Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Lady Devils Fall 75-52

Gurdon's Lady Devil basketball team will improve as the season progresses.

However, the Lady Devils opened with an always tough opponent Tuesday, Nov. 10, as they hosted the Prescott Wolverettes.

Gurdon's youth and Prescott's experience showed as the Wolverettes dispatched the Lady Devils 75-52.

Early on, the game was a typical Gurdon-Prescott affair. Both teams pushed the ball downcourt looking for breakaway baskets.

Both teams fought for every loose ball and made the other pay for mistakes.

The Wolverettes drew first blood and held a 5-0 lead before the Lady Devils got on the board with a trey.

Interestingly, neither team fouled much early in the period, though both played extremely physical in the paint. Neither was shy about putting the ball up either.

Period one ended with the visitors holding a 21-14 advantage.

Late in the opening quarter, though, the Lady Devils committed several fouls, so as the second began, Prescott was in the bonus.

Action was more aggressive in the second, with Prescott's offense more effective than Gurdon's defense.

Still, the Lady Devils shot well at the line, ending the game with 12 of 23 free throws, and fought gamely throughout. Gurdon's girls never quit, though the Wolverettes stretched the lead beyond 30 more than once.

The Lady Devils worked a tight man-to-man defense, and had to fight Prescott's 1-3-1 zone all night.

As the fouls piled up, Gurdon Coach Sandra Hatley would send in wholesale substitutions, anywhere from three to five players at a time.

With 5:36 left in the half, the Wolverettes held a 30-18 lead, and went on a 12-2 tear for the remainder of the period.

The biggest problem Gurdon had was converting shots. The Lady Devils fired away, but at times couldn't buy a basket. On the other side of the ball, the Wolverettes were getting easier shots as they pushed the ball down the floor.

Halftime came with the home team on the short end of a 42-20 score.

Coach Hatley kept her charges in the locker room throughout the break, working to find a cure for the Prescott disease. This meant the Lady Devils had no warm up for the second half.

Unfortunately, the Lady Devils didn't have the horses to run with Prescott especially as the Wolverettes looked to run at every chance.

With 1:03 left in the third, Gurdon trailed 63-26. Still, the Lady Devils tried and fought, but with little success against Prescott. The quarter ended with Prescott leading 65-27.

In the first couple of minutes of the final frame, Prescott was still running and gunning. But, with 5:27 showing, the Wolverette coach began wholesale substituting himself. At the time, the score was 72-34.

Gurdon's girls had some success against the Prescott bench, but time favored the visitors and not the Lady Devils.

Gurdon was able to force the subs into more turnovers, then converted them into easy baskets. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late as Prescott left victorious.

LaVonda Young was the lone Lady Devil in double figures with 11, including a pair of three-pointers.

Prescott had four in double figures. Stacy Stockton led all scorers with 27, while Traci Graham added 17. Andrea Cossey chipped in 13, while Jeana Haynie contributed 11.

The Wolverettes were 25 of 41 from the stripe in the game.