OAKWOOD -- East Hall boys basketball coach Joe Dix was so frustrated after a lackluster performance against Dawson County Friday night he didn't want to talk afterwards.
He had plenty to say Saturday night, however, after his Vikings took what looked to be an unexpectedly easy 82-61 win over West Hall in a crucial Region 7-AAA game for the Vikings.
"The difference was we shot the ball better," Dix said. "I also thought our first group gave us a tremendous spark. Any win right now is a big one for us. We dug ourselves a huge hole and hopefully we can climb out of it."
The Vikings (4-9, 1-4 Region 7-AAA) came into the game riding a five-game losing streak and in last place in the region. But they showed flashes of the Vikings of old, especially in the second quarter.
Dix started two freshmen, one sophomore, and two juniors and sat his usually group of seniors.
"I like the effort I got to start the game and we'll probably keep doing that as long as we get what we want," Dix said. "I think this is a game we can build on."
East Hall took a quick 4-0 lead in the opening minute but the Spartans (7-6, 3-1) answered with a 10-1 run to grab a 10-5 lead. The Vikings then turned up its patented defense.
And it was the seniors, particularly Brian Edwards and Hayden Chapman, that led the charge.
East Hall forced two turnovers in a minute and then three more in the final two minutes and Edwards capped a 10-3 run with a rim-hanging 3-pointer that dropped in at the buzzer for a 15-13 lead after the first quarter.
The Spartans would tie the game on the first possession of the second quarter on a Tyswon Cantrell basket but it was all East Hall after that. The Vikings exploded for a 21-3, run highlighted by three Chapman 3-pointers, for a 36-18 lead and would take a 38-26 lead into halftime.
West Hall had 14 first half turnovers and leading scorer Cantrell was held to just nine points. East Hall also outrebounded the Spartans 20-10 in the first half to help start their fastbreak offense.
"We played with a lot more energy tonight," Dix said about his team's defensive effort. "The young guys really set a good tone."
West Hall would get to within 45-37 midway through the third quarter but East Hall again answered going on a 15-5 run for a 63-42 lead to put the game out of reach.
East Hall would lead by as many as 25 in the fourth quarter.
Chapman would pace the Vikings with 21 points, including six of the team's nine 3-pointers. Edwards finished with 20 points and Jacquen Hopkins added 10 for East Hall.
Cantrell finished with 20 points to lead the Spartans. Hunter Atkinson added 14 for West Hall.
The Spartans, who came into the game tied for second with North Hall in the region standings, with play host to the Trojans Tuesday in a huge region battle.
East Hall travels to Fannin County Tuesday looking for its second straight region win.
Thursday
February 6th, 2025
1:54PM
