EPC boys win it all

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection Team

While one Poinsett County squad was considered a favorite, their Class 2A neighbor wasn’t even an after thought... that team was the EPC Warriors. But EPC would go on an improbable post-season run, ending up in Hot Springs. The Warriors would go on to shock the state by winning the 2A State Title. The win further cemented Northeast Arkansas as being a powerful force in high school hoops in the state.

EPC's Jacob Gaines throws down a two-handed dunk as teammate Quincy Perry celebrates behind him.

Dec. 15, 2023 -

Gosnell 67, Warriors 50

By DAVID PIERCE

Sports Connection

LUXORA – After back-to-back conference losses entering the Colt Classic, the Gosnell Pirates righted their ship with a 67-50 win over East Poinsett County Friday in the Warren Barbee Colt Classic at Luxora.

Gosnell (4-3) gained the lead late in the first quarter against EPC and never relinquished it.

The Pirates led 17-12 at the end of the opening period of play.

Gosnell extended its lead to 13 points over EPC (4-3) as the teams entered the locker room.

The Pirates led by as many as 16 in the quarter when Cam Williams worked in the paint for a pair but Tyrus Reel answered with a basket to close the gap to 12 with less than a minute to play in the frame.

The Pirates, closed the quarter hitting one of two free throws to set the score at 53-38 entering the final period.

EPC came no closer the rest of the way as the lead swelled to as many as 20 points.

Ball security was pivotal in the game as the teams combined for 18 unforced errors, while EPC had nine steals and Gosnell eight.

Reel paced the Warriors with 13, while Jacob Gaines and Landon Nichols each had 10 points.

The difference in the game could be traced to the free throw line where Gosnell scored 14 points from the charity stripe and EPC just hitting 1-of-4 of its attempts.

Dec. 17, 2023 - Riverside 68, Warriors 33

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

Riverside (16-3, 4-1) got 26 points from Cash Gillis and 25 points from Brayeson Timms as the Rebels beat EPC (4-2, 3-1) 68-33.

Timms scored the first points of the game on a jumper before Dennis Gaines, Jr. canned a three-ball for the Warriors to make it 3-2 early in the game. Gillis hit triple twine for Riverside then Tyrus Reel got a steal and lay up for EPC to tie the game at five. Riverside then went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-5 lead with 3:37 left.

Doug Reel hit one of two free throws for EPC but a 13-0 run by Riverside, fueled by a

technical foul Omar McCuiston to take a 25-6 advantage. EPC's Tyrus Reel was whistled for a technical foul with less than a minute left in the opening quarter. and the ensuing free throws made it 27-6 Rebels. Tyrus Reel hit a jumper to make it 27-8 Rebels at the end of one.

Jacob Gaines hit one of two free throws for EPC to open the second quarter scoring to make it 27-9 but a 5-0 spurt gave Riverside a 32-9 lead. The Gaines brothers connected on two of four free throws before a pair of Rebel three’s gave Riverside a 38-11 lead. Jacob Gaines hit a jumper for the Warriors but Riverside scored the last nine points of the quarter to make it 47-13 Rebels at the half.

Gillis pushed the Riverside lead to 49-13 with a jumper before EPC scored the next six points as Tyrus Reel hit a jumper and McCuiston and Landon Nichols had back to back baskets to make the score 49-17 with 5:44 left in the third quarter. Nichols scored down low for the Warriors but the Rebels scored six points to take a 55-19 lead. EPC got back to back scores from Tyrus Reel and Jacob Gaines before Doug Reel scored inside for EPC. Despite the Warriors getting a bucket in the paint from McCuiston and two free throws from Gaines, Jr. Riverside led 62-29 after three.

With the mercy clock running at the start of the fourth quarter, Jacob Gaines hit two free throws making it 62-31 Rebels before Gaines, Jr. was whistled for his second technical foul and ejected from the game with just over five minutes left. Riverside go on to win by a final score 68-33 Rebels.

Tyrus Reel and Jacob Gaines each scored eight points to lead the Warriors as Gaines, Jr. finished with six points.

Jan. 26, 2024 -

Bay 67, Warriors 65

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

Bay hit two free throws with two seconds left to take the lead at 66-65 before going on to win 67-65 in 2A-3 conference action in Lepanto.

