The Goshen Eagles led throughout the first three quarters, but a sluggish fourth quarter led to a 51-49 loss Thursday to Calhoun on day two of the Capital City Classic in Montgomery.

The Eagles led by 15 points in the final frame, but couldn’t hold off the surging Tigers.

“I thought we played extremely well in the first and third quarter,” said Eagles head coach Ethan Carroll. “We were cruising. We played well and then they pressed us in the fourth quarter, and we turned the ball over. It was the same story that we have had in all our losses.”

The Eagles controlled both ends of the floor in the opening quarter and took a 19-13 lead into the second. Zack Alford led the way in quarter with six early points.

The Eagles kept the foot on the gas pedal in the second quarter and extended their lead at halftime to 28-17.

“They didn’t press us, and we were comfortable in what we were doing,” Carroll said.

The Eagles tacked on 11 more points in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter holding a 39-24 lead.

Everything changed in the fourth quarter. The Tigers implemented their press and forced the Eagles into turnovers.

“We got into doing our own thing,” Carroll said. “They started to press us and we turned the ball over.”

The Eagles were out-scored in the quarter 27-12.

Alford led the Eagles with 16 points on the night while Iyan Hinkle added nine.

On day one of the tournament the Eagles split a pair of games with Lamp and Prattville Christian. The Eagles beat Lamp and lost to Prattville Christian both by 10 points.

The Eagles will be in action again this afternoon when they play Alabama Christian beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“Our key is going to have to be not turning the ball over,” Carroll said.  “That is going to be our goal from here on out.”