Prince Edward County High School’s varsity boys basketball team was down to seven available players Friday due to illness, injuries, absences from practice and departures, but the undermanned Eagles produced a gritty performance in a rematch against host Cumberland County High School, avenging a holiday tournament title game loss to the Dukes with a 48-47 victory.

Eagles Head Coach Michael Jackson Jr. said he was “very proud of my guys. Knowing the situation that we were facing and seeing my guys work together was amazing. Playing together for four quarters is something we struggled with lately.”

A large portion of the second period featured a standoff between Cumberland’s 6-foot-7-inch senior center Christian Jackson and Prince Edward junior guard John Pride III.

“The big Jackson kid was lined up with Pride, and I told Pride not to move until  he steps up,” Jackson said. “His coach held him off, and so did I, and we held the ball until about 10 seconds left.”

The standoff lasted for five minutes.

Jackson was a key part of the Eagles’ defensive game plan.

“With only seven active players, the guys worked together to help defend him and hold him to only eight points,” Jackson said.

Prince Edward senior guard Rah’Quan Payne hit the go-ahead basket to help secure the win.

Junior guard Tajh White led the Eagles with 15 points, and Pride added 13.

Eagles junior Jair Haskins will still be out for a few weeks due to injury, and the coach confirmed that for eligibility and personal reasons, seniors Justin Sprague, Ty Spencer and Justin Watson are no longer with the program.