Tyrus Reel gave the EPC Warriors the early 2-0 lead with a jumper but Bay tied the game at 2 apiece. Jacob Gaines stuck back a rebound for EPC but Bay hit a free throw to make it 4-3. Jacob Gaines scored in the paint for EPC before Bay drilled a three-ball to tie the game as six with 5:40 left. Landon Nichols and Omar McCuiston got back to back for the Warriors to make it 10-6, but a Bay basket cut the lead to 10-8. Dennis Gaines, Jr., hit two of three free throws after being fouled attempting a three-pointer and McCuiston hit a jumper in the lane to make the score 14-8 Warriors. Bay hit two free throws then Gaines, Jr., got a stick back before Bay drilled a three-ball to make it 16-13 EPC. Jacob Gaines put back an offensive rebound for the Warriors and Bay scored in the paint to make it 18-15 at the of the first quarter.

A 5-2 Bay run tied the game before a Jacob Gaines stick made it 22-20 Warriors. Bay scored in the paint and hit two free throws before Tyrus Reel hit triple twine for Warriors making it 24-23 Bay with just over four minutes left. Back to back baskets from the Yellowjackets pushed their lead to 28-23 as McCuiston scored down low for EPC making it 28-25 Bay. The 'Jackets hit one of two free throws before Gaines, Jr. made three free throws after being fouled again attempting a three-pointer and then drilled a three-pointer to give the Warriors a 31-29 lead. Back to back jumpers from Bay made it 33-31 Yellowjackets before Tyrus Reel hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give EPC a 34-33 halftime lead.

Bay opened up a 37-34 lead in the third quarter before Jacob Gaines scored in the paint for EPC to make it 37-36. Bay pushed the lead to 42-36 before Nichols got a basket down low for the Warriors to make it 42-38. McCuiston canned a three-pointer for EPC, Bay scored and McCuiston hit three free throws after being fouled attempting a three-pointer to make it 46-44 with 2:47 left. Bay got a stick back basket and Jacob Gaines put back a rebound before the 'Bay hit three of four three throws to take a 51-46 lead to the fourth quarter.

Tyrus Reel hit one of two free throws for EPC early in the fourth quarter before Bay hit two free throws to make it 53-47. Jacob Gaines scored inside for the Warriors only to see the Yellowjackets score the next six points to push their lead to 59-49 with 5:17 left. An 8-0 EPC run began with Jacob Gaines converting a conventional three-point play, Gaines, Jr. then drilled a three-pointer and Jacob Gaines scored down low to make it 59-57 Bay. After Bay went up 62-57, Tyrus Reel knocked down back to back three-pointers to make it 63-62 EPC with 1:42 left. Bay hit a jumper making it 64-63 Yellowjackets before Tyrus Reel hit two free throws to make it 65-64 Warriors with 11 seconds left. Bay hit two free throws then added a free throw with less than a second left to take the 67-65 win.

“I think we play extremely well and extremely hard and it was a great way to bounce back from a loss at BIC,” EPC head coach Jamarcus Thaxton said after the game. “I'm extremely proud of my guys even though we didn't achieve the result we wanted. We can take this as a learning tool to push us forward,” Thaxton added.

McCuiston led three EPC players in double figures with 21 points as Jacob Gaines tossed in 19 points and Gaines, Jr., added 13 points. Reel finished with eight points and Nichols chipped in four points for the Warriors.

Feb. 9, 2024 - Marked Tree 21, Warriors 19

By DAVID PIERCE

Sports Connection Team

LEPANTO – In regular season finale for both Marked Tree and rival East Poinsett County, the game was called after an incident in the stands late in the second quarter.

With Marked Tree up 20-19 with 1:09 remaining in the first half, a fight between a female and male erupted in the bleachers behind the EPC bench.

The incident resulted in stoppage of the game as both were escorted to the exit.

But as both reached the floor, the female rushed the male and punched him which resulted in the two swinging wildly at one another. As tensions heightened, fans spilled onto the court as law enforcement, school administration and staff tried to defuse the situation.

As the melee began to settle another disruption near the scorer’s table ensued. At this point officials had seen enough and decided to call the game. Local law enforcement and school administrators ordered the gym vacated.

“Two kids in the bleachers got in the fight and it just mushroomed from there,” said East Poinsett County superintendent Michael Pierce, “one of ours and one of theirs.”

