By ISAAC BOURNE | The Arkadelphian

NASHVILLE — Sophomore James Elgas was electrifying in the Arkadelphia Badgers’ 64-54 win over the Nashville Scrappers (6-9). Elgas’ scrappy 21-point outing led the Badgers in an off shooting night for the rest of the team.

“There may have been times where he forced a little bit,” said head Badgers coach Garrett Garner, “but in the third quarter, he kind of just let the game come to him and he trusted his teammates to make some really good passes and knock down some shots, so I’m really pleased with having a guy like that.”

Elgas gives Arkadelphia (11-6) a player that can go get a bucket at any point in the game, with a lethal mid range game that freezes opponents.

After the game, Elgas was excited about his play, and the way his team got him involved. “I came out and did what I was doing all week in practice,” he remarked. “I did my thing. I got everyone involved. I scored the ball, but more important, we played team defense. I think that’s the reason why we broke it open in the third quarter.”

That third quarter run was characterized by the 20-9 scoring difference between the two teams, where the scrappers only could muster two field goals in the period, leading to the final quarter, where they just had one.

The first half of the game, the contest looked more balanced, as a 40-34 lead for Nashville at halftime put the momentum on the scrappers side going into the second half, but a technical foul assessed by Scrappers’ head coach Aaron Worthen gave the Badgers two free throws at the start of the third quarter, giving them the early momentum to mount a comeback and eventually win the game.

With emotions running high, the Badgers were able to come out of Nashville feeling good about a tough, gritty win on the road. 

Junior forward Evan Bailey spoke of the emotions running through the players, “I just zoned them out and played as hard as I could. It feels good to get a win like that.”

The Badgers will take this win into a rivalry matchup against Malvern in Arkadelphia on Tuesday night, where they hope to continue the same success.