Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jr. Devils Take District Championship

Gurdon's junior boys basketball team almost got caught looking in the finals of the 7AA district junior tournament Saturday night.

Playing a 24-0 DeQueen team, the Go-Devils, 18-2 on the season, held a double-digit lead with less than three minutes to go, only to see the Cubs battle back.

When the smoke cleared, however, the Devils were exuberant with their 57-53 win and the district crown.

Gurdon's junior girls didn't fare as well as they were eliminated from the tourney early.

The Devils opened their game against DeQueen with a 19-11 spurt in the first period. This proved to be the pivotal point in the game as the Cubs played even in the second and third quarters before outscoring Gurdon 24-18 in the final six minutes.

The Devils held a 27-19 halftime lead and were up 39-29 after three, before getting the scare from the Cubs.

Terry Cornish led the way with 19 points in the contest, while Chauncey Charles followed suit by stoking the nylon for 15.

Martin and Hall led the Cubs with 17 each, with Pearce netting 10 in the contest.

The Devils were six of 17 at the line, while DeQueen connected on 13 of 20 free throw attempts.

The Lady Devils had a bad shooting night as they went down 30-23 at the hands of the Lady Cubs of DeQueen.

Both teams played even in the first two periods, with the score 4-4 after one and 12-12 at the half, before the Lady Cubs broke it open in the third as they took a 23-18 lead, and control of the game.

Gurdon was led by L. Young's dozen points as the only Lady Devil in double figures.

Revels paced DeQueen with 20 points.

The Lady Devils were five of 11 from the line. The Lady Cubs were unable to hit their free throws either as they netted five of 18.

Gurdon's boys opened their quest for the title with a tough game against a determined Prescott Cub squad.

After taking an early lead, the Devils fought to a 50-40 win.

The Devils owned the first half as they took a 17-8 lead at the end of one and were up 28-15 at the break.

However, Prescott dominated scoring in the second half as they outscored Gurdon 9-7 in the third to cut the score to 35-24 and won the final period 16-15.

Cornish was again the leading scorer with 24 points on the night, while Adrian Meeks contributed 14 in the win.

Wilson led the Prescott attack with 17, while Hobbs added seven.

The Devils were eight of 18 at the line, while Prescott was six of 14.

Following the close game with Prescott, the Devils simply destroyed Fordyce 64-43.

Gurdon's junior boys opened ho t and stayed hot throughout the contest.

The Devils put their foot on the Redbugs early 13-7 in the first period. They took a 27-22 lead to the locker room at the half, but pounded the 'Bugs 15-11 in the third to go up 42-33. The onslaught continued in the final stanza as the Devils took the period 22-10.

Cornish continued being the sparkplug for the Devils with 26 points on the night. Meeks ripped the cords for 13.

The 'Bugs were paced by Reynolds' 13. Smith and Chambers each scored eight.

Gurdon shot better from the line as they hit 10 of 21, while the 'Bugs were cold, hitting 33 percent, or seven of 21 attempts.

The tourney opened with Fordyce's junior girls pounding Junction City 45-17.

Junction City's boys, however, ended Nashville's season 60-55 in game two.

The Scrapperettes, who eventually captured the girl's title, dropped Stamps 30-18 in their opening game.

This was followed by Fordyce's boys stinging the Yellowjackets 38-33.

From there, DeQueen's girls clipped Gurdon 30-23, and Gurdon's boys edged Prescott 50-40.

Nashville's girls then hammered Fordyce 40-24, while the DeQueen Cubs cooled the junior Dragons 39-37 in a dramatic come-from-behind win on the boy's side.

Prescott's Cubettes dumped DeQueen 48-40 in their first game, with the Devils smashing the 'Bugs 64-43 in the boys contest.

In the girls title game, the Cubettes fielded their worst outing of the season as they fell 38-27 to the Scrapperettes.

But it was a good night for Gurdon as the Devils outlasted DeQueen 57-53 for the crown.