Rec Department's 13-14 Boys' All Stars Win Tournament

The Easley Recreation Department's 13-14 boys' all star team recently won the South Carolina Athletic Program's Western District basketball tournament that was held Feb. 24-25 in Westminister.

The team was comprised of Jake Fortenberry, Ian Lawing, Cassidy Lee, Eli Lowe, Jackson Matthews, Drake McAlister, Jeffrey Powell, Will Shelton, Garrett Styles, and Trevis Suber, and was coached by Todd McAlister and Todd Carter.

The Easley team opened the Western District tournament on Friday, Feb. 24 with a 43-7 victory over Liberty with Drake McAlister leading the way with 13 points followed by Garrett Styles, Jake Fortenberry, Trevis Suber, and Jackson Matthews with 6 points each. Eli Lowe, Ian Lawing, and Will Shelton contributed 2 points each in the win.

In Saturday's opening game, Easley defeated Anderson 38-27 and was led by Cassidy Lee with 12 points followed by Ian Lawing, Jackson Matthews, and Jake Fortenberry with with 6 points each.

Drake McAlister scored 4 points, and Trevis Suber and Garrett Styles had 2 points each.

In the district championship game, Easley beat Walhalla 35-31 with Jackson Matthews leading the way with 13 points followed by Jake Fortenberry with 6. Ian Lawing and Cassidy Lee scored 4 points each with Drake McAlister and Eli Lowe scoring 2, and Garret Styles and Trevis Suber scoring one point each.

The Western District championship earned the Easley squad a trip to Georgetown to play for the state championship.

In the state tournament, Easley was eliminated in the first round by the Northeast Youth Basketball League all stars out of Columbia 48-21 in a game that was a 7 point game early in the 4th quarter.

Easley was led in the state tournament game by Will Shelton with 7 points followed by Jackson Matthews and Jake Fortenberry with 4 each, Jeffrey Powell, Trevis Suber, and Cassidy Lee scored 2 points apiece, and Eli Lowe had one point.