Eagles Stage Comeback To Win District Championship

In a season defined by their ability to pump 3-pointers, Sullivan had to flip the script to win a district championship.

The Eagles were down 14 points early in the third quarter of Friday’s Class 4 District 10 championship against No. 1 seed Rolla and the offense was paralyzed.

Just like they did against Union three nights earlier, Sullivan adapted. Unable to spring open looks on the perimeter against a tall, athletic Rolla defense, the Eagles ditched the long range shots and challenged their opponents in the paint.

Gradually, the Eagles came back and after Landon Hoffman hit his only 3-pointer with 4:20 left to give the Eagles a 36-33 lead, they never surrendered.

Sullivan outscored Rolla 32-8 in the game’s final 12 minutes and pulled off an improbable 48-38 victory, claiming their first district championship since 2003.

The Eagles (22-6) faced Warrensburg on Tuesday in sectional action at Missouri S&T. 

“I’m just happy for the kids. Those seniors worked their tails off and the juniors mixed in well,” said Eagles head coach Dino McKinney. “They gave effort. We’re outsized every night and they play harder every night.”

McKinney said the team hit big shots when they had to and converted free throws.

“Those are our staple,” he said.

Sullivan found no room to work on the outside in the first half, so they started attacking the rim.

“Rolla defended well,” McKinney said. “They’re smart and they knew what we were doing. In the second half, we had guys going to the basket and scoring, which is nice.”

The Bulldogs profiled as the type of team that has given the Eagles problems all season long — big-bodied with plenty of firepower inside and out. Sullivan was able to grind them to a halt in the second half.

“We did a great job defensively,” McKinney said. “When they started slowing down, we pressured them well and Jacob Rohrer took another huge charge. We also rebounded well, which is something we have to do.”

Rolla commanded the first half. Sullivan had just two baskets in the first quarter — a face-up 3-pointer by Cody McKinney and a triple from the corner by Carter Adams. McKinney got to the line with 1:53 left and sank two free throws, leaving the Eagles behind 9-8 after one period.

Rolla bounced ahead on a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. McKinney snapped a long scoring drought for the Eagles when he hit two more free throws at the 2:49 mark. Rolla extended the lead to 23-10 on a floater and a drive. 

Cameron Cunningham gave Sullivan their only field goal of the quarter when he scored inside with 57 seconds left. Rolla ended the half with a free throw and a 24-12 lead.

The deficit reached 14 just 50 seconds into the third quarter on another inside basket by the Bulldogs. Alec Buhr’s put-back with 5:01 left gave Rolla a 28-14 lead. Buhr was called for a technical after the shot and never returned. 

Rolla led 30-16 after a three-point play with 4:33 remaining, but Hoffman was fouled on a 3-point attempt on the next trip down. He hit two of three, giving the Eagles a path forward. Sullivan kept getting to the line. They attempted 10 free throws over the next three minutes and hit seven. McKinney squeezed in Sullivan’s only two field goals over that period — a three-point play and a 3 at the buzzer to pull the Eagles within two, 30-28.

Adams was clobbered driving to the basket to start the fourth quarter and he had one free throw. Rolla responded with a 3-pointer on the other end to go up 33-29. McKinney beat the Bulldogs at the rim for a bucket, then tied the game with 5:09 on two free throws.

Hoffman put Sullivan ahead for the first time when he fired a 3-pointer with 4:20 to go. Adams drove inside to give the Eagles a 38-34 lead with 3:28 remaining. Rolla got the deficit back to two on a pair of free throws. 

Sullivan slowed down the offense and ran more than a minute off the clock before calling their final timeout with 2:04 left. McKinney split a pair with 1:56, leaving the door open for Rolla. The Bulldogs couldn’t get any points and Hoffman converted two shots with 1:35. Rolla got a quick bucket in response. Hoffman knocked down two more free throws with 1:13, putting Sullivan up 43-38. 

Rolla threw the ball to McKinney on the following possession, but knocked the ball away. A scramble ensued and it went out of bounds, swinging possession back to Sullivan. Austin Lewis was fouled with 52 seconds, but couldn’t extend the lead. His second miss was collected by Rohrer, who flipped back to McKinney.

Sullivan sealed the win when Adams intercepted a pass. He gave it up to McKinney, who put the final points on the board with two free throws.

Read more on the district tournament in the March 6 issue of the Independent News.