Recently, Evansville Day School Basketball has been the talk of the school. Let’s take a look at Tyler Myers’ journey to the top of the school’s all time scorers and break down the Eagles’ Sectional draw. Can the Eagles defend their Sectional title? 

The Race to 2,238 points

The day was February 14. The Eagles were playing Tecumseh in Heekin Gymnasium. It’s the fourth quarter, and Tyler Myers has 30 points on the night. He needs one more to score 1,900 points, surpassing Jeremy Willis as Day School’s leading scorer. Furthermore, when he surpasses Willis, he becomes second on Evansville’s all time city scoring list. When EDS athletic director Tom Dragon announced that Myers’ next basket would break the record, you could feel a shift of energy in the gym. The Eagles were in a close game, and fans had a chance to witness history. Tecumseh tried denying Myers,  as it seemed his teammates were trying to feed him the ball so he could score that magical basket. However, Myers would not be denied.

It was a layup off of a steal. Myers used his lightning quick speed to get past one defender. When he beat that one defender, no one was going to stop Myers from scoring. Once that record-breaking basket went through the hoop, the gym gave Myers a standing ovation. Myers didn’t stop scoring. He added ten more points in a close Eagles win on Senior Night. Simply put, it was another masterful performance in what has been a stellar year for Myers.

There have been numerous articles written about Tyler Myers this year. He’s been electric to watch. He’s become more ferocious while attacking the rim, a more reliable three point shooter, and the main facilitator for the Eagles. It’s not often that you can witness a great basketball talent in person.

Myers currently sits at 2,015 points. His next goal is to surpass Bosse’s Mekhi Lairy’s 2,237 points. If he is able to do so, he will become the city of Evansville’s all time leading scorer. But for now, he is focusing on leading the Eagles through Sectionals. There will be critics and doubters, and there will be those who acknowledge Myers’ innate scoring ability. One thing is for certain. We need to appreciate Tyler Myers for helping make these past three years of EDS basketball magical. Eyes will shift toward his senior year as the race to 2,238 becomes the focus of the Evansville sports community. 

The Sectional Preview 

The beginning of the season looked bleak for the Eagles, as they started 1-9. However, it seems that the Eagles have steadily been finding their groove, winning seven of their last eleven. If everything is working for the Eagles, meaning the ball is moving, shots are being made, and the defense is being strong, it’s hard for anyone to stop them. However, if the Eagles struggle to knock down shots, fail to move the ball, and allow opponents to score at will, this team struggles to pull off the win. 

A prime example is their game this season against Wood Memorial (3-20). In the first half, the Eagles seemed somewhat sluggish. They allowed Wood Memorial to score while struggling to find the proper shots. However, in the second half, the Eagles kicked it in and were able to defeat the Trojans. The real question is: what version of the Eagles will fans witness during Sectionals?

The Eagles drew a bye in the first game and are paired against Springs Valley (19-3) in the second round on Friday, March 4th. This Sectional draw could go either way. On the one hand, this is a completely different team than the one that played Springs Valley at the beginning of the season. Ryan Cooper is now eligible to play Varsity minutes, giving the Eagles another quality guard. He’s fast, freakishly athletic, and has the ability to shoot. Plus, he carries a little swagger. When combined with Myers and Kane Wilsey, it could be difficult to stop this team in Sectionals.

On the other hand, this could be the worst-case scenario for the Eagles. The ideal position for the Eagles would have been where Northeast Dubois currently sits, with a bye the first week, awaiting the winner of Cannelton and Vincennes Rivet, two teams with a combined 8-32 record. A game against one of those teams gives the Eagles an easier path to the championship. Sure, Day School gets the bye. The problem is, Springs Valley is the only team with a winning record in this Sectional, making them favored to win. The winning record isn’t 10-9 either, it’s a whopping 19-3. Two of those losses were the first two games of the season. Since then, the Blackhawks have won 18 of 19. When the Eagles played Springs Valley earlier in the season, it was a 19 point loss. To further complicate the issue, the game will be played at Springs Valley, making it a home game for the Blackhawks. Springs Valley is 8-1 at home, plus the crowd will be insane, making it truly difficult for the Eagles to gain momentum. It will be a definite struggle, but if there’s one thing Day School fans know, it’s that there is no quit in this EDS team. Plus the game will be played on Senior Reid Staubitz’s birthday, and Reid Staubitz doesn’t lose on his birthday…..

If you want to cheer on the Eagles at Sectionals, they will take on Springs Valley on March 4 at 7:00 p.m. CT at Springs Valley in French Lick. Fans are encouraged to wear navy blue or their Drew Strong t-shirts to the game.