QUINCY, Ill. – The Parkland College men’s basketball team bounced back with a strong defensive performance in a 65-62 win at John Wood Community College on Saturday, February 18th. The Cobras (13-11) (3-4) knocked down nine first-half threes and held the Blazers (14-13) (2-5) to just 5-19 from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Sean Ealy (21 points, 5-6 3PT) led the team in scoring, and freshman Don Coats III (16 points, 8 rebounds) controlled the glass as the Cobras picked up their third conference win of the season in Quincy.
“I’m proud of our guys today for pulling out the win on the road,” head coach John Bowler said after the game. “We had some moments that tested our toughness, and we stepped up as a unity to get the win.”
Parkland stumbled out of the gate, falling behind 17-5 before Bowler took a timeout with 13:56 to go in the first half. The Cobras caught fire out of the timeout, cutting the deficit to 23-14 with three straight three-pointers and locking in on the defensive end. The team continued to attack the Blazers from beyond the arc, as Don Coats III hit back-to-back threes, and Sean Ealy buried another one with 6:50 on the clock to tie the game, 25-25. On the next possession, Ealy knocked down his fourth three of the half to give Parkland its first lead of the game, 28-25. Jared Hankins kept it going from outside, hitting a three with 4:31 left in the half, to make the score 33-25 and cap a 22-2 Cobra run. The Blazers closed the gap, but the Cobras led 40-29 after an exciting first half. Ealy stayed hot in the second half, burying a three before Parkland took a timeout up 46-37 with 15:18 remaining. The Cobra defense held the Blazers without a field goal for 6:52 in the second half, and Parkland extended its lead to 58-45 with 6:30 to go before John Wood finally broke the drought. An 8-0 run from the Blazers cut the lead to five, but Ealy and Brylan Phillps kept their composure at the free throw line, hitting 7-8 in the final 3:15 to survive the late John Wood comeback, and Parkland picked up the 65-62 win.
“Sean was a major catalyst for us today with his leadership,” head coach John Bowler said of his leading scorer after the win. “We as a team really needed that today, and I couldn’t be prouder to watch him continue to mature into that role.”
Statistical Overview:
- Sean Ealy: 21 points, 5-7 FG, 6-7 FT
- Don Coats III: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks
- Jabryn Anderson: 7 points, 3-3 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
- Brylan Phillips: 7 points, 4-4 FT, 5 assists
Up next, Parkland returns home to take on Spoon River on Wednesday, February 22nd. Tip-off against the Snappers (17-9) (5-2) is scheduled for 7:30 PM at the Donald C. Dodds Jr. Athletic Complex.
