‘Dogs bite back
Jensen shines as Nyssa takes tourney title
By: Wil Anderson
Argus Observer
Sunday, December 21, 2008 1:58 AM PST
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| Wil Anderson | Argus Observer
Nyssa’s Javier Trinidad (with ball) drives to the basket, while Adrian’s George Ellsworth (from left), Rodrigo Magri, and Lois Adam play defense. Nyssa won the game 65-45 to take home the championship trophy during the Nyssa Invitational Tournament, Saturday in Nyssa. |
NYSSA—Four steals is all that separated Nyssa’s Eric Jensen from a triple-double, as the junior led the Bulldogs to a 65-45 win over Adrian, to claim the championship of the Nyssa Invitational Basketball Tournament, Saturday evening in Nyssa.
Jensen scored a game high 20 points, while grabbing 12 rebounds, six steals and also finished with three blocks.
As for the game itself, the 1A Adrian Antelopes did enough to hang around with the 3A Nyssa through three quarters of play, as Nyssa led 46-38, with eight minutes left in the contest.
The game was certainly not over heading into the final quarter, but Nyssa, led by Jensen’s eight fourth quarter points, pulled away from the Antelopes.
“One thing we took away from this game, is sometimes you can win ugly,” Nyssa head coach Gabe Fuentes said. “This is two nights in a row we have had to find a win.”
During the win, the Bulldogs (4-3) turned the ball over 15 times, while having multiple players in foul trouble, as early as the third quarter of play.
Still, the Bulldogs were able to muster enough offense, and play enough defense, to secure the win.
To begin the game, Nyssa came out of the gates strong, taking a 21-14 lead after the first quarter of play.
Adrian cut into that lead, as the two teams went into the half, with Nyssa leading 31-26.
“We played pretty good ball into the third quarter,” Adrian head coach Brent Ishida said. “But being short-handed, we were not able to keep up in the fourth quarter.”
In the second half, Nyssa kept extending its lead, building it up to as much as 23 points in the final minutes.
“We came out with no urgency tonight,” Fuentes said. “Hopefully it is out of our system.”
Helping Jensen out for the Bulldogs, Jeremiah Leos added 14 points, and Seth Glenn dropped in 13.
The Antelopes were led by Rodrigo Magri and Blake Purnell, who each scored 11 points, while George Ellsworth scored 10 and grabbed six rebounds.
The Bulldogs travel to Boise, to play Cole Valley Christian on Jan. 2, at Qwest Arena.
For tickets to the Cole Valley game, call Fuentes at (541) 212-3003.
Purchase of tickets is $10, and is also good for Idaho Stampede game later that evening.
