One-two punch takes down McAuley Warriors in Gem City Classic
Nov. 29—DIAMOND, Mo. — El Dorado Springs senior Landon Murry and junior Joe Gordon combined for 51 of their team's 60 points as they defeated the McAuley Warriors 60-32 in their semifinal game of the Gem City Classic on Wednesday night at Diamond High School.
Murry hit 12 shots, including three from behind the arc, to finish with a game-high 27 points. Gordon unleashed his aerial prowess with four jaw-dropping dunks en route to a 24-point performance for the Bulldogs, who earned a spot in the semifinal with a 79-29 defeat of Thomas Jefferson on Monday night.
Murry and Gordon flexed their muscles early, jumping out to a 10-0 lead off a trey and two buckets by Gordon and a three-pointer from Murry.
McAuley junior Michael Parrigon put the Warriors on the board at 4:32 with two free throws, but El Dorado Springs scored the next five points to take a 15-2 lead at 3:25 of the opening quarter.
The Warriors, who earned a spot in the semifinal with a 57-43 win over Sarcoxie on Monday, closed the gap to 10 points at 17-7 on an Alex Bohachick score with two minutes left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs increased their lead to 21-7 before Parrigon closed out scoring for the period with a trey that brought McAuley within 11 at 21-10.
The Warriors came within eight points, opening the second period with a Max Andreder three-pointer. Parrigon again made good from long range and pulled McAuley within five at 21-16. After a Bulldog score, Parrigon hit yet again from three-point land and McAuley was within four points at 23-19 with about five minutes left before the half.
That was as close as the Warriors would come to El Dorado as the Gordon dunk show began. Gordon launched from well beyond the lane for his first slam at 3:38 and gave El Dorado a 30-19 lead. He followed with another jam at 1:41 off a Murry assist that gave the Bulldogs a 15-point cushion at 34-19.
Gordon threw down his most spectacular dunk of the night when he slashed through the Warrior defense for a spinning, reverse jam to close scoring for the half and give the Bulldogs a 37-19 lead. Gordon's fourth and final dunk of the night came off an alley-oop pass from Murry that put the Bulldogs up 47-21 with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs closed out the quarter with a 54-27 lead and extended that lead to 60-30 at 4:30 with a running clock in the final quarter —and with the starters still on the floor for the Bulldogs. Gordon and Murry were finally pulled at 2:55 and El Dorado closed out the game with a 60-32 win.
In the other semifinal game, Springfield Catholic battled Mount Vernon. Results of that game were not available at press time. The winner of that matchup will face El Dorado Springs in the championship game at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Springfield made its way to the semifinal with a 74-27 win over Diamond on Monday, while Mount Vernon beat Lighthouse Christian 63-50 in their opening round game.
On the girls' side, Diamond defeated McAuley 58-19 on Tuesday and Miller topped Greenfield 72-14. College Heights defeated Lockwood 60-30 on Tuesday and Sarcoxie defeated East Newton 67-31. Diamond will battle Sarcoxie in the first semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday, while Miller takes on College Heights at 7:30 p.m. The girls championship game is slated for 5 p.m. Saturday.
