The Sonic Drive-in Player-of-the-Game for Tuesday, January 15, is Anthony Richardson of the Eastside (Gainesville) boys’ basketball team.
Richardson, a University of Florida football commit, tied a game-high with 12 points as the host Rams hammered District 6-6A rival North Marion (Citra), 59-33. .
The junior was 6-for-12 from the floor and brought down the house with a right-handed tomahawk slam dunk in the third period as the Rams never trailed and had 11 players in the scoring column for their second win by more than 20 points this season over the Colts.
Eastside used a stifling defense all night to rebound after a tough 39-37 loss at Hawthorne last Saturday.
Senior Emontea Shannon also was in double figures with 12 points for Eastside, and Ahkil Wyatt added eight points, including back-to-back three pointers late in the second period as the Rams outscored North Marion 18-5 in that quarter to take a 30-12 lead into halftime.
Eastside extended the lead to 47-23 going into the fourth quarter and the final period was played with mostly bench players on the floor.
The Rams, who will host the district tournament next month, improve to 14-2 overall and 5-0 in district play and can clinch the top seed in District 6-6A if North Marion beats Santa Fe this Friday or if the Rams can win at Santa Fe next Thursday, January 24.
Eastside is back in action on Friday night against city rival Gainesville at Santa Fe College. You can watch the game on the Eastside Athletics’ Facebook page beginning with the pregame show at 7 p.m. with tip-off set for 7:30.
North Marion, which was led by senior Marquez Reeves with eight points, had a four-game winning streak snapped and is now 10-7 overall and 2-3 in league play.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
