Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Defense Pays Off

Defense has been the key to the success of the 1998-99 Prescott Curley Wolf basketball team.

The Wolves have opened the campaign with a 4-0 start and holding all but one opponent to 50 points.

In his second year at the helm, Coach Matt McClure said the team is working harder in practice than last year's crew, and playing harder as well.

"We're winning because of defense," he said. "Our goal is not to give up more than 50 points in a game. They run for each point over 50."

So far, the team has only had to run extra one time, because of a 68-58 win over Blevins. The Hornets cost the Prescott players eight extra laps around the court.

The Wolves opened the season with a 59-50 win over Nevada's Blue Jays.

Prescott's boys managed a 16-14 lead at the end of one, and held on to the two-point advantage at the half at 30-28.

The Jays evened the score at 43-43 when the buzzer sounded ending the third frame. As the final eight minutes began, the Wolves offense got in gear, while the defense stiffened.

Prescott outscored the Jays 16-7 to open the season with the win.

Brandon Wilson led the way with 22 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Scott Hobbs opened his year with 14.

Jason Yarbrough and Lee Loudermill led the Jays with 16 each.

The Wolves went 18 of 29 at the charity stripe, with Nevada netting seven of 16.

The Wolves also hit the boards hard, pulling down 38, while allowing Nevada only 24.

Turnovers were about even. Prescott had 17 and Nevada 19.

This set up the game against Blevins. Earlier the Hornets and Saratoga Bulldogs had gotten into a track meet with the 'Dogs posting a 93-92 win.

However, the Wolf defense proved to be more than the fleet footed Hornets could stand, as Prescott win 68-58, but still had extra laps to run.

The Hornets led 18-11 at the end of one, only to see Prescott cut the lead to two at the half with the score 29-27.

Both crews scored 18 in the third, to give Blevins a slender 47-45 lead going into the fourth.

Once again, the offense and defense fired up to post the win.

Calvin Flemons sank a trio of treys to lead the Wolves with 17. Hobbs was Mr. Consistent with another 13.

Page and McClinton each scored 16 for the Hornets.

Prescott did better from the line, connecting on 21 of 34 attempts. Blevins was eight of 17 at the stripe.

Both teams hit the boards hard, with Prescott pulling down 28 rebounds, and giving up 25.

However, the Wolves forced the Hornets into 28 turnovers, while only coughing the ball up 17 times.

This set up the match between former league foe Gurdon. The Go-Devils were hitting the hardwood for the first time of the season, having been eliminated from the AA State Playoffs in football, Friday, Nov. 26.

The Devils opened the game with the first five points, and looked to run away with the contest.

The pace was typical, full speed, as both teams raced up and down the court.

Prescott's first points came from the line with 6:15 showing to make the score 5-1.

Gurdon opened in a 2-3 zone, instead of its customary man-to-man defense.

Neither team scored well in the opening eight minutes, which ended with the tally being 11-9 in favor of Gurdon.

Before the period ended, both teams were in the bonus situation.

Period two opened with McClure subbing often with several players at a time. Still, until midway in the frame, the Wolves trailed.

Prescott's first lead came with 4:20 on the clock and the score 17-16. From there the two teams swapped baskets.

The lead remained at three in the third period, as the Wolves and Devils continued to blister the court with the frenetic pace.

But, when the fourth quarter started, Gurdon's legs were gone and Prescott was ready to put the game away. The Wolves did by outscoring the Devils 17-8 down the stretch.

Three members of the Wolfpack broke the double-digit barrier for scoring. Wilson led the team with 21, while Andrew Fellows contributed 14. Matt Brannon tossed in 11 more.

Demond Beasley was the game's high scorer with 23 points on the night.

The Wolves were 10 of 23 at the stripe, with Gurdon doing no better with an 11-25 effort.

Prescott barely out-boarded Gurdon, pulling down 32 and allowing 30.

However, turnovers contributed to the victory as the Wolves forced 25 and only gave it up nine times.

Bismarck's Lions were the latest victim, Friday, Dec. 4.

The Lions used this game for their homecoming, as bomb threats during the football season forced the event to be postponed.

Perhaps Bismarck would have been better advised to pick a team the Lions had a chance to beat. The Wolves spoiled the homecoming by hammering the Lions 79-50.

The Wolves opened hot and heavy, never relinquishing their advantage.

At the end of one, Prescott led 24-11. This lead was increased to 45-28 at the break, with the "Pack" adding insult to injury in the third with a 61-36 score.

Wilson paced the team with 18, while Fellows stroked the cords for 11. Hobbs again was consistent with 13 more.

Prescott shot somewhat better at the line, hitting 10 of 19, while the Lions were 11 of 27 from the stripe.

Hustle on the board again went Prescott's way as the Wolves pulled down 35 boards. Bismarck had 26 rebounds in the game.

McClure's pressure-oriented defensive scheme again forced turnovers to go Prescott's way. The Lions coughed the ball up 28 times, with the Wolves losing it 12.

"We're forcing about 25 turnovers a game," McClure said of the team. "We want a fast game. We like to force turnovers and push the tempo.

"Our defense is better than it was last year, but we're not where we need to be yet."