Pierce initially thought the referees might just clear the gym and let the game continue, “but it was probably for the best they called it,” he added expressing concern for everyone’s safety.

Feb. 13, 2024 - Warriors 67, BIC 51 2A-3

Conference First Round

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

East Poinsett County (15-10) outscored Buffalo Island Central (20-14) 24-12 in the second quarter to create a cushion and the Warriors went on to defeat BIC 67-51 in the 2A-3 district tournament at Bay.

Jacob Gaines and Omar McCuiston pushed the Warriors to a 6-3 lead before BIC scored five straight points to take an 8-6 lead. An 8-0 EPC run gave them a 14-8 lead. After a BIC bucket, Jacob Gaines scored in the paint for the Warriors and two Mustang free throws made it 16-12 EPC after one quarter.

Landon Nichols stick back pushed EPCs lead to 18-12 early in the second quarter before five straight BIC points made it 18-17. EPCs McCuiston scored the next five points to make it 23-17. A Mustang three made it 23-20 EPC with 4:31 left. The Warriors went on an 11-0 to push their lead to 34-20. A 7-2 BIC run made it 36-27 at the break.

After BIC scored to open the third quarter, Jacob Gaines converted an old-school three-point play and then got a stick back to make it 41-29 Warriors. After two Mustang free throws, Dennis Gaines canned a three-ball and a BIC three made it 44-33. Jacob Gaines converted an old-fashioned three-point play for EPC before BIC hit a base line jumper to make it 47-35 EPC with 3:38 left. EPC then reeled off the next 13 points to take a 60-35 lead. EPCs McCuiston was then whistled for a technical foul and BIC hit both free throws and scored a bucket to make it 60-39 after three.

BIC opened the quarter with a 6-0 run to make it 60-45. EPC got a basket in the paint from McCuiston and two free throws from Jacob Gaines while BIC hit two free throws to make the score 64-47. The Warriors would close out the game to win 67-51.

Jacob Gaines led EPC with 24 points as McCuiston added 21 points for EPC. Tyrus Reel finished with eight points, Dennis Gaines and Doug Reel both scored eight points as Nichols chipped in two points for the Warriors.

Feb. 15, 2024 - Bay 60, Warriors 56 2A-3 Tournament semi-finals

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

EPC (15-11) lead after each of the first three quarters before Bay (25-13) outscored the Warriors 20-15 in the fourth quarter to take a 60-56 win in the semi-finals of the 2A-3 district tournament in Bay.

Dennis Gaines, Jr., hit a jumper and a three-pointer early in the opening quarter to give EPC a 5-0 lead before Bay scored back to back baskets to make it 5-4. EPC scored the next seven points making it 12-4 Warriors with 4:12 left. Bay scored the next four points to make it 12-8, only to see Gaines, Jr. hit triple twine to make it 15-8 Warriors. EPC led 18-12 after one quarter.

A 9-0 Bay run to start the second quarter gave them a 21-18 lead before Tyrus Reel hit two free throws making it 21-20 with 5:34 left. EPC got two free throws from Gaines, Jr. and a basket from Jacob Gaines to take a 24-23 lead at the half.

The teams traded baskets to start the third quarter as Bay canned a three-ball, Gaines, Jr. answered with a three-pointer for EPC. Bay scored in the paint only to see EPC get a three-ball from McCuiston and a steal and lay up from Gaines, Jr. to make the score 34-30 Warriors with 4:50 left. Bay tied the game at 34 with back to back baskets before EPC got a three-ball from Tyrus Reel and a fast break lay up from McCuiston making the score 39-34 Warriors. Bay scored the next three points to make it 39-37 before McCuiston scored to make it 41-37. Bay drilled a three-pointer to cut the lead to 41-40 Warriors after three.

Bay hit a three-pointer to take a 43-41 lead early in the fourth then Dee Buchanan got a stick for EPC to tie the game at 43. After a bucket by Jacob Gaines Bay scored five consecutive points to take a 50-45 lead with 4:49 left. Jacob Gaines hit one of two free throws before Tyrus Reel and McCuiston had back to back layups to tie the game at 50. Bay hit a jumper and Tyrus Reel answered with a jumper before the Bay scored to make it 54-52 with 43 seconds left.

