Eagles come up short in final game of 2014-15 season, Barnes’ finale
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tallahassee (18-11, 4-8) | 21 | 36 | 57 |
|
Chipola College | 34 | 26 | 60 |
By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information
MARIANNA, Fla. (February 17, 2015) – A furious second half comeback by the Tallahassee Community College Eagles fell just short in a 60-57 loss to Chipola College on Tuesday night in their final game of the 2014-15 season.
The Eagles finished the season 18-11 overall and 4-8 in Panhandle Conference play.
Tallahassee entered tonight's game with a chance to sweep Chipola for the first time since 2001.
The Eagles got off to a slow start as the Indians came out and found their rhythm early. Chipola took a 34-21 lead into halftime.
After the break the Indians moved out to an 18-point lead with 19:03 left in the game.
The Eagles were not ready to call it a night, however, and mounted a second half charge for the second game in a row. On Saturday, Tallahassee came from 17 down to defeat Gulf Coast State College. And for a while, Tuesday seemed to be following a similar script.
A 25-5 run enabled the Eagles to take a 48-46 lead with 7:10 remaining the game, but Tallahassee was never able to give itself any significant separation from the host Indians.
Instead, both teams went back and forth and as the final minute rolled around Chipola held the lead. Tallahassee had two opportunities to tie the game with a three-pointer and the final shot by Jahvaughn Powell missed its mark.
Dirk Williams led the Eagles with 30 points, his second 30-plus point game this season.
Stavian Allen led the way for the Eagles on the glass, pulling down a team high six-rebounds.
Tuesday marked the final game of head coach Eddie Barnes' career. Barnes, the Eagles' head coach since 2001, finished his career at Tallahassee with a record of 274-143, highlighted by NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Championships in 2006 and 2011. Combined with his ten-year stint (1991-2001) at Wallace Community College-Dothan (Ala.), his NJCAA coaching ledger stands at 469-254.
He also coached 13 seasons in the Alabama High School Athletic Association, accumulating a record of 247-121.
Altogether, Barnes' 37-year coaching career concludes at 716-374.
Tallahassee also bid farewell to four departing players from this year's squad. Elmo Stephen, Dirk Williams, Eric Nottage, and Cameron Smith played their final game as an Eagle on Tuesday.