Eagles face Rock Bridge Wednesday night in District play

​Grain Valley boys basketball coach Andy Herbert visits with his team during a time out at a Monday practice session at Grain Valley High School. The Eagles will play Columbia Rock Bridge at 7 p.m., Wednesday in Class 6 District 7 action at Columbia Battle High School. Photo credit: Bill Althaus

​UPDATE: March 6, 2025 - The Grain Valley Eagles fell to Rock Bridge on Wednesday night by one point in quadruple overtime. Final score: GV 78 Rock Bridge 77. 


by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

Only a keen observer would be able to tell the difference between Grain Valley boys' intense scrimmage, and the type of action Eagles fans can see later this week in Class 6, District 7 action at Columbia Battle High School.

Coach Andy Herbert's 16-8 Eagles are the No. 6 seed in 7 p.m., Wednesday night action at Battle High School. The Eagles play No. 3 seed Columbia Rock Bridge, 18-7.

The Eagles are on a four-game winning streak, including a 74-53 victory over Raytown in the final regular game of the season. With the win, the Eagles finished 13-1 in Suburban White Division, to win their first-ever Suburban Conference championship.

"That win against Raytown was big for us," Herbert said. "They finished 22-4 and 12-2 and that kind of put us in the postseason mode because we win the conference championship with a win, and we don't with a loss. Those are the types of games you want late in the season."

The Eagles have not played Rock Bridge this season.

"To get a No. 3 seed in a district tournament proves they've had a great season,' Herbert said. "We're ready for anything, and we're working hard in practice to be ready Wednesday night."

The Eagles backcourt of Eli Herbert and Aaron Barr have set the offensive tone. While Sam Pendergrass and Kevin Johnson she post position. Anthony Juarez and Evan Colson complete the starting unit, that is backed by a talented group of players off the bench.

Herbert, who is averaging 25 points a game, and Barr, who has averaged a double/double in scoring and rebounding late in the season, have the keys to the Eagles offense.

"We don't care who scores as long as we win," Barr said. "Eli leads us in scoring, and you still see him diving for loose balls, getting big rebounds and finding an open man for an assist. He doesn't just pass the ball to a teammate, he makes sure it's in the perfect place for one of us to catch it."

Following that big win at Raytown, Eli, Coach Herbert's son, said, "Tonight was a big win - our first Suburban Conference championship. But there is a lot of basketball to be played and we're ready for anything. We can't wait for district play."

Neither can his father.

"We're playing our best basketball at the right time of the season," the coach said. "We had a great practice today, and we're going to have another great practice on Tuesday.

"If a team has a great work ethic and plays together - plays as a team - you're going to have a lot of success.

"You could put (former UCLA coaching legend and Hall of Famer) John Wooden on the bench and he's not going to get the coaching job done if his players don't buy into it.

"Our guys have bought into it. Basketball is a game of skille. If you can shoot, pass and dribble you're going to be successful. When you add a strong work ethic and the ability to play as a team, you're going to be successful. Now, have to see what we can do Wednesday against Rock Bridge."