PLAINS - The Horsemen suffered a tough loss (56-60) for a play-in game last Tuesday at home, giving the Eureka Lions a win and subsequently a spot in the district 7-B tournament.

The Horsemen drew first points, with a score from senior Jeremiah Crawford that got the crowd cheering. Eureka fired back with their own offensive basket, but then the Horsemen soon answered with a slew of points by Aaron Baker, Wyatt Winbrenner, Aaron Baker again, and Kyle Revier, bringing the score 10-2, Plains. Revier’s two points came by a steal from the Lions into a layup. The Lions were able to come back from the Horsemen assault, and soon the points difference narrowed to just two, 15-13.

Going into the second quarter, neither team wanted to give up the intensity, and the pace continued in fast-mode. Dallas Burgess kicked it off with a one-for-two freethrow, and Eureka quickly responded with a two-point basket. The score was 16-15. Kyle Revier managed another steal to a layup, soon followed by another two points from Winebrenner, but the Lions were still keeping up with the Horsemen’s efforts. The points margin remained close, as both teams put up basket-for-basket, and neither could quite run away with the game. Revier punched a three-pointer, and Crawford posted three more points, as well as Burgess putting in two just before halftime. The score stood at 29-23, Plains going into the half.

Burgess and Revier came into the second half strong, firing off and bucketing several points; Revier was on fire with back-to-back three-pointers, however, the Lions also responded with three-pointers from their own main shooter. After a bucketed shot from Crawford, a Lions assault soon followed. Eureka posted 10 points, catching up to the Horsemen, and the score stood at 41-40, Plains, by the end of the third quarter.

Eureka kicked off the fourth with a basket. Crawford answered twice in a row, and soon, Burgess came through with a swift baseline drive. Eureka continued their efforts, and the points from both teams kept stacking up as they fought to retain or take hold of the edge. The teams were soon tied up, 51-51. It soon came down to the wire. Aaron Baker was the last to score points for the Horsemen, putting the score at 54-53, and soon the Lions took the game with the use of freethrows, and one stack play. The play-in game was Eureka’s first win over the Horsemen for the season.