Many different lessons — all of them positive ones — were picked up by the Morrisville-Eaton boys basketball team on its way to a winning record and another spot in the Section III Class C-2 playoffs.
But the last lesson — on how to fare once in the post-season — will take an entire year to see whether it took hold.
As the no. 6 seed, the Warriors visited no. 3 seed Mohawk in Friday night’s C-2 quarterfinal, and a sluggish start, combined with the Mohicans’ third-quarter charge, led to a 62-51 defeat and quick elimination.
M-E felt at least some initial nerves, and Mohawk pounced on them, racing to a 17-12 edge. Though the Warriors fared better in the second quarter, it could not dig into the margin and went to halftime still behind, 29-25.
It was just after the break that the Mohicans made its decisive move, hitting baskets and forcing M-E turnovers during a 20-9 run. Corbin Woodruff (14 points), Dillon Hassett (nine points, 14 rebounds) and Carson Murphy (11 points, seven assists) led Mohawk’s charge.
To the end, M-E would battle, as Ben Thomas had 21 points to extend his career total past 1,000, with freshman Will Thomas and Kam Brown each getting 12 points.
The Warriors finished at 11-8 as Mohawk advanced to this weekend’s C-2 semifinal against Watertown IHC.
