Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wolves' Season Comes To End

Opportunity, contrary to the old sw, does knock more than once.

However, once it knocks, somebody needs to answer the door and take advantage of it.

Prescott's Curley Wolves had their share of chances to win in the opening round of the regional tournament at Hamburg Wednesday as they faced the Dermott Rams, but failed to answer opportunities knock as fell 64-56 in double overtime.

The game went back and forth as the two teams played evenly for the first five periods.

Dermott led 12-10 at the end of one, while Prescott was up 25-21 at halftime. The Wolves maintained their lead at 38-33 by the end of the third quarter, and had to fight back and tie the Rams at 45-45 as regulation play ended.

However, as time wound down at the end of the fourth quarter Dermott was leading 45-44.

Prescott's Brandon Wilson was fouled and sent to the line with two shots. He made the first, missing the second and sending the game into overtime.

The two squads locked horns, battling with everything they had in the first extra period. Prescott found itself with a three point lead and time about to expire.

But, a member of the Rams launched an ICBM missile shot from 30-feet out to tie the game as the buzzer sounded. This sent the game into its second OT period.

Dermott scored four quick points in the second overtime, putting the Wolves in a catch-up situation. Try as they might, the Prescott five were unable to make up the difference and were eliminated from the tourney.

The loss ended their basketball season, but it was one they can be proud of as the crew posted a 21-6 overall record.

This team, losing Scott Hobbs and Wilson, will be returning most of its core players next year and will be joined by a group of talented sophomores.

This year's Wolves were the first group of roundballers to bring home a district tourney title since 1984.

But, Prescott Coach Matt McClure said, the team wasn't satisfied with the way the season ended.

This, too, bodes well for the future.

At the end of the game, he said, the locker room was quiet. The players took about an hour to get ready for the long trip home, made even longer as the ride was silent with each member of the team thinking about what had just occurred.

Prescott ended the game 13of 20 from the line, while Dermott converted 16 of 28 free throw attempts.

Wilson led the Wolfpack attack with 15 points, while Brian Woodley scored 13.

Fred Coleman was the game's leading scorer with 20. Brandon Hargraves scored 13 and Ivory Dean had 11 for the Rams.