Spartans prevail in plateau nail biter
January 5, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Skyline holds off Eastlake upset bid with 61-60 win
Eastlake’s Turner Lee (right) fouls Skyline’s Nick Crossan in the second quarter of Saturday’s game at Eastlake High School. By Christopher Huber.
It came down to the wire. One point was all it took.
One less defensive foul would have made the difference for the Eastlake Wolves Jan. 3 against cross-town rival Skyline High School. Two free throw shots sealed the deal for Skyline.
In what began as a possible Eastlake upset, the tense rivalry turned into a point-for-point race to the final buzzer at the Eastlake gym.
The Spartans, now 3-3, beat the Wolves 61-60 in the teams’ first meeting of the season. “I think that they just made some nice adjustments in the second quarter. And anytime you get second looks and offensive boards, that kills you,” Eastlake head coach Pat Bangasser said of Skyline after the game. “They got three or four of them in the second quarter. That was the difference in us getting back in it.”
Eastlake came roaring out of the gate to take an early 16-4 lead five minutes into the first quarter. The boys played more confidently than a 1-5 squad and Skyline took most of the first to figure out the Wolves’ defense and gain composure on offense.
Skyline had trouble hitting short shots early, against Eastlake’s top-heavy 3-2 defense.“It was confusing, because they would go 3-2 and it was hard to get a shot off,” Skyline guard Nick Crossan said. “They had a good 3-2 defense.”
The Wolves took a 19-11 lead into the second quarter, but Skyline adjusted to Eastlake’s changing defense.
“I was happy with our defense tonight,” Bangasser said.
Despite a 6-0 Eastlake run late in the second, the Spartans managed to tie the score twice before the half, including a Lucas Shannon put-back at the buzzer.
“We continued to play hard, and they started hitting some shots and they started adjusting to our zone,” Eastlake forward Turner Lee said of Skyline’s comeback.
The game was tied at 31 at halftime.
The key for Skyline’s victory lay in getting the ball in the paint in the second half. The score was neck-and-neck the rest of the game. Even so, both teams struggled to move the ball well down low.
Skyline found refuge in Cory Hutsen.
The key was “our big man Corey,” Crossan said. “He was our man. I mean, when it comes down the stretch and we need big points, he’s the man we’ve got to go to. He’s unstoppable.”
Hutsen finished the game with 16 points.
“He does a great job finishing the ball,” Crossan said.
Crossan ended the game well for the Spartans, leading all scorers with 22 points. Eastlake held him to just seven in the second half, though.
Lee finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds, and shot 7-of-8 from the field.
Skyline out-rebounded Eastlake 25-23.
Between the third and fourth quarters, Skyline coach J. Jay Davis’ frustration could be heard from the huddle, despite leading 48-47 at the break.
“Value the ball,” he said sternly to his players.
Subsequently, the Skyline boys moved their attack into the paint and gave Eastlake a run for its money.
The teams traded the lead a couple of times in the fourth. Eastlake junior guard Michael Russo drained his third 3-pointer of the game with 1:10 remaining to get within one point of Skyline at 58-59.
Russo finished with nine points and three steals.
Skyline turned up the defensive heat in the final minute and quelled any chance for Eastlake points.
“It could have gone either way,” Lee said. “They’re a good team, very talented.”
Reach Reporter Christopher Huber at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.
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