A technical foul on McCuiston after a foul on a Bay player allowed the Yellowjackets hit one of two free throws on the foul and then hit both technical free throws to make the score 57-52.

Bay hit two more free throws before EPC got baskets from Tyrus Reel and Gaines, Jr. to make it 59-56 Bay. Bay added one of two free throws late to make the final score 60-56.

Gaines, Jr., led four EPC players in double figures with 20 points while Jacob Gaines added 13 points. Tyrus Reel and McCuiston scored 11 and 10 points respectively while Buchanan chipped in with two points for the Warriors.

Feb. 24 Warriors 54, Riverside 49 2A North Regional Championship Game

By STEVE KNOX

Sports Connection

RIVERSIDE - The East Poinsett County Warriors held Riverside to only two points over the final 3:12 of the game to claim a 54-49 victory and the 2A - North Regional championship Saturday at Riverside. In what was a tight game for the final two and a half quarters, the Warriors would ride some timely free throw shooting and a smothering defensive effort to gain the victory.

With the game tied at 47 and 3:12 to play, EPCs Dennis Gaines would be fouled by Riverside’s Harrison McAnally as he tried to score on a rebound. McAnally protested the call and drew a technical foul.

Gaines would hit the second of two free throws to give his team a 48-47 advantage. EPCs Tyrus Reel then stepped to the line and converted both of the technical foul shots to make it a 50-47 game.

After a missed shot by the Rebels, EPCs Quincy Perry was fouled with 2:52 to play. Perry dropped both shots and the Warriors had their largest lead of the game at 52-47. Riverside would draw within three points with 1:04 to play scoring inside to make it 52-49. Trailing by three, Riverside, which had committed only three fouls to that point couldn’t get the ball away from the Warriors. In a wild sequence in the final 25 seconds, EPC would miss a shot, the ball would be knocked around by several players on both squads before the Warriors regained possession. Riverside would desperately try to foul

to send EPC to the fine, but were not able to do so until four seconds remained on the clock sending EPCs Jacob Gaines to the free throw line. Gaines would calmly drop both shots to set the final score of 54-49.

“Very proud of the kids. They stayed together, stayed in tune with one another. That is the only way you can overcome adversity,” said Warriors second year head coach Jamarcus Thaxton

The Rebels came out firing building a 9-0 lead with 3:56 to play. EPC would get on the scoreboard with a three-point play by Jacob Gaines to make it 9-3. Riverside would score the next five points to make it 14-3.

EPC would close within two points with a 9-0 run as Doug Reel hit one of two free throws, Jacob Gaines converted another three-point play. Omar McCustion scored in the lane and Dennis Gaines buried a corner three to make it 14-12. Riverside led 16-12 after one period.

Riverside would control the early part of the second quarter as they built a 22-14 advantage. However Riverside head coach Buster Campbell would pick up a technical foul with his team up eight points. EPCs Tyrus Reel would hit one of the two technical shots and Jacob Gaines would score to make it 22-17. McCuiston would hit a triple to make it 22-20 Rebels. A pair of Rebel free throws made it 24-20. Jacob Gaines hit back to back shots sandwiched around a Rebel score to make it 26-24 Rebels. EPCs Tyrus Reel then hit a shot to square the game at 26 apiece.

But Riverside would close the half with a 5-0 run to take a 31-26 halftime lead.

The second half saw both teams turn up their defensive pressure as EPC held the Rebels scoreless for the first 4:30 of the third quarter, meanwhile EPC would tie the game with a Jacob Gaines bucket, a McCuiston free throw and Tyrus Reel’s jumper. Following a Rebel bucket, Dennis Gaines would give his team its first lead of the game with a triple twine to make it 34-33 with 2:57 in the period. Riverside would take a 35-34 lead, then Dennis Gaines give his team the lead back with a jumper. A Riverside three would give the Rebels the lead back at 38-36. EPC would tie the game at 38 apiece before the Rebels would score a bucket to take a 40-38 lead to the final period.

A Riverside basket to start the quarter made it 42-38 A pair of Jacob Gaines free throws made it 42-40. A Rebel three-pointer made it 45-40, and EPCs Tyrus Reel hit from behind the arc to make it 45-43. The Rebels hit a pair of free throws to take a 47-43 lead. Back to back buckets by EPCs Perry would tie the game to set up the dramatic final minutes.

