Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves sweep Gurdon in season opener

Prescott pulled a hat trick to open basketball season Friday night, by taking three games from Gurdon.

The Wolves whipped the Devils 64-57, while the Wolverettes posted a 50-46 win. The Curley Cubs doubled the junior Devils, 50-25.

Gurdon won the opening tip, and this proved to be the only thing the Devils would win all night. Prescott scored first and never looked back.

Both teams looked to run and gun, and both were plagued by early season mistakes.

Prescott built a 12-6 lead halfway through the first quarter and battled evenly with the Devils till the buzzer sounded. At the end of one, the Wolves were up 24-16.

Gurdon managed cut the lead by two by halftime, to 38-32, as the Devils pressed Prescott forcing turnovers and mistakes. The Devils were aggressive defensively and kept the Wolves off balance in the period.

The Devils managed to get three points from the lead, only to see the Wolves get fired up and pull away.

Gurdon had the ball first to open the third period, only to see Prescott score first once again and built its lead to 10 at 42-32 with 6:01 showing. The Wolves overcame a slowed pace by Gurdon, and maintained a 10-point advantage through the frame.

When the buzzer sounded ending the quarter, Prescott's lead was a less than comfortable 52-42. It was less than comfortable because the Devils went back to a pressure defense and managed to cut the lead to one in the final period.

In fact, Gurdon went on a 5-0 run to get the fourth quarter started and with 5:31 left in the contest, the score was 52-51 in Prescott's favor.

The Wolves began pulling away, stretching the lead to five at 58-53 with 2:30. During the final minute of the game, the noise level was unbearable as fans rocked the house.

The Wolves fought through Gurdon's pressure defense and posted the season opening win.

Prescott was six of 16 from the charity stripe, while Gurdon hit seven of 14 free throws.

Luther Steuart was a one man assault force scoring 30 points in the game. Mitch Taylor followed with 11.

Bobby Bird paced Gurdon with 19. Todd Norman scored 15 and Rashad Ritchie added 12. Randy Bell rounded out the quartet scoring in double figures with 10.

It was a typical Prescott-Gurdon game for the girls, with neither team able to dominate the other. There was plenty of action in the paint, and diving for loose balls.

The Wolverettes took the opening tip and scored first. In fact, Prescott scored the first five points before Gurdon got started. However, the Lady Devils cut the lead to 7-5 with 4:43 left in the first.

Prescott stretched its lead to 13-9, only to see Gurdon hit a trey at the buzzer to end the first period with the score 13-12.

The Lady Devils pressed Prescott most of the game, forcing mistakes and turnovers, but were unable to take control of the situation. The Wolverettes showed surprising discipline for it being the first game of the season and never got rattled.

Still, Gurdon outscored Prescott 12-11 in the second and went to the lockers at the break with the score knotted at 24-24.

Gurdon had the ball to start the third quarter, had it stolen by the Wolverettes, and stole it back. The Lady Devils scored on a pair of free throws to take a 26-24 lead with 7;13 showing.

The Wolverettes looked to run at every chance, while Gurdon uncharacteristically played at a slower pace.

Again, though, neither team could pull away and the third concluded with the score tied 38-38.

Prescott opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, which provided the team with the momentum for the victory. Gurdon fought back, but never got closer than four for the rest of the game.

Prescott hit four of 11 from the free throw line, while Gurdon hit nine of 20.

Delores Steuart led the Wolverettes with 17 points. Tarena Smallwood followed with 15, while Mica Yates pitched in a baker's dozen.

Felicia McPeak led Gurdon with 11, while Jerrick McHenry had 10.

Prescott will entertain Nevada Tuesday, Nov. 22, before going on hiatus for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Wolves and Wolverettes will resume play on Nov. 30 on the road against Hope.