The host Eagles (9-1) — fresh off a 74-66 victory over rival Southern just 24 hours earlier — never trailed in the contest while storming out to a 13-0 advantage just 3:30 into regulation.
The Crusaders (6-2) — ranked second in West Virginia’s Class A poll — countered with a 7-0 run over the rest of period, allowing EHS to take a 13-7 advantage after eight minutes of play.
The Green and White ended a five-minute scoring drought at the 7:30 mark of the second canto, which sparked a 13-10 run that gave the hosts a 26-17 lead headed into the intermission.
PCHS clawed its way back to within nine points (28-19) with six minutes left in the third, but never came closer the rest of the way as Eastern closed the period on an 8-5 spurt for a 36-25 edge entering the finale.
The Eagles — who went 19-for-29 at the free throw line during the fourth quarter — took their biggest lead of the night with 30 seconds left in regulation at 59-39. Neither team scored the rest of the way, wrapping up the 20-point decision.
Eastern connected on 17-of-52 field goal attempts for 33 percent, including 3-of-8 from three-point territory for 38 percent. PCHS, conversely, made 16-of-46 floor attempts for 35 percent, including 2-of-12 from the trifecta for 17 percent.
Mike Johnson led EHS and all scorers with 15 points, followed by Jake Lynch and Kelly Winebrenner with 12 markers apiece. Devon Baum also added seven points to the winning cause.
Both Titus Pierce and Kyle Connery added four points, Brayden Pratt chipped in three and Tyler Hendrix rounded things out with two markers. The hosts were 23-of-39 overall at the free throw line for 59 percent.
Parkersburg Catholic was led by Cole Cwynar with 14 points, followed by John Padden with seven and Jason Williams with six markers. The guests were just 5-of-13 at the charity stripe for 38 percent.
PCHS outrebounded Eastern by a 23-22 overall margin, including a 7-5 edge on the offensive glass. The Eagles committed only eight turnovers, compared to 15 by the Crusaders.
Eastern has now won three consecutive contests this season, with the lone loss coming at Athens (45-42).
PCHS salvaged an evening split with a 46-36 victory in the junior varsity contest. Both Jonathan Barrett and Zach Heaton led the JV Eagles with 10 points, while Eric Scott posted a game-high 15 points for the JV Crusaders.
Eastern — 4-0 in TVC Hocking play — returns to league action tonight when it travels to Stewart for a makeup contest against Federal Hocking. The JV boys will tip-off at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity girls at 6:30 p.m. and the varsity boys at 8 p.m.
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