Sports Editor

Junior Kendaris Pelton scored 24 points and Ge-vonne Cooper added 10 as the Goshen Eagles opened the 2001-02 season with a 72-38 win over rival Luverne.

Goshen, traditionally a prolific three-point shooting team, got just two three-point baskets all night, both of those coming from guard Wesley Wright. Outside sharpshooter Averick Rogers was also quite, scoring just three points.

Against the undersized Tigers, however, the Eagles didn’t need any shots from the perimeter.

Pelton, center Damoreo Green and back-up Lionel Freeman basically controlled the glass all game for Goshen. Green finished with eight points.

The Eagles led 36-20 at the half and started the third quarter with a 11-2 run to take control of the ball game. Averick Rogers started the run with a two-pointer and Wright knocked down his second three-pointer of the night to conclude it as Goshen built a 47-22 lead. Pelton had two baskets during the offensive spurt, including an off-the-rim dunk.

In a foul-filled fourth, Goshen ran off 14 straight to open the period before Luverne’s Brad Crittenden halted the run with two straight free throws.

The first basket of the night was a sign of things to come for the Tigers.

Pelton pulled down an offensive board and put the ball back up and in to give GHS a 2-0 lead. He added another basket on Goshen’s next trip down the floor, knocked down two free throws, and grabbed a second board and scored, helping the Eagles to an early 9-2 advantage.

Goshen led 17-9 at the end of the first, but Luverne got back-to-back baskets from Crittenden and Justin Moody to pull within four.

The Eagles responded with three-point play by Cooper and a dunk by Pelton as part of an 8-2 Goshen run.

The Goshen Lady Eagles also pulled a win off over Luverne, winning a defensive game 30-18.

The Lady Eagles were led by Hope Wheeler’s 10 points and Ashley Miniard’s eight.

Clinging to an 8-6 lead, Goshen went on a 6-0 run, with Lakeshia Cope scoring two-points and Miniard getting back-to-back baskets, including one off a Tyeka Jackson assist, to close out the second quarter.

GHS got a two-pointer from Vanessa Russell, a free throw by Candy Faulkner and another score by Cope to end the game.

Goshen travels to Georgiana on Friday night.