Alford’s late surge gives Eagles first win in new gym

A late rally and clutch shooting from eighth-grader Zach Alford made Thursday’s new gym grand opening a day to remember for Johnny Mitchell and his Goshen Eagles.

Goshen trailed by as many as 8 points with less than three minutes to play, but chipped away at G.W. Long’s lead the rest of the way. Alford gave the Eagles their only lead of the second half with just 17.3 seconds to go. G.W. Long’s desperation heave fell short, and Goshen celebrated a wild 47-44 win to open the tournament.

“I told these guys in the locker room that no one will ever be able to say they got the first Goshen win in this gym but us,” Mitchell said. “They played so hard and never gave up. We had a good first half, and kind of sputtered in the third quarter, but turned it on again in the fourth. I couldn’t be more proud of my guys.”

Alford came off the bench in the second half to score nine points, none bigger than his two late free throws. All nine of Alford’s points came in the fourth quarter.

He said all he was trying to do was win.

“Coach put me in and I was able to hit my shots,” said Alford. “I just wanted to win the game, and we were able to do it. I’m happy with it.”

Mitchell said his team was looking for a “spark to start a fire” and feels he may have found it Thursday night.

“We take care of our kids and try to bring them along slow, so that they are ready for the big stage,” Mitchell said. “We knew Zach had the talent, and I think we now know he is ready to be a player for us.”

Goshen takes on Highland Home at 8 p.m. in the second round of the tournament Friday in the new gym.