Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Sturges Productions dethrones Jivaro 66-59

SV Brokers win Lower Division

---

Two new champions were crowned Sunday as the 2004 Sutton & Sons Men’s Basketball League wrapped up its double elimination city tournament at Wood River Middle School gym in Hailey.

Third-seeded Sturges Productions (15-3) needed an extra game but ended the three-year championship reign of #4 Jivaro Headhunters (15-5) by a score of 66-59 in the final game of the eight-team Upper Division tourney.

Keaton Sturges (right) drives around Nate Thornton of Jivaro Sunday in Hailey. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Brock Weber finished with 18 points for Sturges Productions, which also led at half-time 33-25.

Picking up the pace after their high-scoring teammate Buddy Peterson left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury, Sturges put four players in double figures. Buffalo Lamb had 13 points, Andy Alvey 11 and Jeff Jones 10.

Darrell Tullis poured in a game-high 29 points for Jivaro, Mike Payne added 10 and Dan Willett 9, but it wasn’t enough for the Headhunters. Important Jivaro players Jay Fry and Willett battled foul trouble all game.

In Sunday’s Lower Division title game, Sun Valley Brokers (8-9) toppled defending champion Ketchum Heating (7-10) by a score of 75-66, in overtime. The brokers were undefeated with four wins in the tourney.

Jim Carkonen, 52, tallied 13 of his game-high 27 points in the second half as the brokers rallied from a one-point half-time deficit. Mike Watson (four 3-pointers) led Ketchum Heating with 22 points.

Andy Alvey of Sturges lifts a jumper over Darrell Tullis of Jivaro (left), as Dan Willett (right) watches the shot. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Tournament MVP Carkonen said, "Ketchum Heating came out red hot and took an early 12-point lead on 7-for-8 shooting. I thought we were toast. But we fought back the entire game."

With four seconds left in regulation Carkonen (4-for-6 from 3-point range) buried a deep 3-pointer to send the decision into overtime. The brokers outscored Ketchum Heating 9-2 in the extra session.

Jeremy Scherer made some key buckets for Sun Valley Brokers and Ross McAllister finished with 20 rebounds.

Carkonen said special mention should be made of the hard work of league commissioner Lewis Garza.

Here are Most Valuable Players and honorable mentions, by team:

Sturges Productions: Buddy Peterson and Brock Weber. Jivaro: Darrell Tullis and Mike Payne. Sutton & Sons: Justin Herald, with Ross Sutton honorable mention. Sawtooth Paint/Soundwave: Sean Johnson and Luke Macdonald.

Miley Roofing/Coeneo: Jesus Villaneuva, with Refugio Regalado honorable mention. Growing Concern: Tim Richards, with Brian Ross honorable mention. Whiskey Jacques: Matt Stacey, with Fernando Murga honorable mention. Ketchum Grill: Tyson Horner, with John Burleigh honorable mention

Sun Valley Brokers: Ross McAllister, with Jim Carkonen honorable mentioin. Ketchum Heating: Mike Watson and Kyle Broadie. League’ OS: Doug Walrath and Steve Poklemba. Les Schwab/SV Title: Tim Brown, with Ephraim Olivera honorable mention. Power Engineers: Buck Fife, with Mark Mary honorable mention. All Seasons/WR Insurance: Tyler Stewart, with Mark HM.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.