Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PHS Wolverettes Roll Over GHS Lady Go-Devils As Season Opens

Gurdon's Lady Devils never knew what hit them.

High school basketball season opened for Prescott and Gurdon Tuesday, Nov. 11 in the Prescott gym.

Normally, when these two teams meet it's a knock-down, drag-out game of attrition. Last team standing wins.

Didn't happen this time. The Wolverettes brought out their fire extinguishers early and put out any potential Devil flame.

The dynamic duo of Traci Graham and Stacy Stockton teamed up early on full court fast break passes (much like the San Francisco 49ers with Joe Montana winging bombs to Jerry Rice) to put the Wolverettes up 6-0. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the home squad posted a 73-49 season opening win over a hated arch-rival.

The three quick Graham-Stockton jabs put the Lady Devils on their heels to start the contest, while long range bombs from Andrea Cossey, who hit three treys, rocked Gurdon to its very foundation.

Solid blows were dealt the Lady Devils as they found themselves scoreless for the first seven minutes, getting on the board with a three-pointer before the buzzer ended the opening period. Still, Prescott held a commanding 18-3 lead at the end of one.

The situation didn't improve much in the second quarter as the Wolverettes were rabid on offense and tenacious on defense, forcing turnover after turnover as they raced to a 45-17 halftime lead under the leadership of their new coach, Bill Cossey.

Prescott's beating of Gurdon continued in the third, though it wasn't as severe as in the first half. Cossey utilized the second half to put in his optional offensive and defensive sets.

By the end of the third frame, the Wolverettes had the game all but sewn up with a 60-29 lead. Cossey substituted heavily, getting most of his players time on the court, in the final stanza, allowing the Lady Devils to close the margin somewhat.

Both squads shot more than 50 percent from the charity stripe. Prescott was 10 of 17 at the free throw line, while Gurdon connected on nine of 14.

The Wolverettes were led by Graham's 22 points, while Cossey tossed another 20 in for good measure. Stockton completed the trio of musketeers in double-figures with 11. DeShawn Fellows came off the bench as the sixth man and chipped in seven.

Gurdon's attack was led by Alicia Clayborn's 20. Tameka Hatley sent 13 through the nylons, including three treys.

"It was a good opener," Cossey said. "They did things I felt they could do. We pressured the ball and got up and down the court. We were able to work on different defenses to help our post people.

"It'll take four or five games to get everything in."

PRESCOTT 43

BRADLEY 62

Things didn't go near as well for the Curley Wolves in their season and home opener against the Bradley Bears.

The Bears, with eight games under their belt, were able to overcome the Wolves 62-43, in spite of being down 7-0 in the first quarter.

Trailing early didn't phase the Bears as they rallied to take a 14-13 lead at the end of the first period and began pulling away from the Wolves in the second. By halftime, Bradley held a 36-21 advantage.

It was more of the same in the third quarter as the Bears pushed their lead to 19 at 52-33.

Scott Hobbs paced Prescott with 13, while teammate Brandon Wilson netted an even dozen.

Greg Davis, a soph sensation for Bradley, was hot from all over the court as he poured in 32, including six three-point shots.

Neither team went to the line much during the game. Prescott was one of four, while the Bears converted five of six free throws.

"We don't know what kind of team we have," said Wolf mentor Matt McClure. "We should be pretty good and be able to play with most teams."

McClure praised the efforts of Brian Woodley and Heath Gammage, two players who had little experience on the hardwood, but came out and played hard.

"They showed maturity, stepped up and played hard," he said. "There was a lot of first game jitters and missed assignments. We're a young team and didn't shoot well."