Bellaire’s pressure
defense spends Eagles
The No. 1 state ranked Bellaire Cardinals made a statement in the first round of the playoffs, steam rolling the Eisenhower Eagles 115-50 Tuesday night at the Campbell Center. The impressive win left no doubt that the Cardinals are on a mission after last season’s opening round lost to the Eagles.
With the tallest defender standing 6’3” the Eagles had no answer for 6’8” Toby Oyedeji, Bellaire’s big man. He had his way inside scoring at will over the shorter Eisenhower team. But as it turned out there was no answer for none of the Cardinal starters. They were all in double figures, led by junior guard Sheldon McClellan’s 25 points.
Douglas, Evans, McClellan,Outler and Oyedeji teamed up as they easily work through the Eagles defense with lay ups, three pointers and foul shots.
“We did the scouting report on them (Eisenhower) when they played Atascocita, we notice they play behind the post. That’s the one thing I love and they didn’t double team the post. I knew we would be a match up problem,” Bellaire Post Oyedeji said.
The Cardinals (32-1) got out quick with 6-0 run to start the game before Eisenhower’s point guard James Jones stop the bleeding on a lay up to give the Eagles their first points of the game, 6-2. Just minutes later a three pointer by Evans, a steal and a lay by Douglas helped put Bellaire up by 14, 18-4.
After one quarter the Cardinals held a 16 point margin, 28-12.
In the second quarter it much of the same Douglas and Oyedeji scoring at will, aiding the Cardinals to a 48-28 halftime lead.
The defensive pressure over whelmed Eisenhower forcing 26 turnovers.
“We came out and played defense, we know we had to make a statement. We stayed mentally focused. This is what we’ve been practicing for,” Bellaire Guard Douglas said.
With the win Bellaire moves on to the class 5A region III area round of the playoffs to face Mayde Creek who surprised Hastings 65-61.
Bellaire out scored Eisenhower 35-5 in the third quarter. It all started with a 21-0 run that was sparked by Douglas finger roll and dunk.
Jones led Eisenhower (7-13) in scoring with 17.
Video Link OSS_Bellaire Guard2_23_2010.mpg
