The Morris Eagles opened play at the Patrons Bank Basketball Tournament last Wednesday with a tough draw, running into a veteran Hartshorne squad and falling 75-53 in first-round action at the Jim Waller Event Center.

Hartshorne set the tone early, jumping out to a 26-11 lead by the end of the first quarter and continuing to apply pressure on both ends of the floor. The Miners carried a 45–20 advantage into halftime, capitalizing on transition opportunities and timely perimeter shooting.

Morris showed improvement coming out of the locker room, scoring 20 points in the third quarter to keep pace offensively, but Hartshorne answered each surge to maintain control. The Miners led 6140 after three quarters and closed the game out in the fourth to secure the 22-point victory.

Junior forward Elijah Edwards led the Eagles with 17 points, providing a steady scoring presence throughout the contest. Jax Finch followed with 11 points, while Krishtyn Thompson added five. Isaiah Pannell and Keith Richardson each chipped in four points, Kyle Oglesby scored three, and Braxton Kessler contributed six to round out the scoring for Morris.

Despite the loss, the opener provided valuable minutes for a Morris lineup that includes several underclassmen playing in key roles. Head coach Brandon Heath rotated players throughout the game, using the tournament atmosphere to evaluate combinations and build depth as the season progresses.

Hartshorne, powered by balanced scoring and experience, finished with 75 points on the night and advanced in the tournament bracket, while the Eagles moved into consolation play.

The Eagles went on to defeat Earlsboro in the next round of the tournament in a close 65-63 win.