“You start slow sometimes. It takes time to get on the same page. But, our kids trusted one another. They trust that they are going to make a shot, they trust that they are going to get help on defense. They trust each other totally and have become a true family. Teams that trust one another can do great things,” said Thaxton.

EPC (18-11) was paced by Jacob Gaines 18 points. Tyrus Reel added 10 points, while Dennis Gaines scored nine points, McCuiston added eight points, Perry had six points and Doug Reel had three points.

March 2, 2024 - Warriors 75, Bigelow 66 2A

State semi-final

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

EPC (21-11) used a great second half to punch their ticket to the Class 2A state championship game beating Bigelow (26-3) 75-66 in the semi-finals of the Class 2A state tournament Saturday in Mansfield.

The Warriors got on the board first as Dennis Gaines, Jr. hit triple twine for the early 3-0 lead before Bigelow scored. Tyrus Reel got a basket in the paint for EPC only to see the Panthers score the next seven points to go up 9-5 with 4:30 left. Gaines, Jr., scored inside and hit one of two free throws and the Panthers got a basket down low to make it 11-8. The Warriors got baskets from Omar McCuiston and Jacob Gaines around a Bigelow basket to make it 13-12. A 7-0 run would give Bigelow a 20-12 lead. EPC roared back with an old-school three-point play from Jacob Gaines, a steal and lay-up from Tyrus Reel and a jumper from Jacob Gaines. Bigelow added two free throws late making it 22-19 Panthers after one.

Bigelow pushed their lead to 24-19 with a basket to start the second quarter. Jacob Gaines scored inside for the Warriors to make it 24-21. A three-pointer from Bigelow pushed their lead to 27-21 before EPC got two free throws from Jacob Gaines and a three-pointer from McCuiston to make it 27-26. After the Panthers scored, McCuiston got inside for a basket. Bigelow hit two free throws, then the Warriors got a steal and lay up from Tyrus Reel and a jumper in the lane from Quincy Perry to take a 32-31 lead with 3:31 left. Bigelow retook the lead at 33-32 with basket in the paint, Perry's three-ball made it 35-33 Warriors before the Panthers got a basket to tie the game at 35. Tyrus Reel hit one of two free throws before Bigelow got back to back baskets to make the score 39-36. Tyrus Reel hit two free throws for the Warriors and Bigelow scored on a fast break, before Gaines, Jr., hit two of three free throws at the buzzer to make it 41-40 at the half.

Bigelow pushed their lead to 45-40 early in the third quarter before Gaines, Jr., hit triple twine for EPC making it 45-43. Two free throws from Bigelow made it 47-43 before the Warriors got a basket inside from Jacob Gaines, an old-fashioned three-point play and a basket in the paint from Tyrus Reel to retake the lead 50-47 with 3:10 left.

Bigelow scored down low, EPC got a three-ball from Gaines, Jr., Bigelow scored again down low before Perry converted a conventional three-point play for the Warriors to make the score 56-51.. The Panthers got a stick back basket and Jacob Gaines added one of two free throws making the score 57-53 EPC after three quarters.

The Panthers cut the lead to 57-55 with a basket early in the fourth quarter before EPC went on a 9-0 run to make it 66-55 Warriors with 3:52 left in the game. Bigelow got a basket down low, Jacob Gaines hit one of two free throws and Perry scored in the paint for EPC before the Panthers hit a jumper in the lane to make the score 69-59. EPC would score six of the next 10 points to take a 75-63 lead. Bigelow then hit a late three-pointer to make the final score 75-66.

“All glory to God, because without Him we are nothing,” were the first words from EPC head coach JaMarcus Thaxton after the game. “This group is very resilient, they fight, they never give up and they want it. They work hard and put in the time and they sacrifice for one another. They sacrifice individual goals for team goals,” Thaxton added. Thaxton had this to say about EPC's fourth quarter defense. “Our defense has to leave Lepanto even if our shot making doesn't. They bought in completely when I came here about defense. They fell in love with it, they enjoy it, and they take pride in it,” Thaxton added.

Jacob Gaines scored 22 points to lead five EPC players in double figures as Tyrus Reel finished with 15 points. Gaines, Jr., and Perry added 14 points each with McCuiston netting 10 points for the Warriors.

