EAGLES SOAR IN THE FOURTH. SHOCK MOONEY ON SENIOR NIGHT.

Senior night always adds an emotional aspect to a game that cannot be explained. The intensity is increased, and winning means just that much more. But Mooney felt how those emotions could get the better of you and have victory snatched from your hands.

A rematch from a game earlier in the season, Mooney won at Warren JFK 66-47, both teams have been playing some of their best basketball the last couple games. But it was Mooney who would start out strong. The four seniors took the court together, along with junior Mike Pelini, and after going back and forth with the Eagles settled in and took over. Jenkins and Pelini carried the load offensively, Jenkins with 15 points and 5 rebounds on the night. Fellow senior Sonny Rodriguez hit a corner three to put the Cardinals up by 5. A buzzer beater 3 by TJ Harden of Warren though made it only a 2 point lead at half, 20-18 in favor of Mooney.

The third quarter was all Cardinals. They surrendered only 4 points, got Mike Pelini and Tommy Fire going in transition, and stymied star guard Cam Hollobaugh. A two point lead became a 9 point lead after the third, and Mooney had the Eagles on their heels. But the Eagles would not quit. In what can only be described as a spectacular comeback, Warren sprung to life in the fourth quarter, scoring as many points in the final 8 minutes of game time as they had in the first 24 minutes. Cam Hollobaugh got two huge steals that he took to the house, and Tyrel James followed that up with a big 3 pointer. Hollobaugh stuffed the stat sheet for most of the night, finishing with 15 points, 3/3 free throw shooting, 2 steals and 2 rebounds. It took only 6 minutes for the Eagles to turn a 9 point deficit into a 6 point lead, a massive swing of momentum that Mooney simply could not stop. Numerous turnovers, tough misses, and frustrating foul calls all culminated in what will be a very tough loss for the Cardinals, as they fall to 10-9 on the season. The final score 39-44. Mooney must recover quickly though, as they play again Saturday night against Austintown Fitch, a team they have already lost too.