The Magnolia Boys’ Basketball Team defeated Linsly 74-62 in the championship game of the Auggies Pizza-Tyler Consolidated Roundball Classic Jan. 15-16 at Kidwell. Earlier, the Blue Eagles were winners over the host team 82-61 in the preliminary round.

In the opener, the Knights’ Dustin Slider sank a three pointer to open the game for Tyler’s only lead of the game. But, then the Eagles’ Big Three – Jared Blatt, Andy Huggins and Mark Winters – went to work.

Blatt rang in 18 points to help Magnolia race out to a 23-10 lead after eight minutes of play, including his first basket from beyond the arc.

The Knights slowed Blatt down a tiny bit in the second period, but Huggins stepped up and drilled 10 markers to lead give the Eagles a 43-29 lead heading into the locker room.

Consolidated held Blatt and Huggins down somewhat in the third period, but then came 6’5” freshman Winters to score eight markers to extend Magnolia’s lead to 68-47 with one more period to play.

However, midway through the third period, the Knights trimmed the Eagle lead down to 13 points before Magnolia went on a 10-0 blitz.

Both teams emptied their benches in the fourth period, but not before Blatt-Huggins-Winters LTD poured in 61 points and snatched 42 rebounds. All three of them had a double-double, with Blatt hauling in 17 rebounds, while Huggins and Winters combined to rip down 25 boards.

Josh Yost scored eight points for Magnolia, while Jordan Moore tallied seven markers, including a pair of three point baskets. Derek Anderson scored two baskets, while Matt Sapp was held to a season-low two.

Slider paced the Knights with a team-high 27 points, including five baskets from beyond the arc. Aaron Estep tallied a dozen points for the Knights, while Zack Minger added 10.

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In the opener of the Round-ball Classic, the Linsly Cadets knocked off Berkeley Springs 59-46. And in the consolation game, Slider swished the cords with 1.9 second remaining to beat Berkley 44-43 for their first win of the season.

In the championship game against the Linsly Cadets, the Blue Eagle duo of Matt Sapp and Jordan Moore each connected on a pair of three point baskets, while Jayson Keller tacked on another three pointer to get the Eagles rolling in the first period. In addition, Mark Winters zipped in baskets for a 24-15 advantage. The Cadets managed to keep the score close, but could not overcome Magnolia’s team chemistry and tenacity in a 74-62 Magnolia win.

The once-beaten Cadets never led in the game, but limited Magnolia to a single run of 9-0 to go into the locker room down seven points at 38-31.

The Blue Eagle advantage quickly ballooned to 17 points in the third period with a trio of threeballs by Sapp, Traeh and Jayson Keller and another four baskets by Blatt before settling for a 57-44 lead with eight minutes to play.

The Eagles bent a little at the beginning of the fourth period and saw their lead shrink to 10 points. However, balanced scoring in the final stanza by Jayson Keller, Sapp, Winters and Blatt held off the Cadets to claim the title.

Blatt lead all scorers with 20 points and 12 rebounds for another double-double, while Sapp tallied 16 markers, including four three pointers. Jayson Keller came off the bench to add a bakers dozen, while Winters tallied 11 points and nine rebounds. Moore contributed eight points, including a pair of three-point baskets, while Traeh Keller marked up six points from beyond the arc.

Josh Yost and Andy Huggins didn’t score, but they dished out six assists and snatched nine off the glass. Magnolia garnered six steals as a team, led by Jayson Keller and Winters with two each, while Traeh Keller and Sapp each added one. Blatt knocked away a pair of Linsly shots, while point guard Sapp leaped to join the Eagles Swat Team in knocking away one Linsly shot.