Friday — March 19, 2004

Tough inside, Jivaro forces an extra game

Ketchum Heating stays alive

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By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Balanced scoring and toughness in the paint have carried Jivaro Headhunters a long way in the Sutton & Sons Men's Basketball League Upper Division tournament.

Wednesday night, #4-seeded Jivaro (15-4) took one more step towards its ultimate goal with an overwhelming 58-27 triumph over #3-seeded Sturges Productions (14-3) at Wood River Middle School gym in Hailey.

Jivaro Headhunters won its fifth consecutive game in the eight-team double elimination tournament and forced a deciding contest against Sturges Productions, to be played Sunday, March 21 at 10:30 a.m. on the same floor.

"We'll see you Sunday," Jivaro's Dan Willett said to Sturges' captain Keaton Sturges when there were five minutes left in the lopsided contest—with the Headhunters ahead 47-20.

Jivaro certainly earned the evening's Windex award for cleaning the glass with a 51-34 advantage in rebounding. Jivaro's tough man-to-man defense shut down the interior with a suffocating trap, and Sturges Productions was ice cold shooting from the outside all game.

In a 12-minute stretch opening the second half, Sturges Productions scored only two field goals, both by Buddy Peterson (13 points, 10 rebounds). Meanwhile, Jivaro's Darrell Tullis got hot close to the basket and the Headhunters extended their lead from 8 points to 21 points in the decisive stretch. Tullis scored 11 of his game-high 15 points in the second half and also led his team with 13 rebounds.

Jivaro ended up with three players in double figures including point guard Jay Fry (13 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) and Nate Thornton (10 of his 12 points in the second half, plus 5 boards). Mike Payne added 8 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 assists; Mike Schlatter had 4 points and 4 boards; and Dan Willett 6 points and 5 rebounds. Besides Peterson, the only Sturges player with more than 2 points was Jeff Jones (6 points), who drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the second half. Andy Alvey had 12 rebounds, and Brock Weber 7 boards.

In the six-team Lower Division tournament, top-seeded Ketchum Heating (7-9) stayed alive Wednesday night with a 62-38 victory that eliminated the tourney's Cinderella team, League' OS (4-14). Mike Watson led the way with 17 points including five 3-pointers, Andy Portillo added 16 (four 3-pointers) and Kyle Broadie 15 for the winners. Steve Poklemba had 12 points for League's OS.

Ketchum Heating will try to avenge last week's 71-67 loss to #2-seeded Sun Valley Brokers (7-9) when the two teams clash for the Lower Division championship Sunday at 11:45 a.m. on the Hailey hardwoods.

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