Published: December 05, 2008 09:45 am      

Era wins opening game of tourney

By JIM OTTS

Register Correspondent

ERA — The Era Hornets used quickness and anticipation to intercept Slidell Greyhound passes and initiate fast breaks while coasting to a 59-35 opening round game in its own tournament.

The scrappy Greyhounds kept it close through the first half and outscored the Hornets 15-12 during the second frame, but got blown away in the third when the Hornets went on an 18-2 scoring run.

The hosts raised its lead to 45-24 as the final quarter began.

Trey Dunn, who finished the night with 15 points, scored four baskets, including three in a row, from in the paint during that decisive quarter and R.J. Metzler had three field goals.

Metzler had 14 total points on the night and Justin Miller was the third Hornet in double digits with 13 points.

Dyllon James got Slidell’s lone field goal with 4:29 left.

James was the game’s leading scorer with 16, but was the only Greyhound with double digits.

The Greyhounds moved the ball inside regularly once in the forecourt, but lots of attempts were blocked and some of the open shots missed badly.

Era outscored Slidell 14-11 in the final quarter with bench players for both teams seeing action.

The Hornets will play Alvord in the second round with action in that winners’ bracket game slated Friday evening at 8 p.m.

Alvord defeated Sadler-Southmayd 70-41 in an earlier opening round game Thursday.