We're in the winner's bracket now between Christ the King and Milton, and Julian Royal, who didn't have to shoot outside of ten feet last night, has already busted three threes and the Milton Eagles are off to a blazing start, leading CTK 16-7 with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter. Dominykas Milka has four points to lead the way for CTK while Omar Calhoun has a three-pointer to his credit. 16-7 Milton, midway through the first quarter....
After the end of the first quarter, Milton leads CTK 22-12... Julian Royal, who was a monster last night, is continuing his monster-like performance tonight with 9 points, Shannon Scott has eight... Omar Calhoun knocks down a three to give the Royals a much-needed basket, that cuts the Milton lead to five, 22-17.
There's 5 minutes to go, and Milton leads 24-19, CTK seems to have calmed down and defensively they're playing much better, although Evan Nolte hit a wide-open jumper and Julian Royal hit an inside shot, and now he's at the FT line... Hits the first FT, second coming... misses, but Milton leads - 27-21. After a nice steal by Corey Edwards, he finds a wide-open Calhoun in the corner, he hits a three and the Royals are down only three - 27-24, but Jordan Lloyd makes a tough shot driving to the lane, gets fouled, and after the made FT, it's 30-24 Milton...
Okay, a slight break in the action as they say, Evan Nolte collided with Milka, who's no small potato, and the lanky 6-7 soph laid on the floor for awhile before walking to the bench on his own. 30-24 Milton, 230 left in the game, Royal actually missed a shot, a three from the corner, TJ Curry took the ball to the other end and was fouled, he hits his first FT, second coming - misses, CTK still trails - 30-25 with 2 minutes to go...
Shannon Scott scores for Milton, nice block by Milton, Royal tried to slam home a rebound, but it was ruled offensive goaltending, no good, CTK has the ball, nice inbounds play that scores for Maurice Barrow - and the Milton lead is down to 5 again, 32-27 - Milton still has the ball, Dai-Jon Parker drives the lane and plows into Milka, perhaps representing for his boy Nolte, charge is called, 20 seconds left, CTK holding for the last shot - no good - Jordan Loyd shotos from about 30 feet out - no good - and its 32-27 at the half - and the two teams exit to their lockers to a standing ovation from the crowd - a classy move. These folks know good ball when they see it and that was the best half of basketball today. 32-27 Milton - Julian Royal leads all scorers with 12, Calhoun leads CTK with nine...
The second half is here and Julian Royal just punched one home, Calhoun has scored, Barrow just scored a layup and it's a three-point game, 35-32, Milton, 5 mins left in the quarter...
Julian Royal scores again on a leaner off the glass, Corey Edwards misses three, nice rebound by Roland Brown, can't convert, Evan Nolte scores on the other end, Shannon Scott scores again, but Maurice Barrow puts in his sixth point of the game... Milton leads 43-34 with 1:55 to go in the third quarter...
Evan Nolte steals a pass from Roland Brown at the end of the third quarter, and heaves shot from halfcourt and hits nothing but nylon, a big bucket because it was a five point game and that gives the Eagles a 46-38 cushion heading into the fourth quarter...
Nolte continues his onslaught, he's scored the first four Milton points of the quarter and the Eagles have pushed their lead into double-digits, they're up on CTK 52-38... My colleague Tom Payne is here in the building with me, Tom knows his hoops and you can catch his column on the Blue and Gold Classic at www.coachesaid.com/mo ... Back to the game - the Eagles have extended their lead to 17, 58-44, Evan Nolte has been a beast in the second half, he's got 16 for the game, 11 this half - with 3:07 to go in the game - Milton leads 58-44...
We're down to the last 160 seconds and CTK can't buy a bucket, they've gone ice cold practically this entire game save for a few threes they knocked down in the first half... After a couple missed free throws, CTK has the ball back, Corey Edwards is fouled, he hits the first FT, knocks down the second and suddenly it's a nine-point game - but Nolte hits a layup - on the way back - Calhoun hits a three, he's got 17, and with 1:25 to go, CTK trails 60-52...
67 seconds left to go, Milton is up 63-53 and barring a major comeback, Milton has the ball again, this game is over. We'll be back for the Kickapoo-White Station game...
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