ELLISTOWN – Both teams were beat up and had players missing, but Baldwyn opened Division 1-2A play on Friday night with a 67-36 win at East Union.

East Union coach Tim McDonald found out before the game that point guard D.J. Armstrong would be out with the flu, while starting guard Broderick Montgomery was hobbled by an injured ankle.

“East Union has a good basketball team,” Baldwyn coach Jason McKay said. “If you let them stand and shoot, as good a shooting team as we are, it can be a problem. I thought our kids did a good job of making them bounce the basketball.”

Baldwyn (7-0, 1-0) was without starter Duke Upshaw and lost Romaro Crump and Mason Penson in the second quarter, Crump with a bloody eye likely to require stitches and Penson after he took a charge and a knot to the head. Crump was also trying to take a charge but didn’t get the call.

Dee Gates capped a 18-2 run to end the first quarter with Baldwyn ahead 27-11. It took the Urchins 3 minutes, 35 seconds to score in the second to end a 10-0 Baldwyn run. The Bearcats led 43-17 at the half.

Gates led Baldwyn with 23 points. Tevin Lindsey and Martell Brown had 10 each. Dontrell Lattimore’s 11 was tops for the Urchins (8-4, 0-1).

“If you play Baldwyn, you better play your best game,” McDonald said. “You’ve got to play a perfect game. We do, anyway.”

(G) Baldwyn 67, East Union 29: Ayana Ragin had a game-high 27 points for Baldwyn (6-1). The Lady Bearcats scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 36-16 lead into the half.

Ashley Leach and Tiana Castillo each scored 13 for East Union (6-6). Kelsey Agnew scored 10 points for Baldwyn.

brandon.speck@journalinc.com