High School Sports

Belleville East uses 2nd half surge to down Edwardsville in Southwestern Conference action

By Ahmad Lathan

Belleville East used a 41-26 second half push against Edwardsville to stay undefeated Friday night.

While trailing throughout the first half and at halftime, the Lancers’ shooters stepped up to get a 57-47 Southwestern Conference win. Belleville East is now 6-0 overall, 2-0 in the SWC.

“We’re good when we play as a team and as soon as we start sharing the ball we’re tough to guard,” Lancers coach Jeff Creek said. “Playing close games and learning to come from behind is only going to benefit us.”

Lancers senior Antwine Wilson led the way in the second half with 15 points. Wilson knew the entire team needed to step up with their big man Alex Jackson being injured.

“We had to use our strength a lot more with Alex being out — the whole team had to step up,” Wilson said. “Being 6-0 is good, but the goal is to win state.”

Edwardsville, meanwhile, dropped to 2-4 overall, 1-2 in the SWC. Tigers coach Dustin Battas said he felt his team let the game get away due to a few mistakes in the third quarter.

“We knew it was going to be a four quarter game. I think we just missed a couple baskets and No. 2 (Wilson) hurt us,” Battas said.

The Tigers got off to a good start in the first quarter as junior AJ Tillman and senior Jonathan Stump scored four points apiece for an 11-3 lead. Senior Mason Mosley scored the lone East field goal.

Junior guard Malik Allen hit consecutive treys to extend Edwardsville’s margin to 21-8. However, Lancers star guard Jordan Pickett, a senior, got rolling in the second quarter, kick-starting an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 21-16 at halftime.

Mosley then started hot in the third quarter with two treys and a conventional 3-point play which gave the Lancers a 37-27 lead. All the while, the Tigers could not get anything going with multiple turnovers, scoring just six points to East’s 21 to begin the second half.

Edwardsville attempted a comeback thanks to multiple buckets from Tillman and Stump, but that was not enough. Wilson hit key shots from beyond the arc and inside the paint to close the game out for the Lancers.

A look ahead

Both teams will suit up at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, as Belleville East visits Mater Dei and Edwardsville travels to Cahokia.

Belleville East’s Jordan Pickett goes to the basket during a Southwestern Conference game against Edwardsville on Friday night. The Lancers ultimately posted a 57-47 victory.
Belleville East’s Jordan Pickett goes to the basket during a Southwestern Conference game against Edwardsville on Friday night. The Lancers ultimately posted a 57-47 victory. Jimmy Simmons For the News-Democrat
Belleville East’s Antwine Wilson drives to the basket during Friday night’s Southwestern Conference game against Edwardsville. The Lancers ultimately posted a 57-47 victory.
Belleville East’s Antwine Wilson drives to the basket during Friday night’s Southwestern Conference game against Edwardsville. The Lancers ultimately posted a 57-47 victory. Jimmy Simmons For the News-Democrat
Bellevillle East’s Jordan Pickett goes to the basket during Friday night’s Southwestern Conference game against Edwardsville. The Lancers ultimately posted a 57-47 victory.
Bellevillle East’s Jordan Pickett goes to the basket during Friday night’s Southwestern Conference game against Edwardsville. The Lancers ultimately posted a 57-47 victory. Jimmy Simmons For the News-Democrat
Edwardsville’s AJ Tillman drives to the basket during a Southwetern Conference game Friday night against Belleville East. The Tigers ultimately dropped a 57-47 decision.
Edwardsville’s AJ Tillman drives to the basket during a Southwetern Conference game Friday night against Belleville East. The Tigers ultimately dropped a 57-47 decision. Jimmy Simmons For the News-Democrat

This story was originally published December 10, 2022 at 12:09 AM.

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