Nelson Eagles have wings clipped at Kelowna Spring Hoop Tourney
By The Nelson Daily Sports
A shorthanded Nelson Eagles squad proved to be no match for high-power Okanagan competition as the Heritage City Spring Hoop squad dropped four games a the Kelowna Minor Basketball Association (KMBA) tournament this past weekend in the Central Okanagan City.
“We were short-handed and over-matched physically for the most part but the heart was there and guys were positive and competed the entire time on the court,” said Eagles coach Jeremy Phelan.
“Everyone improved a lot over the weekend.”
The Eagles lost 69-41 to host KMBA to finish fourth in the tournament.
Josh Matosevic suffered a knee injury earlier in the tournament and which slowed the Nelson star during the game.
Nelson opened the tournament on fire on the backs of Matosevic and Rob Dixon and were tied 41-41 before Dixon committed his fifth and disqualifying foul.
Center Stryder Scott fouled out earlier, and without Dixon’s leadership at the point, the Eagles ended up falling 62-45.
Matosevic was mostly unstoppable, registering 35 of the Eagles’ 45 points, including six conversions from behind the arc.
The Eagles played a mature Hornets team from Oliver immediately following the loss to KMBA.
The Hornets smothered the Eagles with full court pressure and finished the first half leading 34-17, and would eventually walk away with the 74-40 win.
Again, Matosevic was the primary point-getter with 12. DIxon scored 12 points, including 10 from the charity stripe and Scott had a breakout game with six points, on 4-of-6 free-throwing shooting.
The following morning the Eagles faced the Salmon Arm Synergy Under-17 basketball club.
From the outset it appeared an evening of rest had re-energized the Eagles as they sped to a 4-1 lead over the Synergy.
Matosevic led the charge scoring 12 points, until succumbing to a knee injury from an opposing player’s challenge of a three point attempt.
Matosevic did not return as the Eagles faced a 28-18 halftime deficit. With Matosevic sidelined for the Eagles, scoring was sparse as Dixon was harassed with an onslaught of double-teams and pressure defense.
Eventually the Eagles would fall 59-23 in the final round-robin game. Scott contributed five points, with Dixon and Jared Martin each managing three points.
Matosevic, Dixon, and Scott claimed game MVP awards throughout the tournament.
