Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GHS Boys Roll Past Lewisville, Stephens

Given a choice, Lewisville would probably be more than happy to drop Gurdon from its basketball schedule.

The Red Devils were soundly whipped by the Go-Devils 86-49 in senior boys action.

During the pre-game warmup, Gurdon was loose and relaxed. The Devils were more than ready for the game to begin.

On the other hand, the visiting Red Devils had a short bench with only nine players. It wouldn't have mattered how many were on the bench, unless they were NBA all-stars.

Gurdon opened the game at its normal pace flat out up and down the court. As usual, the Devils put the ball up from all over, usually finding success. With 6:54 left in the opening period, the Devils led 6-2.

Though Lewisville had a big man inside, he had fits finding anything but iron on his shots as he was harassed and harried all night long.

And, Gurdon's full-court man-to-man press wreaked havoc on Lewisville's offense, forcing bad passes and turnovers. With 2:25 showing, Gurdon was up 15-3, ending the period with a 24-9 lead.

The Devils showed patience on offense and working the ball around the horn for the best shots. Lewisville, though, found every shot challenged, as a Gurdon player was close to the ball at all times.

Gurdon utilized its speed to deny anything to Lewisville. Passing lanes were filled with purple and white clad Devils, while the open court also seemed to have more than its share of Gurdon players.

The second period saw the track meet continue as Gurdon raced up and down the court at a frenetic pace, playing what can only be called controlled-chaos.

The Red Devils began trying to light it up from beyond the arc, but had little success. With 5:04 left in the half, Gurdon held a 35-15 advantage.

However, all was not perfect in Devil-dom. At times, Gurdon's players tried to be a bit too flashy with the pass, as they drove downcourt dishing no-look passes to teammates. Unfortunately, some of the passes wound up being turnovers.

Corey Marsh found himself living at the free throw line during the first half. It seemed every time he drove the lane for a shot, he was fouled. Marsh ended the game with 16 points, though Gurdon was six of 16 from the line.

Coach John Ware was almost constantly sending in full squads, keeping fresh legs on the court at all times. Even the reserves had too much speed for Lewisville, who simply couldn't keep up Gurdon's pace.

Halftime arrived with Gurdon holding a commanding 51-24 lead.

The Red Devils tried to slow the pace down in the third period, but this only allowed Gurdon players more time to set themselves and reject anything Lewisville tried to do.

When Gurdon had possession offensively, the players moved at speeds nearing that of light, or so it seemed. The Devils opened the second half with an 8-0 run, stretching their lead to 59-24 with 4:03 remaining.

From the looks on the faces of Gurdon players, the Devils were simply out having good time on the court, as if they were playing with a bunch of friends in a pickup game.

The same can't be said for Lewisville, as Red Devil players were gasping for breath.

Gurdon's onslaught continued with the Devils stretching their lead to 65-31 with 2:09 left, when they decided to go on a cleaning binge on the glass.

With a little more than a minute remaining in the period, Ware went on a bench clearing binge himself, sending in full squads at a time.

It didn't matter, as the subs made sure the game was played at the same pace as set by the starters.

As time wound down in the third, RaShun Hopson found himself all alone racing downcourt, where he ended his short journey by slamming the ball home after a steal.

Period three ended with Gurdon firmly in control 71-39.

It appeared as though Gurdon was on its way to the century mark in scoring as the final eight minutes began.

Ware never quit coaching, yelling at the subs to "put the ball in the hold" from the sidelines.

Defensively, the Devils were "smiling assassins," as the players grinned while stealing the ball and killing their opposition with scoring.

Long before the game ended, Ware had made sure everyone but the manager got into the game for substantial playing time.

With 5:16 showing, Gurdon led 78-41, and the slaughter continued. Hopson, for the second time in the game, found himself in a one-man race to the hole for his second dunk of the contest.

The Devils lived up to their name and showed no mercy to the visitors. They ended the contest by driving, dishing and scoring, much the same as it had begun.

Terry Cornish followed Marsh's 16 with a baker's dozen of his own. Eric Hatley was next with 11 points for the Devils.

Calvon Turner paced Lewisville with 17, while Don Austin had 10.

The Red Devils were four of nine in free throw attempts.

GURDON 71

STAMPS 51

On Friday, Jan. 16, the Devils used the Yellow Jackets as a tune up for their "revenge" game against Stephens on Tuesday, Jan. 20, whipping Stamps 71-51.

Gurdon opened the game by taking a 19-8 lead at the end of one, and pushing this to a 14-point spread, 37-23, at the half..

The Devils slacked off in the third, letting the Jackets close the gap to 50-41, before blowing the game open in the final eight minutes.

Hatley led the Devils in this attack with 19 points, while Demond Beasley and Cornish contributed 12 each.

S. Nelson paced Stamps with 13, with G. Robinson connecting for 12 and K. Willis netting 11.

Gurdon was 12 of 15 from the line, while Stamps was six of 15.

GURDON 65

STEPHENS 62

Nothing is sweeter than revenge on an opponents home court.

Gurdon's first game after the Christmas break was against league-leading Stephens in Gurdon. The Roadrunners ended the Devils' unbeaten streak at home, giving Gurdon something to shoot for in this game, Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Knowing the Roadrunners would be up for the track meet, the Devils still played their game, posting a 13-10 lead at the end of one, and holding a 32-25 advantage at the half.

Gurdon maintained its lead in the third, ending the frame up 48-42. But, Stephens doesn't quit either, and fought back to close the gap to three, where the Devils held them off.

Hatley led the Devils with 18 points in the contest, while Cornish stroked the cords for 13.

Ken Jones led Stephens with 20, while Antonio Glover contributed 17 in the loss. Reggie Todd broke into double figures with 10.

Gurdon was 10 of 15 at the stripe, while the Roadrunners converted 11 of 23.