Southern Section 3-A Playoffs : Ganesha’s Inside Play Too Much for El Dorado, 72-66
El Dorado High School fell victim to Ganesha’s tough inside game Tuesday night and was eliminated from the Southern Section 3-A playoffs, 72-66, at Garey High School.
The Giants (18-6) took advantage of their ability to get the ball inside against the Hawks and opened an 18-13 lead at the end of the first period.
El Dorado took a 23-22 lead on a basket by Barry Dahmen with 4:19 to play in the first half, but Ganesha scored four unanswered points to take a three-point lead, 26-23, with 2:50 left in the half.
Ganesha, the second-place representative from the Hacienda League, never trailed after that, but El Dorado managed to tie the game, 58-58, with 2:32 remaining.
The Golden Hawks, a co-champion of the Empire League, had several chances to pull ahead, but had trouble scoring despite taking high-percentage shots.
Ganesha was 7 of 7 from the floor in the final quarter and shot 58% for the game. Ronald English’s 18 points lead the Giants. Donald English and Eugene Haynes each added 14.
Bart Hakeman, the Empire League’s co-Most Valuable Player, led the Hawks (22-4) with 19 points, and Jim Sammon and Jim Mansfield each had 10.
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