OGDEN -- Ben Lomond point guard Eddy Gongora scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, on the way to a 63-23 thrashing of cross-town rivals St. Joseph Tuesday night.
A big win for Gongora and the Scots gives them a perfect 10-0 start to the season heading into the holiday break, and solidifies their place as one of the best 3-A teams in the state looking toward region play.
"It feels great," Gongora said. "I was making my shots and helped out a little on defense."
Of the team, Gongora was quick to point out the reason for their early success.
"Every day we practice hard and we come into every game playing hard."
Tuesday's match was no exception.
The Scots got off to a quick start and never looked back. Despite being out rebounded 15-10 in the first half -- thanks in part to towering Jayhawks center Joe Panushka, who had 15 rebounds on the night -- Ben Lomond scored effortlessly, controlling the ball and efficiently taking advantage of countless Jayhawks turnovers.
Defensively, Ben Lomond center Tyler Lewis held Panushka to one field goal, and a 1-for-4 performance from the line.
"We didn't want to let him catch the ball in places where he could be really effective," Ben Lomond coach Ryan Wilcox said. "He's a tough player and we felt like the further away from the basket we could get him to catch it, the better."
St. Joseph didn't find an offensive rhythm until the third quarter when senior forward Daniel Philpot caught fire, scoring 10 of the teams 14 points, doubling their entire first half's effort.
Philpot would finish the night with 14, going 4-for-7 from the line.
It was too little too late, as the Jayhawks couldn't find an answer for Gongora and the rest of the polished Ben Lomond offense.
The Scots had three players in double digits and a big effort from the bench, led by Sterling Brandley who had 12 on the night, and Andy Hopson who chipped in 10.
"We feel like we can go eight, nine deep and not lose anything," Wilcox said.
Ben Lomond won't see action again until Jan. 6 when they travel to Utah County to face 4-A Salem Hills, before opening up region play on Jan. 8 at home against Bear River.
* OGDEN 57, MORGAN 55: At Logan, after dropping a couple of games at the buzzer earlier in the season, the Tigers celebtrated after Jake Buck's 3-point in the final seconds secured the win.
Ogden led by a dozen before Morgan made a run and took a late lead. After trading points, Buck nailed the game-winner. He finished with 16 points, four assists and three steals. Eric Porter added 15 points, while Nik Allred added seven rebounds, six points and three steals.
Braden Saunders topped Morgan with 15 points.
* WOODS CROSS 52, BONNEVILLE 51: At Washington Terrace, the Lakers couldn't stop the Wildcats' Austin Bankowski in the fourth quarter, losing in the finals seconds in their final preseason contest.
Bankowski finished with 35 points, scoring all 17 of Woods Cross' points in the final period.
Jaden Welsh led Bonneville with 18 points, while Jordan Tesch added 17. The Lakers had a chance to win in the final secons but never got a shot off.
* BOUNTIFUL 53, LAYTON 46: At Layton, the Lancers fell in the non-league battle.
Joey Day (14 points and Taylor Butler (13) each nailed three 3-pointers for Layton.
Comments