In a midseason KSU Tusc matchup with Terra State, the Titans held the lead hostage for most of the game until the Golden Eagles swooped in over the five minutes and rescued a 73-70 victory on their home floor.
On Saturday it was different, very different!
The Navy and Gold never trailed in winning their 16th game of the season against seven losses, while inflicting their wrath on the Titans in a 95-63 beatdown. On this day, it was an all-out assault on the basket in the Terra State fortress, as five Golden Eagles scored in double figures with brothers, Kameron and Kyle Shockley playing the roles of behemoths and inflicting most of the damage.
Kameron hammered home 27 points to lead all scorers, tallying 17 in the open half, while younger brother Kyle rang up 18 points converting a perfect 6/6 at the free throw line. Together they netted a total of 21 points in the first meeting, but this time they scored nearly one-half of KSU Tusc's total.
Leading 16-8 with 13:30 to play in the first 20 minutes the Eagles started an air raid. They sank four triple tries as Arthur Jackson came off the bench and punched one home from left corner and seconds later Braden Rostad followed with two long range bombs of this own. Kameron Shockley drove the lane for a deuce and then tossed in another trey for a 30-13 advantage with 9:18 left.
The lead ballooned to 20 points as Kameron Shockley closed the half scoring 10 of the Eagles last 14 points. First, he got a layup and then added a pair of free throws. Then he drained consecutive triples to make the score 42-22, before Kyle added two charity tosses for a 44-28 lead at halftime.
There was no rest for the weary Titans in the final half, but they did manage a meager by colossus standards 7-0 run to cut a 19-point deficit to 12 points. It was as close as they would get a sniff at getting back into the game.
For the Golden Eagles were soaring in rare air, taking leads of 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and finally 32 points making some highlight reel plays along the way.
Kameron Shockley boarded a missed shot with 10:14 left and wheeled to his left. He threw a perfect one-handed baseball pass the length of the court to brother Kyle for a two-handed jam. Then on a sideline inbounds from in front of the Terra State bench, the throw went to Jordan Stevens at mid court of the near sideline. Stevens drove to the hoop and floated a perfect pass to DeJuan Lawrence on the opposite low block for a rim rattler of a dunk.
Then the Shockleys took turns again, this time courtesy of London Cobbs who started both theatrics with defensive rebounds. On the first, he looked for an outlet and found Kyle streaking by his lonesome down court for another dunk. Cobbs did it again on the Titans next possession, this time finding Kyle for a super slam with 2:10 left in the contest and an 88-56 lead.
Joining the Shockleys in double digits were Cobbs with 13 points and JaJuantae Young and James Roundtree with 10 points each.
The Golden Eagles are now 16-7 with three games left in the regular season. They travel to Miami Middletown on Sunday seeking to avenge a 73-71 home loss to the Thunderhawks on February 6th.
James Roundtree and JaJuantae Young apply pressure defense and both scored 10 points against the Titans.
Kyle Shockley looks for an opening in the Terra State defense.
Kameron Shockley and DeJuan Lawrence protect the basket. Photos by Kamryn Butcher