EHT: Eldorado sails past Hardin County
As hot as it was outside Monday, Braden Attebury brought that same kind of heat indoors for Eldorado in their first round matchup against Hardin County at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament.
Attebury, Eldorado's 6-foot-4 junior forward, stroked his way to 24 points helping the Eagles to a 67-32 win over Hardin County.
Attebury was en fuego from the get-go, scoring 12 first quarter points as Eldorado built a 17-6 lead and had 17 in the first half as EHS went into the break up 35-16.
"We told our guys to just get him the ball, no matter where he's at on the court, give him the ball," Eldorado head coach Josh Bradley said of Attebury. "For about the last four games now, the kid has just been feeling it on the offensive side. He's got a great touch already and as a coach and as a player, you have to understand when a kid is that hot, you just have to get him the ball."
After Attebury's 24 points, Eldorado's Max Kasiar tacked on 12, while Jacob Traxler netted 11 in the win.
Jamison Hicks had a team-high 11 points for Hardin County.
Eldorado's length and size caused problems for Hardin County all night as the Cougars were forced into eight first quarter turnovers and had five in the third and just couldn't find their footing.
Eldorado was playing without usual starter Ethan Partridge, who was forced to sit out Monday night's affair.
"I thought we had to battle through a few things early and you take a guy like Max who has been the sixth guy all year and tonight we ask him to be Ethan's replacement and had to play a different role. I think he was trying to do too much and put too much pressure on himself, but he did better job in the second half of relaxing and just doing his thing."
Ray May added eight points for Eldorado, while John Meredith, Kale Oglesby and Isiah Barton all had two points. Gus Scott tossed in a free throw for the Eagles.
Eldorado will now play the winner of Edwards County and Vienna in tonight's (Tuesday) quarterfinal matchup at 8:30 p.m., while Hardin County drops to the consolation bracket and will play the loser of Edwards County and Vienna at 11:30 a.m.
Eldorado 17 18 23 09 - 67
Hardin County 06 10 14 02 - 32
Eldorado: Meredith 1 0-0 2, Kasiar 5 2-4 12, Oglesby 1 0-0 2, Traxler 4 3-4 11, Attebury 8 4-6 24, May 4 4-9 12, Barton 1 0-0 2, Scott 0 1-2 1. Totals: 24 14-27 67
Hardin County: Winters 2 0-0 6, Shaw 1 0-0 3, Cullum 0 1-2 1, Hicks 6 5-6 11, 1 1-2 3. Totals: 11 7-10 32.
3-point FG: Eldorado 4 (Attebury), Hardin County 3 (Winters 2, Shaw). Fouls: Eldorado 8, Hardin County 18.