John Scarffe, Gilpin County. After falling behind by 12 points, the Gilpin Schools Eagles Boys’ Basketball team staged a mighty come back to close within five points during the 2019 2A boys’ basketball district tournament, District 7. The game was played at the Gilpin Schools Gymnasium against the Lyons Lions, but the Lions hit their free throws to ice the game with a 63 to 57 win. Eagles Coach Paul Hanson said that if the Eagles would have won that game, they would have been the first boys’ basketball team to go to regionals from Gilpin Schools.

Both schools are 18 to 19 on the year. The Lions employed a stifling three-two zone defense with the two tallest players on the floor, number 4, 6-3 Senior Colton Jonjak-Plahn, and number 55, 6-5 Senior Franklin Dorschel, playing under the basket while the three in front extended to cover the perimeter players. For most of the game, the Lions were able to get the ball under the basket against the Eagles’ two-one-two zone defense or hit a three pointer.

The lions controlled the tip to begin the game but the Eagles stole the ball and made the first three-point shot. The Lions hit a three. Eagles number 24, 6-2 Sophomore Nolan Lindberg stole the ball and dished it to number 11, 6-1 Senior Alex Wilhelm who scored with a hook shot.

With 2:11 left in the first quarter, Eagles number 25, Sophomore Blake Boulter hit a three-point shot, and the game was tied at eight. The Lions countered and ended the first quarter with a 13 to 10 lead.

The Lions won the game in the second quarter with their stifling defense and a couple of quick steals and points, although number 20, 6-2 Senior Will Lorenz, hit a three. During a timeout in the second quarter with 3:30 left in the half, the Lions led 22 to 18. The Lions scored consecutive threes, although Lorenz made free throws, and the first half ended with a 34-22 lead by the Lions.

To start the second half, Boulter hit a three, but the Lions continued to maintain their lead, and during a timeout at 4:24 left, the Lions led 43 to 27. Lorenz got a steal, but then the Eagles missed three shots in a row.

Lorenz was knocked down and fouled, or either fouled his contender, several times during the second half and at one point had to wear a nose plug. Lindberg finally scored two points for the Eagles and then Lorenz scored a three to bring the third quarter score to 45 Lions and 33 Eagles.
With about 5:28 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Lorenz scored another three points to bring the Eagles within nine points at 47 to 38, but the Lions called time out, and after that they went back to their bread and butter with Jonjak-Plahn and Dorschel scoring and grabbing rebounds.

With 3:19 left, the Lions had taken the lead back to 53 to 43. The Eagles kept battling and especially with a three by Boulter, the Eagles had it down to 57 to 52. Despite a three by Lorenz, the Lions pressed ahead with good free throw shooting and won the game 63 to 57.

(Originally published in the February 28, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)