Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

After the Harmon Hawks went 20 years between winning in-season tournaments before winning last year's Paola Invitational, it only took Harmon one year to win its next tournament.

The Hawks defeated Eudora 49-44 in the finals of the Eudora Invitational at Eudora High School Thursday night.

In a rematch from last year's Paola Invitational championship game, the Hawks jumped all over the Cardinals, taking a 12-2 lead. Jauan Wilson scored four points in the quick spirt, while three-point plays from James Davenport (pictured left) and Exavier Bass-Brooks extended the lead to 10.

For a team mostly known for guard play, it was an inside game that kept the lead in double figures during the first half.

Along with Davenport, who scored a team-high 14 points, sophomore Al Hayes contributed nine points off the bench, including eight in the second.

After Eudora cut the lead to 16-11, Hayes scored nine of Harmon's final 13 points in the half to give the Hawks a 29-18 lead.

"Early on in the game we were getting inside the paint," said Heath Cooper, head coach of the Hawks. "They are a really good defensive team and they adjusted."

Those halftime adjustments made by Eudora turned the game from a potential blowout into a nail-biter.

The Cardinals began the half on a 14-3 run, tying the game midway through the third quarter on a three-pointer from Brian Katzfey.

A Ron Stallings bucket gave Harmon a two-point advantage late in the third quarter. After two DeOntae Hooks' free-throws, Harmon led by three.

But a buzzer beater from Evan Cleveland narrowed Harmon's already slim lead to one point.

Although Eudora tied the game three times in the final quarter – once off a Justin Ballock three-pointer after three offensive rebounds – the Hawks never relinquished the lead, a fact that was key according to Cooper.

"The whole year we've only been down once," he said. "It was big mental thing for us and we didn't want to give up the lead."

Up 45-44 late, it was up to Bass-Brooks to do what he did last season – convert late game free throws.

He hit four in the final 30 seconds to put the game away for Harmon – and the title.

"I didn't want to feel no pressure at the line," he said. "I wanted to stay calm and think it through. It was a tough game but coach told us to stick together and we did."

It was the inside presence of Davenport that helped Harmon build the lead and maintain it.

"We needed to stick together as a team when things were down," he said.

Ballack's 19 points were a game-high for Eudora. Bass-Brooks scored eight points overall (five from the free-throw line in the final quarter), Hooks scored nine points, Wilson scored four and Stallings added five.

Last year, the Hawks simply outscored Eudora. This year, they won a tough defense battle on the court.

"Defense was very important for us tonight," Cooper said. "Eudora had a little bit of revenge on the mind. They wanted to beat us tonight and they always play hard. Tonight was tough like a sub-state game and we need to win these type of games.

Harmon is 4-0 to begin the season.