Eagles hope to regroup over break

Clara Aucoin
GCN Senior Reporter

  There was some good news for the Gilpin County Eagles when they traveled to Jim Elliott last weekend, they had 10 eligible players. That means they can scrimmage during practice. That plan is in the future. The present, unfortunately, included a 52-23 walloping by the Warriors.

  During warm-ups the Warriors showed size and shooting skill. They showed athleticism and movement, poetry in motion, so to speak. The Eagles looked good too, sinking long jumpers. But when the whistle blew, the game was over in a timely manner.

  The Warriors showed their muscle and their skill. Active, strong, physical, the home town team played a vertical game that was over the Eagles’ heads and outside their skill set.

  Eagles’ Coach Chris Wright was already hoarse, and the first three minutes of the game did him no favors. Eventually tired of yelling, he benched the entire starting five and put the remaining five on the court. The Warriors did not score appreciably on the second five, so they stayed on the court until the end of the first quarter and the score 2-18.

  With the starters back in for the second quarter, the boys seemed more intense. They played hard and came back a little after the Warriors and given their starters a breather. When the gap narrowed, some starters were back in the game. At the half it was 9-28 Warriors.

  With more players to move in and out of the lineup, Coach Wright spent the third quarter trying to get the most effective combination of players on the court. One of the bright spots was recent addition Eric Quintana. A big guy, Quintana is surprisingly quick, handles the ball well, and was a rebounding machine against the Warriors.

  Point guards were also swapped around by Wright, who went back and forth between Neal Gillivan and Evan Hanlon. In between fiddling with the lineup, Wright tried to talk to his players about wise shots. Of his team, only three of the 10 have played any organized basketball prior to this season.

  Meanwhile, the Warriors coach was putting his starters on the pine and using his bench. The game was more competitive, although the Warriors continually built their lead. At the final whistle it was 23-52 Warriors.

  Over the break, Coach Wright has said he will practice his team, utilizing his expanded roster and attempt to teach them the game, offensive plays and defensive plays in two weeks. He says the team will be better schooled and more physical when it begins league play after the first of the year.

  For the Eagles, Jared Kennedy had five points and one rebound; Anthony Cole put in three points, one rebound, one assist and three steals; Shane Vaughn had three points and four rebounds; Neal Gillivan had three points, four rebounds, one assist and three steals; Craig Robertson hit five points, seven rebounds and three blocks; and Eric Quintana had four points, 10 rebounds and five steals.