Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Basketball Wolves Learning, Young Players Get Minutes

While 1995 has been great for the Curley Wolf football team, the Prescott senior boys basketball team hasn't fared quite as well.

In fact, the roundball Wolves currently have a 1-3 record. Their lone win came against Dierks on Nov. 7. The losses have came at the hands of Hope, Gurdon and Mineral Springs.

However, the Wolves record is not indicative of what kind of team Prescott has. The team is primarily made up of sophomores as about six members are still playing football and are headed to the state finals against Nashville Saturday in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium.

This is giving the younger players some valuable playing time and experience, which will come in handy when conference action opens up on the hardcourt.

Returning to the games, the Wolves dropped Dierks 49-32 in their opening game.

The Wolves opened the contest inauspiciously by trailing the Outlaws 6-4. They rallied to tie the game at 22 by halftime, and took a 35-26 lead into the fourth quarter as the defense stiffened and offense came to life.

Carlos Haynie led the Wolves with 11 points, including a trey. Jason Webb contributed nine in the victory, including one from three-point land.

Brock Searcy and Carlos Welch both nailed twin threes, while Neil Toliver sent one in from downtown as well.

The Wolves shot well from the free throw line in the contest, hitting eight of 16 for a 50 percent clip.

Dierks was led by Shane Hill's eight, including a trey. Richard Huddleston wasn't far behind with seven points, including a three-pointer.

The Outlaws had plenty of chances to keep the game close as they went to the stripe 38 times. However, they only connected on 17 tries.

Game two saw the Wolves take it on the chin from the Hope Bobcats, with a final score of 79-41.

Remember, though, the 'Cats ended their grid campaign after 10 weeks and were not contenders for a playoff berth. Therefore, Hope has all its starters, while Prescott doesn't.

The 'Cats opened with a 20-7 lead at the end of the first eight minutes,and were up 45-14 at the half. By the end of three, Prescott trailed 74-25.

Brock Searcy paced the Wolves with 17 points, including a quartet of three-pointers. J.R. Matthews and Carlos Welch added seven each in the loss.

Prescott shot just under 50 percent from the line, hitting five of 12 attempts.

Justin Radford was an overwhelming offensive force in scoring 27 for the 'Cats. Courtney Muldrew netted 11 in the win.

Hope hit 11 of 21 free throw attempts.

Game three saw Gurdon pound the young Wolves 67-36.

Again, Gurdon's Go-Devils exited the playoffs after one game and has its senior leadership available.

In spite of their youth, the Wolves fought to a 16-16 tie at the end of one and only trailed by one, 23-22, at the half. Gurdon broke the game open in the third quarter, taking a 42-30 lead.

D.D. Sheppard led the Devils with 16 points, while teammate Travonn Crow canned 12. Corey Marsh was no slouch as he ripped the cords for 14.

Gurdon was nine of 17 from the line, shooting 53 percent.

Webb was the leading scorer for the Wolves with 12, with Matthews contributing 11, including a trio of three-pointers.

Prescott shot an even 50 percent at the charity stripe, netting six of 12.

In a game played Dec. 2, against Mineral Springs in the Murfreesboro Tournament, the Wolves fell 59-45.

A cold first half spelled doom for Prescott's boys as they opened with an eight point first period, while the Hornets doubled that output. At the half, the Hornets held a 33-12 lead. Though the Prescott offense heated up in the second half, it was too little, too late. The Wolves narrowed the gap to 49-25 by the end of three.

Matthews took it upon himself to become a scoring machine as he poured in 25, including seven from outside the three-point line. Webb added nine.

The Wolves shot well from the stripe, as they hit seven of 11 attempts, for a 64 percent clip.

The Hornets were stung at the line, though, as they only hit 38 percent, connecting on six of 16.