Top-seeded Hayti avoids upset to No. 9 East Prairie in Bloomfield Christmas Tournament quarterfinal

Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Hayti's Dayon Moore puts up a shot against East Prairie in a Bloomfield Christmas Tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Bloomfield High School. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- With a Bloomfield Christmas Tournament upset already in their pocket, the East Prairie Eagles did their best to add another Tuesday night.

The ninth-seeded Eagles turned a 15-point, fourth quarter deficit on its head to pull within one during the final 40 seconds to give top-seeded Hayti a scare.

East Prairie couldn't complete the comeback, however, losing to the Indians 71-66 and dropped to the fifth-place bracket.

Facing a 67-52 deficit at the 3:53 mark in the fourth, East Prairie rolled out a 14-0 run spurred by senior Casey Gregory.

Gregory, who led all scorers with 27 points, scored eight straight to pull the Eagles within 67-66 with 38 seconds remaining.

Kedron Rollings was fouled four seconds later and hit both free throws to make it 69-66.

Kemron Rollings later forced a steal from East Prairie's Luke Marcum and was rewarded with an easy layup on the other end at the 19 second mark.

Hayti forced another stop at the other end to run out the clock and hang on for the win.

Kemron Rollings led the Indians with 22 points. Kedron Rollings and Kobe Cooper each scored 12 for Hayti, who moves on to the championship semifinal round Wednesday at 7 p.m.

East Prairie will play in the fifth-place semifinal Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Hayti15221717--71
East Prairie10171722--66

HAYTI (71) -- Kobe Cooper 12, Daurius Jones 8, Maurius Newbill 6, Kedron Rollings 12, Kemron Rollings 22, Dayon Moore 9. FG 26 FT 5-7 F 18. (3-pointers: Jones 2, Newbill 2, Ked. Rollings 2. Fouled out: none.)

EAST PRAIRIE (66) -- Luke Marcum 19, Deverence Jones 10, Derez Tipler 6, Casey Gregory 27, Mason Bryars 4. FG 26 FT 12-17 F 14. (3-pointers: Marcum 2. Fouled out: none.)

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