HASKELL – The Eufaula Ironheads held what coach Brad Campbell called a “come to Jesus meeting” Monday.

The results of the meeting were evident Tuesday night as Eufaula upset Haskell 58-52 at the Franklin Event Center.

“I told them we may have three or four starters out with injuries but now is the time to fight for the rest of the season or to lay down,” Campbell said. “They showed us what a true Ironhead is tonight.”

Despite having a decided height advantage inside, the Haymakers, ranked No. 16 in Class 3A by Okrankings.com, were badly outrebounded by the Ironheads (44-24) allowing Eufaula many second and third shots on the offensive end.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half with Eufaula (5-8) just 9-of-30 including just 1-of-15 from beyond the arc. Haskell shot 44 percent for the half but had 10 fewer shots because of the rebounding disparity. Haskell (9-5) led at the half 23-22.

Haskell jumped out to a seven-point lead in the third quarter, but the Ironheads fought back thanks in part to the play of Jeffrey McIntosh who hit a couple of three pointers and kept Haskell off balance with his penetrating drives to the basket, giving Eufaula a three point lead, 41-38, after three quarters.

The Ironheads rattled off eight unanswered points to open a 46-38 advantage in the fourth quarter. One of the key points came with just under two minutes to play. With Eufaula up by seven, Daxton Williams blocked a Haskell shot and seconds later Corey Cameron made a steal for the Ironheads. Eufaula then put the game away from the charity line hitting 7-of-10 including McIntosh with four in the final 38 seconds to ice the win.

“I’ve been doing a lot of practicing on my free throws and it sure helped tonight,” McIntosh said.

Cameron was the leading scorer for Eufaula with 14 points, McIntosh had 13 and Williams added 10. Jeffrey Hull led the way for Haskell with 16 points.

 

Girls:

Eufaula 62 Haskell 37

Alyssa Banks scored 23 points in leading the Lady Ironheads to victory over the Lady Haymakers.

Eufaula (10-3) was able to work in the paint most of the game against Haskell. The Lady Ironheads led at half time 37-18, shooting 16-of-27 from the field (59 percent). The Lady Haymakers (3-11) had problems in the shooting department in the half going 6-of-17 from the field and 0-8 from beyond the arc and for the game shot only 34 percent (12-of-35) from the field.

“We needed a game like tonight to kind get our confidence back,” said EHS coach Jared Smith. “We had to play tonight without our starting point guard (Cheyanna Jones) who was ill. But Alyssa and Janet (Hill) both played well and took up the slack.”

The Lady Ironheads, ranked No. 12 in Class 3A by Okrankings.com, outscored Haskell 7-2 to open the third quarter and coasted to the victory.

“It was good for us to get back to our winning track,” Banks said. “We’re coming back and tonight was a big help.”

In addition to Banks, Hill and Katie Smith both had 12 points for the Lady Ironheads. Nikki Bolding was the offense for Haskell with 22 points.