ECA holds off Simla/ Evangelical boys win handily; Simla girls do

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 14, 2001 | by Nick Walter

Coy Molner stood at the free-throw line, then watched with silent fury as the Simla reserves came in to finish up Saturday's game at Evangelical Christian Academy.

Molner shook his head in disgust, made his second free throw, and bitterly jogged off the court to the Simla bench, his face red and his body tight.

"Why are we giving up?" he asked Simla coach David Schmidt, then slapped Schmidt's hand solidly and sat down.

Simla went on to lose 63-50, but with 2 minutes, 8 seconds remaining had pulled to within 17 points of ECA (5-2).

Molner was far from quitting. As was the rest of Simla (4-5).

"I thought we were down by 27," Simla coach David Schmidt said. "I appreciate (Molner) wanting to win that bad."

Molner, who had 25 points and nine rebounds, spent the entire night keeping his team from being blown out.

ECA was up 27-6 at one point in the second quarter and 34-18 at halftime before Simla cut the lead to 35-24 with 5minutes left in the third quarter.

But ECA outscored Simla 18-5 to close out the quarter.

ECA took a 30-point lead with 5 minutes left in the game, before putting in its backups.

"If the game would have gotten much closer I would have put my starters back in," ECA coach Dennis Bruns said.

"The game was closer than it was because I don't think our reserves scored after I put them in."

ECA used its press the whole game, with 15 of its 20 steals coming in the first half.

It built its 20-6 first-quarter lead with help from Joe Contreras, who had four first-quarter steals - three of which he took in for layups.

Contreras finished with 15 points and six steals, while ECA was led by Nate Beers' 22 points and five 3-pointers.

"They did a good job on the high post so that's why I was open on the wings," Beers said. "But I missed some that I shouldn't have."

In Bruns' third year as the boys coach, ECA has finally gotten used to playing full-court defense.

"They're convinced that it's fun to pressure teams, steal the ball and score points," Bruns said. "They've got to be able to have that mentality."

SIMLA GIRLS WIN

The Simla girls team held onto its nine-point, first-quarter lead and took care of ECA with a 65-51 win.

Simla (6-3) was lead by Ann Duncan's 20 points, 10 in the final quarter.

Shelly Boggs paced ECA (3-4) with 32 points and four 3's.

"We played very good 'D' on ECA except Boggs," Simla coach Al Snyder said. "ECA did a very good job finding Boggs when it needed to."

Boggs scored all of her points in the final three quarters.

- Nick Walter may be reached at 636-0250 or gtsports@gazette.com

Boys

ECA 63, SIMLA 50

HIGHLIGHT: ECA pulled out to a 21-point lead in the second quarter and held on.

Girls

SIMLA 65, ECA 51

HIGHLIGHT: Simla gains a nine-point, first-quarter lead and holds on despite 32 points by ECA's Shelly Boggs.