“Beast” is a word used to describe someone who exudes talent in a particular field. Belleville East High School shortens its name to give off the impression that the school is a “beast.” Too bad Edwardsville’s boys basketball team blew that impression out of the water on their senior night victory with a score of 57-36.

The night began with the senior basketball players being presented to the large crowd before the game. Each player and his parents were recognized before the fans.

“It was really cool to walk out there with my parents,” senior Shawn Roundtree said. “I finally got to share with them something that is incredibly important to me.”

Once the ceremonies came to a close, the Tigers were ready to play. They came out and put up 10 points before the Lancers were able to sink one basket.

“Everyone came out eager to play and it showed,” senior Armon Fletcher said. “It might have been because it was senior night, but everyone’s playing level was really up. None of us wanted to lose on our senior night.”

That hunger for a victory showed. EHS stayed ahead of the Lancers for the length of the game and almost always had doubled their score. Edwardsville outscored Belleville East 14-7 in the first quarter (11-7 with 34.1 seconds left in the quarter until Brown sunk a last second three-pointer). The Tigers kept the ball rolling in the second by outscoring the Lancers 18-9 to have a 32-16 lead at halftime.

From there, it was all downhill for Belleville East. Almost every shot the Tigers took found the inside of the hoop. With Fletcher netting a game-high of 22 points and Roundtree adding 20 to that, the Lancers were doomed to defeat.

The boys basketball team will be back in action come Tuesday against Granite City in the Edwardsville gym. Come out and support our hoops.