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COUGAR Matt Smith shoots a 3-pointer during Saturday night's game against Capital Christian at El Dorado High School. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins
In the battle of Cougars Saturday in the final game of the three-day Gold Dust Tournament, the El Dorado High boys basketball team fell to Capital Christian in a very competitive game, 64-58, inside El Dorado’s gym.
El Dorado (0-3) committed early turnovers in the first quarter that allowed Capital Christian, which returns most of its players who won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V title last season, to grab a 12-4 lead. The visiting Cougars also made five of their six free throws in the opening quarter. But offensive rebounds led to second chance shots for El Dorado in the middle of the quarter to trim the lead to 14-7.
“That’s a very good athletic team,” El Dorado head coach Ken Macklin said. “We just wanted to hang on and get use to their pace. Once they realized that they could play with a team of that quality I think they were fine. I think they played well.”
El Dorado didn’t lead in the game, but Capital Christian never pulled away from the home Cougars. El Dorado pulled to within 23-16 at the start of the second quarter, then 27-21 and 28-23. Both teams combined for seven turnovers in the quarter, but Capital Christian led 35-29 at halftime.
In the third quarter, El Dorado and Capital Christian continued its cat and mouse game; the visiting Cougars increased their lead to 40-31 before the home Cougars came within 45-34. Capital Christian led 53-42 after three quarters. El Dorado trailed by five in the fourth quarter, but Capital Christian continued its scoring pace en route to the win.
Three El Dorado players scored in double figures: forward Matt Smith had 16 points, forward Daniel Vance 15 and guard Tommy Williams 10. Guard Sean Gregg had five points in the game. Uchenna Iroebgu and D.J. Wilson had 14 points each for Capital Christian, and Nifae Lealao had 12 points.
Named to the all-tourney team for El Dorado was Smith and Wiliams. Iroebgu was named the tournament’s MVP.
Amador Valley 48, El Dorado 32
In Friday’s game at the Cougars’ gym, Amador Valley built its 9-8 first quarter lead to 21-19 at halftime. In the second half, the Dons held the Cougars to a combined 13 points.
Williams had 10 points for the Cougars, Smith had 8 and Gregg finished with 5.
Colfax 68, El Dorado 62
In Thursday’s opening game at the Cougars’ gym, the game was tied at 62-all with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter before Colfax closed on a 6-0 run to ice the victory.
Colfax jumped out to a 20-15 lead in the first quarter. El Dorado’s defense quieted its visitors to only nine points in the second to take a 33-29 halftime lead.
Four Cougars scored in double figures: guard Justin Morrison had 14 points, Vance 12, Williams 11 and forward Aaron Line 10. Smith had 9 points for El Dorado. Matt Larson and Taylor Dorsey had 19 points each for the Falcons, and Will Buell had 14.
Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter.
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