Behind a monster effort from junior forward Gage Hendrickson, the Eagles won their third-straight game, 61-34 over county rival Eisenhower, finishing the regular season at 11-11.

“We’re climbing,” said Youngsville coach Jesse DeLoof. “The progression just continues to be there and we keep growing.”

Ethan Kesterholt hit a 3 right out of the gate to set the tone, and Hendrickson went to work.

He had 21 points and 20 rebounds, continuing an impressive string of games that coincides with the Eagles’ win-streak.

Times Observer photo by Andy Close Youngsville’s Gage Hendrickson goes up for 2 of his game-high 21 points against Eisenhower on Wednesday. Hendrickson also had 20 rebounds as the Eagles picked up their 11th win of the season. They travel to West Middlesex on Friday for the first round of the D-10 Class 2A playoffs.

Hendrickson also hit a 3 in the first quarter, and a putback early in the second made it 21-6.

Takhari Warren and Zane Alexander hit back-to-back buckets to get Eisenhower back within 14 at the half, 24-10.

“I thought we played with really good effort,” DeLoof said. “We played hard the whole game. We kind of let the kids play offensively, didn’t call a lot of set and gave them some options.”

The Eagles equaled their entire offensive output of the first half in the third quarter.

Brady Olewine scored eight of his 14 in the period, Hendrickson had nine more and Nyko Mercado had a steal and layup to close out the frame and put it in cruise control for YHS.

Photo by Kadee Merenick Eisenhower’s Drew Williams brings the ball up the floor during the third quarter against Youngsville.

Caleb Robinault had a strong fourth quarter for Eisenhower, scoring seven of his team-high nine points.

The season came to a close for Ike, but it continues on Friday for Youngsville, as they travel to face West Middlesex in the first round of the D-10 Class 2A playoffs (7 p.m.).

“I told the guys, a lot of team’s season ended tonight and their’s isn’t,” DeLoof said.

“It’s because of the work they put in during the offseason and throughout the year. They see themselves getting better. They’re expecting to win. We’re going to the playoffs expecting to win on Friday. I think there will be some nerves, and that’s a good thing. I want them to soak it in.”

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YOUNGSVILLE (61)

Kesterholt 2-0-1-5, Mack 2-0-1-4, Hendrickson 7-6-7-21, Bower 2-4-6-8, Olewine 6-2-2-14, Mercado 3-0-1-6, Mowrey 1-0-0-2, Peterson 0-1-2-1, Procter 0-0-0-0, Totals 23-13-20-61

EISENHOWER (34)

Williams 1-0-0-2, Darling 3-0-0-7, Robinault 4-0-0-9, Alexander 2-1-1-5, Martone 3-1-2-7, Warren 2-0-0-4, Labowski 0-0-0-0, Venman 0-0-0-0, Benson 0-0-0-0, Savko 0-0-0-0, Totals 15-2-3-34

By Quarters

Youngsville 15 9 24 13 – 61

Eisenhower 6 4 12 12 – 34

Three-point FGs: Youngsville (2) – Kesterholt, Hendrickson; Eisenhower (2) – Darling, Robinault