Tyrone’s slow offense was not enough, as their losing streak increases to five after a loss to Laurel Highlands Richland Rams on Monday night.

The first quarter looked evenly matched. Both teams were trading buckets and playing very physical defense, with the quarter ending with Richland leading 15-14.

In the Eagles recent struggles, it always seems that they have a quarter or two that really take them out of the game. Unfortunately that was the case in Monday’s game.

In the second Tyrone only managed to score seven points. Usually Tyrone’s defense can hold the opposing team to single digits, but Richland torched the Eagles for 22 points in the quarter. Heading into the half the Rams were up 37-21.

“We can’t continue to have slow quarters because it’s killing us,” said Tyrone junior standout Parker Mitchell.

The Eagles came out in the second half firing, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter. Tyrone had the momentum and carried it throughout the quarter, ending only down 41-33.

Tyrone Head Coach George Gripp was happy with the way his team played in the third.

“We need to be able to play like that for a whole game, not just a quarter. I know my guys are capable of doing it, and when we do watch out,” said Gripp on his team.

In the fourth the Eagles went back to bad habits, as they failed to bring it on the offensive end. They only scored six points in the quarter, which was not enough to get the job done.  The Rams scored 18 in the final period of play, which carried them to a 59-39 victory over the Golden Eagles.

The Eagles fall to 9-8 as they hope to end the streak with home games against Bellefonte and Bald Eagles later in the week.

RICHLAND (59): Zimmerman 6 1-4 13, Paul 6 0-0 16, Hardeson 6 1-4 15, Instone 6 0-0 12, Houser 1 0-0 3, Zheng 0 0-0 0, Burke 0 0-0 0. Totals — 25 2-9 59.

TYRONE (39): Mitchell 2 1-2 5, Meredith 5 2-2 13, Lewis 1 2-3 4, Thomas 4 0-0 12, Anderson 2 0-0 5, Kohler 0 0-0 0, Politza 0 0-0 0, Ferguson 0 0-0 0. Totals — 14 5-7 39.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Richland    15 22 4 18 — 59

Tyrone    14  7 12 6  — 39

3-point goals: Richland 7 (Paul 4, Hardeson 2, Houser); Tyrone 6 (Thomas 4, Anderson, Meredith).

Records: Tyrone (9-8).

JV: Tyrone, 36-32. High scorers–Ferguson, T, 16; Bailey, R, 15.