Brandon Ray was determined not to lose.
Not for himself, though. For his backcourt partner and friend, standout senior Thomas Rouse.
“I came into this game knowing I didn’t want Thomas to go out like that,” said Ray. “Same for the other seniors on this team. But with Thomas, he and I go way back. We’ve known each other for a long time.
“I took the motivation for the game away from myself. I placed it on winning for him.”
It was a combined effort between Ray and Rouse that powered Eastside to a 70-63 first-round playoff win over Catawba Ridge. In front of a loud, packed Eastside crowd, the dominant backcourt duo combined for 45 points in the victory.
Ray and Rouse both shot over 60 percent from the field.
“We had a great crowd show out tonight, and that helped us,” said Rouse. “I know this is the best team we’ve had here in a while [at Eastside.] And I know if we keep playing like this, we can make a run.”
Eastside came into the contest having not won a playoff game since 2018.
But in a year that has represented a tremendous turnaround for the Eagles, head coach Jamar Armstrong and crew kept that theme rolling.
“We play in the toughest region in the state, so facing teams in our region has us ready for the playoffs,” said Armstrong. “And we told the guys that once we get into the playoffs, anything can happen. It’s about preparation and practice at this point of the season.”
The Eagles, who went just 7-19 last season and didn’t qualify for the Class 5-A Division II playoffs, have now won 17 games. The turnaround is one of the most drastic in the state.
Armstrong credits his players for buying in at the start of the season — and trusting in the process as the year has progressed.
“They’ve trusted in this from the beginning,” said Armstrong. “They’ve trusted in each other, trusted in me as their coach. We told them as a staff at the beginning of the year how we believed we could accomplish great things this season. We just had to learn how to win.”
The Eagles have done just that, and a large reason for it is Rouse’s ascension as a multi-faceted guard.
Rouse has become elite off the dribble and driving to the rim. He’s shooting the ball well from range. His defense remains dominant, leading the team in both steals and blocks this year.
“I put in a lot of work in the offseason, grinding,” said Rouse. “My coaches put their trust in me, and my teammates have faith in me. We all have a belief in each other.”
Next up for the Eagles? A familiar foe.
Eastside will travel just seven minutes down the road for round two of the Class 5-A Division II playoffs to take on rival Riverside.
The Warriors swept the season series with the Eagles. But in the playoffs, anything can happen.
“I’m excited for it,” said Ray. “We all dream of playing in these kinds of big games. To play in the playoffs against a rival like this? It’s going to be an incredible game.”
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