By Cecil Folds

The Fort Dale Lady Eagles are soaring on cloud nine this year with a 9-2 record thus far into the regular season.

The ninth win came Saturday afternoon on the Eagles’ home court against the Eastwood Warriors, with a final score of 54-34.

Fort Dale claimed the court from the first quarter with a 12-4 lead.  Lucy Bates, Madison Ann Gaston and Madison Langford led the way with that 12, bolstered by the Eagles defense, which allowed only free throws for the Warriors through the first.

The second quarter increased the Eagles’ lead by 11, with Bates claiming 6 of those points, while the Warriors were able to tack on 8, making the second quarter score 23-12.

Anna Blake Langford joined in the scoring in the third quarter as the Eagles’ went ahead 39-17.

The Eagles’ closed the door on the Warriors in the fourth after Jennifer Grace Arnold sunk a three pointer and an additional basket, along with additional baskets by Lucy Bates, Madison Langford and Anna Blake Langford and a solid defense by the Eagles. 

Basket tallies for top scorers were: Lucy Bates, 20 points, 10 rebounds; Madison Langford with 16 points, 4 rebounds; and Madison Ann Gaston with 7 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Eagles’ free throw percentage was 62 percent for the night.

The Eagles will enjoy a home court advantage for the rest of the season.