3 observations from MHEA’s win over FACS

<p>Memphis Home Education Association (14-2) got a signature win Friday night by defeating a senior-led First Assembly Christian School team, 58-57, in overtime.</p> <p>Here are 3 observations from the Eagles’ win over the Crusaders (7-1).</p> <p><strong>MHEA didn’t throw in the towel</strong></p> <p>FACS built a 14-point halftime lead, thanks to hot shooting from <strong>Alex</strong> <strong>Harris</strong> and <strong>Rashaun</strong> <strong>Wise</strong>, two seniors that combined to score 23 of the Crusaders’ 39 points. At that point, the Eagles’ best player, Murray State commit <strong>Justin</strong> <strong>Morgan</strong>, had just one point, but he started to get going in the third quarter to help MHEA rally.</p> <p>Morgan had six of his 11 points in the third quarter and received help from fellow senior teammate <strong>Luke</strong> <strong>Shoemaker</strong>, who scored eight points in the third quarter to bring the team’s deficit to nine (48-39).</p> <p>In the fourth quarter, each time FACS was looking to put the game away, MHEA answered with a score, and in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Crusaders couldn’t buy a basket, leaving enough breathing room open for the Eagles to make a run.</p> <p>Trailing 52-41, MHEA went on an 11-0 run to tie the game. The Eagles would need a free throw from Morgan and junior <strong>Andrew</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> to send the game into overtime.</p> <p>In overtime, FACS grabbed the lead, thanks to senior guard <strong>T</strong>.<strong>J</strong>. <strong>Thomas’</strong> deep 3 from the right wing. There was still time left on the clock. Shoemaker, who was the engine behind his team’s offense, caught the ball out of a pick-and-roll situation, went hard right to get the contested shot to fall as time expired.</p> <p>In short, MHEA didn’t throw in the towel and never got down on itself when it trailed by double-digits at halftime.</p> <p>The Eagles, flat out, stayed the course and chipped away at their deficit.</p> <p>“I told them if they commit to each other, if they take the emphasis off the officials and work together, and if we can stop the big fella (<strong>Daniel</strong> <strong>Egbuniwe</strong>) or contain him, then we have a chance to win this game, and they came out and proved it,” MHEA head coach Preston Butts said after celebrating the win with his players and the entire coaching staff.</p> <p><strong>Can Shoemaker and Kyzar get some respect?</strong></p> <p>Before Morgan’s productive third quarter, Shoemaker and Kyzar had to carry the offensive load. Both seniors made the assignment look easy. Kyzar scored eight of his 14 points in the first quarter, then Shoemaker took over in the third. Without both players, the Eagles don’t have a chance to send the game into overtime. Instead, it’s a lopsided loss. Yes, Morgan is the team’s best player, but Shoemaker and Kyzar are big-time players as well.</p> <p>“Those are two of the most underrated players in Memphis,” Butts said. “I would go put my neck on the line for Luke and Drew any day, because you’re looking at a triple-double machine. Justin is a phenomenal player. He’s going to be good at the next level, but there are schools missing out on a [player_tooltip player_id="1176731" first="Luke" last="Shoemaker"] and a [player_tooltip player_id="1176729" first="Drew" last="Kyzar"].</p> <p>“Those guys are game changers. It’s just that simple. I’m proud of them.”</p> <p>Shoemaker finished with 19 points and five assists. Kyzar also had 14 rebounds.</p> <p><strong>The Crusaders went cold at the wrong time</strong></p> <p>Things took a wrong turn when Harris (15 points) picked up his fourth foul at the 1:53 mark of the third quarter. FACS couldn’t find a scoring rhythm after Harris went to the bench. Thomas (11 points) and Egbuniwe (20 points) made shots in spurts, but didn’t make any in the middle of the fourth quarter when MHEA went on its scoring run.</p> <p>The Crusaders are still one of the best teams in the city of Memphis. They’re still legit Division II-A state title contenders. They just can’t afford to go into a scoring drought in a contest against a team that can easily score just like them.</p>