The first time East and Eagle River met this season it was a thriller of a game with East leading by 2 with seconds left when Senior Chris Parker made a basket to tie the game and was fouled.  Eagle River ran out of the Thunderbirds gym with a one point victory.

So going to the game Tuesday night, I knew this was going to be a wild night.  I was sure the East players wanted badly to beat the former coach in his new gym.  I walk into Eagle River prior to the girls game to see Junior Shaquan Rhoades in the commons area.  I asked him if he was ready for tonight and he told me he could not play.  Crap.  Our floor general, our play maker, one of our top scorers on the bench tonight?  My excitement for the game started to waiver a little.  When the Wolves faced Palmer, they were without Kelechi Madubuko, and fell to the Moose.  Without Rhoades, what would this do to the game.

Eagle River was going to have to really step it up against East, and in the first quarter, they did.  The stayed toe to toe with the T-Birds with East slowly pulling ahead.  Freshman Chaz Jenkins, and Seniors Kevin Waterman and Kelechi Madubuko kept the Wolves in the game early on, but the whole night was Senior Chris Parker’s night.

Parker was running the ball and plays really good.  Probably the best I have seen from him this season.  He even threw some dimes that should have been assists, but were either not anticipated by his team mates, or in the case of a sweet ally-oop attempt to Kevin Waterman, just a tad off the mark.

When halftime hit, it was close, not out of the question that the Wolves were still in it, as long as they could keep it together in the second half.  The third quarter started, and the Wolves looked a little rough, a few turnovers, but, they kept the game close.

In the fourth, two things happened.  The Wolves turned the heat up, and they out scored the T-Birds to tie the game and send it to overtime.  The few Wolves fans that came out for a Tuesday night game were in for a treat, and they were getting their money’s worth.  In overtime, Brandon Parish came in with an important bucket, and big trips to the foul line.

But Parker was the star of the night.  He unloaded 26 points on East to lead all scorers and lead the Wolves to a 66-62 overtime win.

Bring on Chugiak.