Churchill 75, South Eugene 51: Top Performers

<p>To claim their tenth straight win since the Les Schwab Invitational, the Churchill Lancers had to first put South Eugene’s own 13-game run to rest. </p> <p>In a game that saw Churchill lead for almost its entirety, the Lancers reclaimed Eugene bragging rights as four players scored double digits for the top-ranked 5A team. In blowing out the Axe 75-51, the Lancers conquered the fifth 6A squad on their daunting schedule, moving them to 16-3 on the season. </p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brian-goracke/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brian-goracke/">Brian Goracke</a></a> </strong>did a terrific job earning his way to the foul line, converting 7-of-7 to lead the balanced Lancers with 16 points. </p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-harris/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-harris/">Sam Harris</a></a> </strong>fueled the visitors, who battled to within ten after a <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-paul/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-paul/">Josh Paul</a></a> </strong>three pointer in the third quarter. However, the Lancers, who shot the ball incredibly well all night, went on one more run to put things out of reach for the Axe, who look remain unbeaten in Southwest Conference against Grants Pass on Friday.</p> <p>Here’s our top performers from Tuesday:</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brian-goracke/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brian-goracke/">Brian Goracke</a></a> (2020 Churchill) </strong>- Stats: 16 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast</p> <p>The Lancers bouncy swingman shot just 4-for-12 from the field, but did plenty of damage from the charity stripe, scoring a game-high seven points from the line. The senior can rise up and draw contact against even the likes of <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aidan-clark/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aidan-clark/">Aidan Clark</a></a></strong>, and his ability to shoot the three makes him a multi-dimensional offensive threat.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/silas-bennion/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/silas-bennion/">Silas Bennion</a></a> (2020 Churchill) </strong>- Stats: 13 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl</p> <p>Bennion, perhaps Churchill’s main leader, was as steady as ever on Tuesday, pouring in 13 points on just ten shots. Despite lacking tremendous size, Bennion makes great use of his sturdy frame and leaping ability to rebound the ball exceptionally for a guard. Furthermore, the 6-foot senior does the majority of the ball handling for the hot-streaking Lancers, who look to continue their success this Friday against Eagle Point.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-wallace/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-wallace/">Isaiah Wallace</a></a> (2020 Churchill) </strong>- Stats: 12 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl</p> <p>The third senior making the list for the Lancers was Wallace, a 6-foot-1 sharpshooter who continues to make a difference on both ends. Upon entering the game for Churchill, the goggled-guru immediately buried two three-pointers, extending the Lancer lead to double digits. With the ability to similarly catch fire at any moment, Wallace is perhaps the best bench player in 5A.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-harris/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-harris/">Sam Harris</a></a> (2020 South Eugene) </strong>- Stats: 16 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl</p> <p>Harris has emerged as the most consistent offensive option for the Axe, knocking down four threes against the Lancers to lead the contest. When all else goes wrong, Harris can create his own shot at will. Despite turning the ball over five times against a swarming Lancer defense, the three-year starter continues to prove himself as both an effective scorer and playmaker.</p> <p><b><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jarrett-bryant/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jarrett-bryant/">Jarrett Bryant</a></a> (2021 South Eugene) </b>- Stats: 9 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl</p> <p>The lone junior starter for the Axe had his best outing of the season, converting four of his seven field goal attempts to score a season-high nine points. Additionally, the 6-foot-4 guard filled up the stat sheet, using his size and athleticism to rebound and make plays in transition. Alongside Harris and <strong>Evan Pia </strong>of the Lancers, Bryant led the game in assists, further proving his worth as a multi-dimensional player for the Axe.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><i>Photo: Andy Nelson/The Register Guard</i></p>