Less than a month ago, East lost by 10 points to Maple Grove to open its season 0-2 (they began the season without the services of point guard Percy Bryant).  On the same night, McKinley demolished Dunkirk, 105-22.  Just a week ago, Maple Grove faced Dunkirk, and beat them 53-50.  So on paper, East was in a world of trouble against the Macks.

By the end of the first quarter, it was obvious that the whole "East always gets better later in the season" thing was officially on.  The Panthers spent the opening stanza trading buckets & steals with the Macks and trailed the number six ranked large school, 19-18 after one.  McKinley increased its lead to 37-34 at the half after falling behind by three earlier in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, East saw its deficit increase to seven points.  The Panthers then went on a 15-5 run to take a 50-47 lead with 1:37 remaining in the third, with Sean Young scored eight of his XX points during the spurt.  After a couple free throws from the Macks made it a 50-49 game, a storm moved in and it began raining 3's in the final 56 seconds of the third quarter.  McKinley's Marcus Morris bombed in three treys, including a four-point play, in the final minute, and East's Tyree Tyson also saw a '3' fall in transition.  When the skies cleared up and the quarter buzzer sounded, McKinley was up 59-53 heading into the fourth.

Just eight seconds into the final quarter, East guard Johnathan Lewis was whistled for his fifth and disqualifying foul.  Morris went to the line and extended the Macks lead to eight, and the closest East would get the rest of the way was the three-point margin they closed it to with a '3' at the final horn.

Morris posted a monster stat line, finishing with 32 points (including eight 3-pointers), 15 rebounds, and eight assists.  Lovell Smith added 18 points, 10 boards, and six assists for the Macks in the win.

Percy Bryant led all East scorers with 26 points. Tyson rejected so many shots that a referee actually came over to me and asked how many he had as the teams headed to the fourth quarter.  He finished with 15 blocks.

-centercourt

@centercourt42