Eagles drop heartbreaker
Diboll rallies to double-overtime win over Rusk
BY LELAND ACKER

Eagle post Quinn Anthony snags a rebound from the air during Rusk's 80-77 doubleovertime loss to the Diboll Lumberjacks Jan. 22 at Rusk High School Gymnasium. Losses last week to Diboll and Huntington dropped the Eagles to a record of 8-15 on the season, 0-9 in District 20-3A play. Rusk will host Crockett Friday in a game that will be broadcast on KWRW 97.7 FM. PHOTO: LYNN LITTLEJOHN

After one quarter of play, the Rusk Eagles looked to be well in control of the game against the Diboll Lumberjacks on Jan. 22 at Rusk High School Gymnasium.

The Eagles rallied to a 25- 11 lead, with Horrace Lewis shooting perfectly from the free throw line and Quinn Anthony dominating the boards for Rusk.

Then, the momentum shifted to Diboll as the Lumberjacks ralled to force a 66-66 tie at the end of regulation play, going on to win 80-77 in two overtimes.

The win was Diboll's second district win of the season, with the first District 20-3A victory also coming at the expense of the Rusk Eagles in the opening round of district play.

Diboll sliced the Eagles' lead to five points in the second quarter, outscoring the Feathered Flock 22-13.

Diboll then outscored Rusk 22-16 in the third quarter to take a 55-54 lead. Rusk managed to tie the game in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime.

Almost the entire Eagle team made it into the scorebook. Lewis led scoring with 18 points, going six of six from the free throw line.

Michael Katon sank four three-pointers, two field goals and one free-throw for a total of 17 points.

Anthony scored 16 points, followed by J.J. Session (6), Chance Cleaver (6), Taj Cleaver (4), Demarcus Skinner (3), John David Beard (3), Terrance Turner (2) and Bobby McDuff (2).

Eagles fall to Huntington

Rusk traveled to Huntington Friday, falling to the Red Devils by a score of 63-51.

The game was tied 27-27 at halftime, but poor shooting cost the Eagles heavily in the fourth quarter.

Rusk made six of 20 field goals, eight of 26 three-pointers and 16 of 24 free throws.

Katon led the effort with 16 points and three steals, followed by Skinner (14), Lewis (13), Anthony (7), Chance Cleaver (3) and Turner (1).

Session's playing time was cut short at five minutes due to an ankle injury.

"Michael Katon is playing very well for us right now," said Head Coach Tracy Kincade. "The players are playing hard and still getting after people."

The Eagles host the Crockett Bulldogs Friday at Rusk High School.

JV games start at 5 p.m. with the boys varsity beginning immediately after the girls' varsity. The boys varsity will be broadcast on KWRW 97.7 FM.

Rusk falls to 8-15 on the season, 0-9 in District 20-3A.

Lady Eagles struggle

against Diboll

The Rusk Lady Eagles overcame a 7-1 deficit in the first quarter to pull within one point of the Diboll Ladyjacks with four minutes left in the first half, but Diboll regained their momentum in the second half.

Diboll outscored the Lady Eagles 31-11 in the third quarter en route to an 82-46 win over the Lady Eagles.

The game was witnessed by a recruiter from Penn State University who was scouting player from the Diboll team.

Jasmine Harris led the scoring effort for the Lady Eagles with 18 points, followed by Cambry Blakemore (7), Charnell Franklin (6), Kristen Hicks (5), Brittney Session (4), Lisa Frauenberger (2) and Le'Asha O'Neal (2).

Rusk Lady Eagles fall

to Huntington Devillettes

Rusk fell to Huntington 66-43 Friday. The Devillettes jumped ahead early with a 22- 7 lead over the Lady Eagles in the first quarter and kept the pressure on Rusk all evening.

Lead scorer for Rusk was Harris with 18 points, followed by Blakemore (9), O'Neal (6), Session (5), Franklin (4) and Foreman (3).

The loss drops the Lady Eagles to a 7-18 record, 1-10 in District 20-3A.

Rusk will host Crockett in the final home game of the season Friday.

JV games begin at 5 p.m., with the varsity to follow the JV in the Rusk High School Gymnasium.

The Lady Eagles will conclude the season Feb. 5 in Carthage.