Eagles open MLK tourney in dramatic fashion

Photo by Marny Malin-Eagle Michael Collier gets a pick from teammate Tyrone Leggett in tournament play at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Saturday.

In a chilly Friday night game with its share of ebbs and flows, the Fort Belvoir Eagles held off a few late-half slumps to defeat Quantico, 88-72, during the fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Men's Basketball Tournament at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The tournament welcomed several Washington Area Military Athletic Conference teams to participate.

Quantico was aggressive from the start, pressuring the Eagles and smothering them for much of the game's opening minutes. It wasn't until a driving lay-up by Willie Ellis that Belvoir was able to take its first lead of the game, 17-15, with just over nine minutes left in the first half.

The Eagles then turned up the pressure themselves, dishing out its own fair share of defense. They pushed their lead to 32-24 at the three-minute mark. But Quantico wouldn't go away quietly. Quantico went on a 6-0 run, keeping the Eagles scoreless to end the first half.

What had been an eight-point spread for Belvoir dwindled to a two-point lead at the half.

A quick basket by Tyrone Leggett opened the second period, giving the Eagles a 34-30 lead. They held that lead for much of the second half, but chinks in the armor began to show again as the game wore on.

Quantico tied the game at 68 with just over four minutes left to play in regulation, then took the lead with a free throw. But, Quantico returned the favor with a swift foul that sent Leggett to the foul line, where he made one of two baskets to tie the game at 69.

Another quick foul sent Eagle Michael Collier to the line, where he coolly drained two free throws to give Belvoir the lead, 71-69. Quantico attempted to inbound the ball, but quick hands by Belvoir's Eric Boone resulted in a steal. Leggett made the easy lay-in to push the lead to four.

A three-pointer by Belvoir's James Smith thwarted any chance of a Quantico comeback.

The Eagles were led by Leggett, who had 32 points on the night, with Katoe Chapman adding 21 in the victory.