GDW Analysis:
WEST POINT: Taking control of the game by his inside work, West Point's Maddox Chapman put the Warriors on his shoulders Thursday in their Christmas Classic game against East Lawrence.
By the end of the 3rd, Chapman had 21 points, scoring 8 FGs between the 2nd and the 3rd.
That enabled the Warriors to fight off a 30 to 26 halftime deficit and defeat the Eagles 65 to 57.
Jaxon Shelton displayed support with a couple of short range jumpers to start the final period and the Warriors go up 51 to 42.
At that point, Chapman and Shelton had worked their way for 33 points with the Eagles unable to stop their superior play inside the paint.
East Lawrence started the game shooting well and led the Warriors 19 to 12 after 8:00.
The Warriors had a 7 to 0 run to begin the 2nd and tie the score.
East Lawrence showed balance as four Eagles combined for 26 points to send them to the locker room up 30 to 26.
An 18 to 2 surge by Mason Voce's Warriors moved them ahead in the 3rd at 44 to 32.
East Lawrence would fight back.
But it would be the Warriors with their 14th victory against 3 losses and a berth to the semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Chapman had 21 for West Point, Jay Lamar wound up with 23, hitting 10 of 12 from the line.
Shelton scored 4 baskets in the 4th and finished with 16.
For East Lawrence, the Eagles drop to 7 & 6.
Cayne McClure gave the Eagles 16 points with Braylon Reeves scoring 15.
The Eagles play at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the consolation bracket.
Photo of West Point's Jaxon Shelton at Wallace State November 11 in the Veterans Day Classic.
Photo courtesy of Martha Needham.
