Click to enlarge photos.

MARIETTA - McEachern had to come from behind, but with a timely basket and free-throw shooting, the Indians toppled Cherokee, 40-37, Saturday in the SEBA Atlanta High School Hoop Festival.

Trae Golden had 21 points to lead McEachern (5-2), earning team MVP honors, while Darrius Garrett had 12. Chase Waters had 11 points to earn MVP honors for Cherokee (6-2).

"Our effort was good," McEachern coach Nick Chaykowsky said. "Defensively, we were good down the stretch and got stops when we needed to get stops."

It was a tenuous battle early as the lead went back and forth as Cherokee took a 14-10 advantage in the first quarter thanks in part to consecutive three-pointers from Waters.

McEachern battled back in the second with a 6-0 run from Golden, Garrett and Josh Brown, but baskets from Shawn Kemp Jr. and Mike Kvam held the Cherokee lead at 22-20 going into halftime.

Cherokee stretched its lead to six early in the third, but consecutive jumpers from Kadeem Batts whittled the lead down to two, 26-24. The Warriors answered with a three from Kvam and a tip in from Mark Woodhull got go back up 31-27 heading into the fourth.

A Golden 3 brought the deficit to 33-30 and not long after, the sophomore reeled off six consecutive points to retake the lead 36-34. Another 3 from Waters gave Cherokee the momentum back momentarily, but Garrett banked a basket to make it 38-37 with 1:37 remaining.

Trying to stop the clock, the Warriors fouled Golden, but he went 2-for-2 from the line with 13 seconds left. Cherokee could not find another shot and time expired.

ccordell@mdjonline.com

Comment on this Story