The Warrior basketball team took on the McEachern Indians at home in NC’s Hoopcoming game on Friday, January 20, with the women’s team falling to the Indians 71-28 and the men 77-31.

“They are a very good team. We are three-time defending champions with players going to Texas Tech and UGA,” women’s head coach John Speeney said in his pregame comments.

In this case, very good looked like an understatement. In the women’s game, the Indians came out with a fierce press that the Lady Warriors could not penetrate. The Lady Warriors’ first shot attempt did not occur until 5:40 left in the first quarter and McEachern subsequently blocked the shot. The team finally got on the board with a three point shot with 5:05 left in the first quarter. The Lady Indians forced 12 turnovers in the first and led 19-6 at the going into the second quarter.

More of the same occurred throughout the game and the visitors went into the locker room with a 34-12 lead. After halftime, the Lady Warriors played some of the bench to rest players for Saturday’s matchup against Hillgrove. The Lady Indians called off the press with 5:19 left in the third quarter up 47-14. The Warriors played a competitive fourth quarter and almost doubled their score with hot three point shooting.

In the second matchup of the night, the Warriors Men’s team took on Mceachern’s (#2). The Indians came in undefeated and the Warriors looked to stun them at home. The men played a physical game but the Indians overmatched them athletically.  The Indians shortest player clocked in at over 6 feet tall and played stifling defense throughout the day. The Warriors rarely received open looks and the talented Indians dismantled the Warriors 77-31. The men look to rebound on January 24 at Marietta.