The Tyrone Golden Eagles opened the 2016-2017 season Friday against the rival Bellwood Blue Devils.  The game had a little added drama in the form of a brand new Backyard Brawl Basketball Trophy courtesy of local charity Blair Hope for Families.

The atmosphere was electrifying as the Tyrone Dawg Pound was in full force with over 100 students in attendance.  

Unfortunately for the Tyrone faithful, the electricity in the stands didn’t transfer to the hardwood as the Golden Eagles fell to rival Bellwood-Antis by a lopsided score of 55-38.

After what looked like a promising first quarter, in which the Eagles jumped out to a 19-11 lead, the Golden Eagles failed to produce enough offense in the final three frames to top the Blue Devils.

Juniors Dylan Thomas and Parker Mitchell were big contributors in the first, creating points from defensive rebounds and turnovers.

“The way we were pushing the ball [in the firwst quarter] is how it needs to be every time we step on that court,” said Thomas.

In the second is when the tide turned. Bellwood guard Trent Walker, being quiet in the first, nailed five threes and gave the Devils a 30-27 lead going into the half.

“We did a poor job on locating Walker in transition and that was the turning point in the game,” said head coach George Gripp.

The second half did not go as the Golden Eagles had planned. Bellwood’s defense was effective as the Eagles were held to 11 total points in the third and fourth quarter, and went scoreless for six minutes from the third entering the fourth.

Mitchell had a promising first game leading the Eagles in scoring with 11 points.

“We need to play every quarter like we played the first and really need to focus on locating the other team’s best player on defense,” said Mitchell.

Center Mike Lewis was sidelined most of the game with a lower back injury, and Forward Alex Weaver had the flu the whole week leading up to the game. The Golden Eagles hope to have both seniors back and healthy in the near future.

Tyrone returns to action next week with games on Monday against PO and Friday at Central.  

BELLWOOD-ANTIS (55): Padula 6 1-4 13, Taneyhill 4 0-2 8, McGee 2 0-0 4, Worthing 1 0-0 2, Tr. Walker 7 2-4 21, Engle 2 0-0 4, Wolfe 0 0-0 0, Luensmann 1 0-0 3, T. Walker 0 0-0 0, Yingling 0 0-0 0. Totals — 23 3-10 55.

TYRONE (38): Mitchell 4 1-2 11, Meredith 3 1-1 7, Weaver 2 0-0 4, Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Lewis 2 0-0 4, Thomas 3 1-2 9, Anderson 0 1-2 1. Totals — 15 4-7 38.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Bellwood-Antis    11 19 16 9 — 55
Tyrone    19 8 6 5 — 38

3-point goals:

Bellwood-Antis: 6 (Tr. Walker 5, Luensmann) Tyrone: 4 (Mitchell 2, Thomas 2).

Records: Bellwood-Antis (1-0); Tyrone (0-1).

JV: Tyrone, 57-48. High scorers–Luensmann, BA, 12; J. Kohler, Ferguson, T, 14.