Trojans stampede Spartans

On paper, Thursday's Sacramento Valley League match-up between the East Nicolaus High girls basketball team and visiting Durham figured to be a barnburner.

The Spartans entered the contest in first place in the SVL South with a 3-0 mark, 4-2 in all SVL games and 14-6 overall.

The Trojans were tied for first in the SVL North with Colusa at 2-1, 5-1 in all SVL games and 11-8 overall.

The impressive records turned out not to mean much, as Durham (12-8, 6-1) hammered the Spartans (14-7, 4-3), 65-25.

"We've come out with a lot of energy the last two games," Trojans coach Jeff Hensley said.

Two nights earlier, the Trojans blasted Live Oak, 61-31.

Hensley said he was a little surprised by the lopsided score, but acknowledged East Nicolaus was missing one of its better players. Kristyn Hanson, who averages double figures in scoring and plays good defense, was out with the flu.

"Durham was the aggressor," East Nicolaus coach Robert Wolcott said. "They were more aggressive rebounding, more aggressive offensively and more aggressively defensively. We were fortunate that they were compassionate enough to let up for a good part of the second half."

The Trojans exploded right from the opening tip-off. Devin Larson, who finished with 18 points to lead all scorers, scored the game's first six points, as the Trojans opened a 16-4 lead after one period.

Nothing fell for the Spartans in the second quarter, as East Nicolaus managed just one free throw to trail, 38-5, at halftime.

East Nicolaus did pick up the pace a bit in the second half, scoring 10 points to the Trojans' 11 in the third period and 10 more in the fourth, but the Spartans couldn't overcome such a wide gap.

"We struggled getting into any rhythm," Wolcott said.

The Spartans also were a little unfortunate in that several of their shots took a dip inside the hoop, rolled around, and popped out.

"Luck or no luck had nothing to do with it," Wolcott said. "(The Trojans) were getting three and four shots and we couldn't stop them."

Durham outrebounded the Spartans, 44-30.

Heilani Tupou and Samantha Van Dyke each scored six points to lead the Spartans. Tupou, a guard, went to the boards hard, grabbing 14. Kiana Limary had four steals.

Another key factor were turnovers. East Nicolaus turned the ball over 30 times.

"Durham really wanted us to turn the ball over, and we obliged them," Wolcott said.

While the game turned into a rout, Wolcott told his players they needed to put the game behind them and look ahead. The Spartans host Rio Vista on Tuesday.

"We're playing for the (SVL South) championship," Wolcott said.

Rio Vista has just one loss in the SVL South - a 43-34 setback to East Nicolaus on the Rams' court.

"The girls are playing hard," Wolcott said of the Spartans. "They're deserving of the community's support. I urge everyone to come out Tuesday. I guarantee it will be a good game. I'm not guaranteeing a win, just that it will be a good game."

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4717 or rmyers@appealdemocrat.com.