Eastern Hills boys hold off Saginaw for key 6-4A win

By Greg Bogomol

Special to the Star-Telegram

All week, Fort Worth Eastern Hills boys basketball coach Frank Bailey has stressed to his team that it's time to win or go home as the District 6-4A race heats up.

Eastern Hills chose win Tuesday night as it held off a late Saginaw charge for a 50-45 victory.

"We've been taking every game like it's a must-win game and we knew we had to have this one," Bailey said. "There were a few games we gave away in the first half [of district play], and couldn't afford to do that again. This is a young team that only had two guys on varsity last year and they keep working hard and doing everything we ask."

Senior Jamour Lane led the way with 22 points for the Highlanders (6-12, 4-4), including 13 in the first half to help Eastern Hills grab a 31-21 halftime lead.

He was held scoreless during a 11-4 Saginaw run in the third quarter as the Rough Riders (15-8, 6-3) closed what was a 14-point deficit to 38-35 entering the fourth quarter.

But Lane scored nine of his team's 13 points in the fourth quarter, including four of its five baskets.

Saginaw could not recover from a slow start as it missed its first three attempts from the field, first three free throws and committed four turnovers before scoring its first points on Zach Tomblin's basket with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Dominique Johnson scored a team-high 18 points for the Rough Riders.

Eastern Hills missed its first five free throws of the fourth quarter but made five of its last six to seal the victory.

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