BREMEN – It was home, sweet home, for the Cold Springs Eagles Tuesday evening, as it was their first home game in more than a month, and they did not disappoint their fans one bit as they rolled to an easy home sweep of the St. Bernard Saints.
Cold Springs 73, St. Bernard 39 (Boys)
Cold Springs did not waste any time getting off to a great start as they jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead. The Saints found the scoreboard on a Miguel Sanchez layup with 5:32 remaining in the opening quarter. The Eagles quickly pushed their lead to double-digits behind a huge quarter by Jesse Lee, as he put up 11. Christian Peterson had seven in the quarter, but Cold Springs was able to keep the rest of the team at bay as they took a 19-9 lead after one.
The second quarter, Peterson got off to a quick start, scoring eight in a row for the Saints, as they cut the deficit to 21-17, but that was as close as they got the whole game, as Cold Springs finished the quarter on a 10-2 run to increase their lead to 31-19 going into the half.
Lee and Blake Wood scored all but two of the Eagles’ 19 third-quarter points to push the lead to 50-29 after three, and the rest was history as they cruised to the easy home win. They improve to 9-7 on the season.
Lee finished with 24 points, added three steals, and three rebounds for Cold Springs. Wood ended up with 17 points and six rebounds. Hunter McClendon finished with nine points and added three rebounds, and Eli Hamby had seven points and three rebounds.
"We had a lot of and ones in the game," Cold Springs coach Tim Willoughby said. "We shot the ball better in the second half. Christian Peterson is a really good player. This was our first time playing him up close, and you can really respect the kind of player that he is."
Peterson finished with a game-high 27 points for the Saints and Caleb Guthery had six. They will travel back home to take on Vinemont on Thursday.
Cold Springs 75, St. Bernard 27 (Girls)
After holding a slim lead after one, No. 4 Cold Springs quickly kicked it into high gear in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Saints, 28-6, en route to an easy win at home. They improve to 16-1 on the season.
Emme Willoughby was one of four Lady Eagle players to score in double figures as she finished with 22 points. She also added seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Camryn Crider had 17 points and added two steals of her own. Elizabeth Hill ended up with 14 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Aubrey Negron finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and added a block of her own. They will host Winston County on Thursday.
"We got off to another slow start," Cold Springs coach Tammy West said. "I do not know what it was, but we quickly pulled away in the second. Jaden Edge is a really good ballplayer. She can score and she is really scrappy too."
West was really impressed by the play of her younger ballplayers, like Crider and Hill.
"Crider has really stepped up offensively. She has led us in scoring eight times. In her last eight games, she has averaged 19 points a game. Hill is getting better and better each game for us. Emme's being consistent as always. I have been really impressed with the play of the young players on this team."
"It's been a really easy transition for me going from John Carroll to here," Hill said. "I got used to the team and the system really quickly. Coach West pushes us every practice."
Willoughby says she wishes that she can stay at least a couple of more years.
"I am going to miss playing with this great group of girls," Willoughby said. "I wish I can play two more years. Every team that we will play is going to be tough. We just have to be ready."
Edge finished with 19 for St. Bernard. They will head home to take on Vinemont on Thursday.
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