first quarter and held Beaver Local scoreless in the second quarter to take a 53-5 halftime lead.
O'dell Eargle had 14 points in the first quarter, including a pair of slam dunks that left the Beavers defenseless.
"Harding was very athletic,'' Beaver Local coach Mike Solterbeck said. "When I saw Harding on our schedule, I said they could beat us 120-10 if they wanted to. They almost did it.
"I knew in the first few minutes if we couldn't turn over our offense and make them play defense it would be a long night.''
The Beavers had more turnovers than points in each quarter and finished the game with 29. Harding had just nine turnovers.
Wright hit a pair of three pointers early in the third quarter as the Raiders took a 63-9 lead with 4:58 left. The Raiders led 76-15 at the end of the third.
Franklin, Wright and Aaron Elder each hit three 3-pointers in the game as the Raiders made 38-of-73 from the field.
The Raiders outrebounded the Beavers 47-14. Pat White had eight boards while Williams and O'dell Eargle had six each.
"O'dell got us off on the right foot with his energy tonight,'' Arnold said. "He gives us a dimension of athleticism at 6-foot-7 that we haven't had in a while.
"Brian (Wright) has been groomed to be a leader for us. We expect a lot from Brian.''
With 2:11 left in the game the Harding faithful began pulling for the 100-point mark after Elder hit a 3-pointer making it 97-19. Lawrence Coleman's shot put the Raiders over the milestone with 44 seconds left.
Beaver Local joined the Steel Valley League last season, but they are leaving after this year. For Solterbeck, it was the most optimistic aspect of Tuesday's game since the two teams won't meet again this year.
"We can't compete in that league in boy's basketball,'' he said. "This was the worst year for us to be in this league.'' Arlan Bailey and Ethan Russell each scored six for Beaver Local, now 0-4.
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