Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.  It was a heartbreaker.

It was a non-stop action, tremendous competition.

It came so close to being a first win of the season, but in the last minute of the game, the Gilpin High School Eagles lost 52-55 to the North Park Wildcats. On one hand, it was a painful loss; on the other, it was some topnotch basketball and the Eagle boys should be proud that they played tough to the last second of the game.

Eagle fans will get their money's worth this season.

The Wildcats were able to sink 9 three-pointers, just about half their total points. In the first period Matt Immordino scored 10 points with his quick pushes to the basket and his acrobatic shots. Early in the period the score was 7-3 and the Wildcats fought back, hitting two of their three-pointers. Alex Wilhelm added his field goal to the score and the period ended 16-15.

Austin Boulter put a couple of scores on the board as did Chris Burtschi, but the Cats hit three three-pointers in a row, and although Matt and Austin worked hard on the basket, it was a two-point game at halftime, 27-25.

That small gap was stretched when North Park, back in the third period, had their eyes on the three-point target and they were soon up by four after two sinkers. Braedyn Perez, Nick Peterson and Will Lorenz scored, hitting the bucket from all sides, but they couldn't crack the 37-39 deficit before the fourth period.

For a while it looked like the Eagles were going to pull this one out of the bad. It was 39-45 when Matt went into turbo and scored nine points, but North Park answered them, and with 37 seconds left in the game, the score was 51-52. The Wildcats scored a free throw, then Matt scored a free throw. Still a one point game and with eight seconds on the clock, a Gilpin foul put North Park on the line and they sunk both shots.

Both teams are to be commended for their unrelenting great plays and sportsmanship.

16-15 11-10, 10-14, 15-16

Nick Peterson, senior: 5 points, 3 free throws. 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

Braedyn Perez, senior: 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal

Eryk Lorenz, senior: 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Matt Immordino, senior: 26 points, 12 fgs, 2 free throws, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Will Lorenz, sophomore: 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Alex Wilhelm, sophomore: 11 points, 4 field goals, 1 3-pointer

Austin Boulter, junior: 2 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks

Chris Burtschi, junior: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals