Metro Sports Report

Fantastic rally lifts Eagles into NJCAA finals

DANVILLE, Ill. - It looked like the Kirkwood Eagles had run out of steam at the NJCAA Division II national basketball tournament Friday night when they trailed by 23 points early in the second half, but that just was a mirage.

As it turns out, they were just getting started.

The sixth-ranked Eagles staged a phenomenal rally and stunned third-ranked Essex County of New Jersey, 77-66, in the semifinals of the national tourney in Danville, Ill.

Kirkwood (30-4) will face top-ranked Triton (34-2), an 82-77 winner over second-ranked South Suburban on Friday, in the NJCAA finals Saturday night at 7:30. The Eagles won the national title in 1998 and are seeking the second crown in school history.

Kirkwood fell behind by 24 points in the first half and trailed by 23 points at 53-30 in the second half when they began their magnificent surge to victory. Incredibly, the Eagles outscored Essex 45-7 from that point to turn a 23-point deficit into a 15-point lead at 75-60 with 20.4 seconds left in the game.

"It was an unbelievable game," said Kirkwood Coach Bryan Petersen. "We got off to probably the worst start we could have had. We dug ourselves a hole right away.

Sweeney makes bid for spot with Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ryan Sweeney was drafted by the Chicago White Sox shortly after graduating from Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids back in 2003. He signed his first professional contract that July and from that time on, he spent every summer of his adult life playing professional baseball – until last summer.

Sweeney, 31, had spent parts of nine seasons in the Major Leagues for the White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs before being released by the Cubs at the end of spring training a year ago.

This spring, Sweeney is back on the diamond, this time trying to claim a spot in the Minnesota Twins’ outfield.

Eagles top Louisburg in OT, make NJCAA semis

DANVILLE, Ill. - Freshman Byron Harp scored nine points in overtime Wednesday night as the Kirkwood Eagles edged Louisburg, 89-83, in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division II national tournament in Danville, Ill.

The sixth-ranked Eagles (29-4) will face third-ranked Essex of New Jersey (28-4) in the semifinals Friday night at 6 p.m.

Kirkwood had a chance to win the game in the final seconds of regulation, but Harp and Da'Rion King missed shots.

The Eagles were clinging to a 78-77 lead in overtime when Harp went to work. His baskets gave the Eagles a pair of three-point leads at 80-77 and 82-79.

Kirkwood was leading 83-81 when Harp drilled a 3-pointer from the corneron an assist from Hunter Rhodes, making it 86-81 with 60 seconds left.

Louisburg pulled within 86-83, but Harp nailed two free throws with 19 seconds left to make it 88-83.

Louisburg missed a 3-pointer and Rhodes hit one free throw with 10.9 seconds left to finish the scoring.

No. 6 Eagles shrug off Frederick at NJCAA

DANVILLE, Ill. - The Kirkwood Eagles sparkled in the second half Tuesday and dumped Frederick, 86-61, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II men's basketball tournament.

The sixth-ranked Eagles struggled in the first half and trailed 37-35 at intermission, but they pounded Frederick 51-24 in the second half and won easily.

Kirkwood (28-4) will play in the Elite 8 Wednesday night at 8 p.m. against Louisburg (28-5), which defeated South Mountain in its first-round game on Wednesday.

The Eagles blistered the nets in the second half, shooting 71.4 percent from the field and 87.5 percent on 3-pointers. Kirkwood made 15 of 21 shots from the field in the final 20 minutes and was 7-for-8 on 3-pointers.

Josh Meier sparked Kirkwood off the bench with 13 points in 17 minutes. Nick Richards also scored 13 points in a balanced attack.