March 9, 2024 - Warriors 68, Marshall 61 2A State Championship Game

By COSMO COSSEY

Sports Connection Team

EPC outscored Marshall 21-14 in the fourth quarter to turn a six-point deficit into a 68-61 win to claim the Class 2A state basketball title at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs. The title was the first for the Warriors since 2012.

Marshall got on the board first with a basket inside but Dennis Gaines, Jr. converted an old-school three-point play to make it 3-2 Warriors. The Bobcats got a basket down low to go up 4-3 before Gaines, Jr. canned a three-pointer to make the score 6-4. Marshall hit a three-pointer only to see the Warriors Gaines, Jr., do the same to make it 9-7 EPC with 4:41 left. The Bobcats hit one-of-two free throws, Gaines, Jr. hit one of three free throws, before Landon Nichols scored in the paint to put the Warriors up 12-8. A pair of Marshall buckets around Omar McCuiston’s three-point play made the score 15-12 EPC after one quarter.

Jacob Gaines scored the first points of second quarter for the Warriors with a two-handed slam dunk and a jumper in the lane to push the EPC lead to 19-12. The Bobcats scored seven straight points to tie the game at 19. McCuiston canned a three-pointer from the left corner for the Warriors, Marshall hit a jumper and Tyrus Reel scored in the paint for EPC to make it 24-21 with 4:10 left. The Bobcats took a 25-24 lead with a basket inside and two free throws before Tyrus Reel canned a three-ball to put the Warriors up 27-25. Marshall put back an offensive rebound, McCuiston drilled a three-pointer as the Bobcats threw down a dunk making it 30-29 EPC. Jacob Gaines hit one of two free throws with less than a minute left to make the halftime score 31-29 Warriors.

The Bobcats scored back-to-back early in the third quarter to go up 33-31 before Nichols tied the game at 33. Marshall converted an old-fashioned three-point play, McCuiston scored down low, the Bobcats then canned a three-ball, and EPC got a conventional three-point play from Jacob Gaines to make it 39-38 with 4:52 left. The Bobcats scored consecutive baskets to push the lead to 43-38 before Gaines, Jr., converted a three-point play to make it 43-41. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes as Marshall got a stick back, Jacob Gaines scored for the Warriors, the Bobcats hit a jumper and Jacob Gaines answered with a jumper to make it 47-45. The Bobcats closed with a 6-2 spurt to take a 53-47 lead heading to the final frame.

Doug Reels three-point play cut the lead to 53-50 early in the fourth quarter. Marshall scored back-to-back baskets to make it 57-50 before the Warriors reeled off six straight points. Doug Reel and Jacob Gaines both scored in the paint then hit two free throws to make it 57-56 with 4:03 left. After Marshall hit a jumper, Jacob Gaines scored back-to-back baskets giving EPC a 60-57 lead. McCuiston scored down low and Tyrus Reel hit two free throws before the Bobcats scored inside to make it 64-59. Marshall scored inside, before Tyrus Reel hit three-of-four free throws on consecutive trips give the Warriors a 67-61 lead. Following an intentional foul McCuiston hit a free throw to set the final score.

“First I want to give all the glory to God because none of this would be possible without Him,” EPC head coach JaMarcus Thaxton said. “I'm extremely proud of my guys for never giving up and continued to fight. They could have given up but they trusted each other and trusted the process to get the win,” Thaxton added. “I think the fourth quarter showed all the hard work they put in, the sprints and push-ups they did. They still had a little left in the tank for the fourth quarter,” Thaxton added. “They made stops and shots in the fourth quarter when they needed them. We weathered the storm and kept playing late looking for an opportunity in the fourth quarter,” Thaxton said. “We got the ball to the hot hand today, Dennis early, Tyrus in the middle and Jacob late in the game. Great team effort today,” Thaxton added.

“This job fell in my lap two years ago. I think we butted heads some last year but I love these guys and it's awesome to take this trophy back home. I think the enormity of tonight's game won't hit us until tomorrow,” Thaxton said.

Jacob Gaines led the EPC with 22 points while Tyrus Reel and Gaines, Jr. scored 13 each and McCuiston added 11. Doug Reel tossed in five points and Landon Nichols had four.