It was a busy, tough week.
The JV Cougar boys won two and lost one on the basketball court this week, going on the road for a pair of games in a hectic part of their schedule.
They hosted Ripon on Tuesday, Jan. 18 in their only home game of the week, winning 62-54.
"We came out really nice in the first and scored 22 points," coach Greg Largent said. "They played us man to man and we were too quick for them. Then they went to a zone and that changed the game, we had just a 28-22 halftime lead."
The teams battled through the third quarter before Escalon regained control and put away the Indians with a 24-point effort in the fourth quarter.
"Steve Largent went into the fourth quarter scoreless and he scored nine in that quarter, plus we made almost all our free throws then, we were 9-for-11 in the fourth," Largent said of what made the difference in the game.
Brian French had 10 points and seven steals on the night, Phil Parrish added 10 points. Largent had nine, Scott Backovich chipped in with seven points, Mike Stime and Jaremy Puthoff each had six.
"Then we had the big showdown with Ripon Christian," Largent said of Friday night's road game. "Both teams went in undefeated, it was their Homecoming...it was pretty much Murphy's Law, whatever we could do wrong, we did, we pretty much laid an egg."
Down 23-7 after the first period, Escalon never recovered. They found themselves trailing 31-13 at the half and ended up losing 59-36.
"You have to tip your hat to them," Largent said of the host RC Knights. "They are a good team."
The Cougars were uncharacteristically cold from the floor, with no player reaching double figures. Parrish led the team with eight points, Jared August and French had six, Largent and Stime added four each.
"The bright spot of the game was Dane Weckerly, he can off the bench to grab five rebounds, he had three points and three steals, he played well," said Largent.
Back in action Saturday at Livingston, the Cougars held on for a 63-59 decision.
"That is not an easy place to play," Largent pointed out. "It pretty much mirrored the Ripon game, they played man early and it was a very fast-paced game."
Escalon led 20-15 after one quarter and kept the five-point advantage, 32-27, at the half. Livingston switched to zone defense in the second half and outscored the Cougars 18-9 in the third quarter.
"It was a train wreck," admitted Largent. "We outscored them late, we held on for the win but it wasn't pretty."
Largent paced the squad with a huge night, pouring in 27 points, 18 of them in the first half.
"Down the stretch, he hit a big 3 with two minutes to go and then we made our free throws, that was the difference," said the coach.
Parrish had a double double, 13 points and 11 assists, French had eight points and eight steals. David Anderson and Stime added four points each, with August chipping in with five.
The JV boys host Livingston on Friday, Jan. 28 as part of Escalon's Homecoming festivities. They ended the week at 5-1 in league, a game behind Ripon Christian in the standings.
By MARG JACKSON
The JV Cougar boys won two and lost one on the basketball court this week, going on the road for a pair of games in a hectic part of their schedule.
They hosted Ripon on Tuesday, Jan. 18 in their only home game of the week, winning 62-54.
"We came out really nice in the first and scored 22 points," coach Greg Largent said. "They played us man to man and we were too quick for them. Then they went to a zone and that changed the game, we had just a 28-22 halftime lead."
The teams battled through the third quarter before Escalon regained control and put away the Indians with a 24-point effort in the fourth quarter.
"Steve Largent went into the fourth quarter scoreless and he scored nine in that quarter, plus we made almost all our free throws then, we were 9-for-11 in the fourth," Largent said of what made the difference in the game.
Brian French had 10 points and seven steals on the night, Phil Parrish added 10 points. Largent had nine, Scott Backovich chipped in with seven points, Mike Stime and Jaremy Puthoff each had six.
"Then we had the big showdown with Ripon Christian," Largent said of Friday night's road game. "Both teams went in undefeated, it was their Homecoming...it was pretty much Murphy's Law, whatever we could do wrong, we did, we pretty much laid an egg."
Down 23-7 after the first period, Escalon never recovered. They found themselves trailing 31-13 at the half and ended up losing 59-36.
"You have to tip your hat to them," Largent said of the host RC Knights. "They are a good team."
The Cougars were uncharacteristically cold from the floor, with no player reaching double figures. Parrish led the team with eight points, Jared August and French had six, Largent and Stime added four each.
"The bright spot of the game was Dane Weckerly, he can off the bench to grab five rebounds, he had three points and three steals, he played well," said Largent.
Back in action Saturday at Livingston, the Cougars held on for a 63-59 decision.
"That is not an easy place to play," Largent pointed out. "It pretty much mirrored the Ripon game, they played man early and it was a very fast-paced game."
Escalon led 20-15 after one quarter and kept the five-point advantage, 32-27, at the half. Livingston switched to zone defense in the second half and outscored the Cougars 18-9 in the third quarter.
"It was a train wreck," admitted Largent. "We outscored them late, we held on for the win but it wasn't pretty."
Largent paced the squad with a huge night, pouring in 27 points, 18 of them in the first half.
"Down the stretch, he hit a big 3 with two minutes to go and then we made our free throws, that was the difference," said the coach.
Parrish had a double double, 13 points and 11 assists, French had eight points and eight steals. David Anderson and Stime added four points each, with August chipping in with five.
The JV boys host Livingston on Friday, Jan. 28 as part of Escalon's Homecoming festivities. They ended the week at 5-1 in league, a game behind Ripon Christian in the standings.
By MARG JACKSON
