Boulder Creek shreds O’Connor
Marc Buckhout ~ Managing Editor ~ 01/20/2010

The Boulder Creek Jaguars made the game of basketball look startlingly easy Friday night at Sandra Day O’Connor High School.
The defending Northwest Region champions claimed their seventh straight victory and 13th in their last 14 outings, securing the program’s first win on the Eagles home court in the process.
In improving to 5-0 in region play, and 15-2 overall, the Jaguars posted a season-high in an 89-57 rout in which only the AIA’s new mercy rule, a running clock in the fourth quarter of games in which a team has a 30 point lead, kept the visitors from threatening the century mark.
“We got into a real good rhythm,” junior point guard Ryan Zettle said. “Scoring 100 wasn’t really our goal, but by the end of the third quarter I think we all thought it looked possible.”
Zettle was the catalyst for an offense that carved up Sandra Day’s defense with surgeon-like efficiency.
The third quarter was a masterpiece in the eye of any beholder, whether a novice fan or a seasoned basketball junkie, as the Jaguars made 15 – of –22 shots from the field, good for 68 percent shooting as they doubled up Sandra Day 34-17 in the quarter. In the process an 18-point halftime advantage swelled to a 79-44 margin heading into the game’s final eight minutes.
Coach Randy Walker couldn’t help but be impressed by his team’s play.
“That’s a well coached, pretty good team that we made look pretty bad,” he said. “We ran the floor well, moved the ball really well and got a lot of layups. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit.”
Beyond scoring a season high 89 points the game was notable for the team’s ability to overcome a rare off-night offensively by senior center Alex Dykhuizen.
Despite Dykhuizen having to spend most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble the Jaguars didn’t miss a beat, actually expanding on the lead without their star, who managed only two points in the first half.
Fellow senior Ryan Crane continued his torrid shooting this season scoring, 21 first half points on 8 – of - 15 shooting including 5 – of – 11 from three point range as Boulder Creek was up 45-27 by the half.
Crane finished with a game-high 24 points to pace three Jaguars in double figures joining Zettle, who tallied 18, and freshman Josh Braun who chipped in with 16.
Overall eight players scored for the Jaguars who put on an offensive clinic, as Boulder Creek passed crisply and consistently found open teammates moving without the ball.
“Everybody on the floor can shoot on this team,” said junior forward Joe Simpson who scored eight points. “We could probably run a little bit more, but things are good with the offense.”
Along with running the floor for a couple of fast break buckets Simpson also was called upon to anchor the defense, particularly with the 6-foot-6 Dykhuizen on the bench in the first half.
“When Alex is out I know I really have to play big on the boards,” said the 6-foot-4 junior. “I did my best to try and lock down their big guy.”
Since opening region play by edging Mountain Ridge by three points on Dec. 11 the Jaguars have administered a series of beat downs, defeating Willow Creek by 32 on Dec. 14, Kingman by 29 on Jan. 8, Goldwater by 39 on Jan. 12 before Friday’s 32 point win over Sandra Day O’Connor.
On Tuesday the Jaguars travelled to Glendale to take on Deer Valley for the second time this season. In the first meeting, a non-region matchup in the semifinals of the Horizon Invitational Boulder Creek downed the Skyhawks 60-53 on Dec. 18. Results of the game were unavailable at press time.
“We just try to keep getting better each game,” Zettle said.
On Friday the Jaguars will see Sandra Day O’Connor again, this time with the Jaguars hosting the game.
CACTUS SHADOWS
The Falcons (7-10) are 1-3 in 2010 following a 63-52 loss at Queen Creek on Friday. The loss dropped Cactus Shadows to 1-2 in Desert Sky Region play. The Falcons sandwiched Friday’s loss and a Jan. 5 defeat against McClintock with their lone region win over Saguaro, 68-55 on Jan. 12.
On Tuesday Cactus Shadows looked to even their region mark when they travelled to Apache Junction to take on the 3-12 Prospectors (results were unavailable at press time).
On Friday the Falcons will try and even the season series when they travel to McClintock to take on the Chargers (12-6, 3-0).
GIRLS
Cactus Shadows remained perfect in 2010 and perfect on their home floor this season, running their record to 13-5 Friday with a 65-31 pounding of Queen Creek. The Falcons held the Bulldogs to single digits in all four quarters as they jumped to a 36-15 halftime lead on their way to the win.
After finishing off the first half of the region schedule at home against Apache Junction on Tuesday (results unavailable at press time) the Falcons begin the second half of their region schedule at home against McClintock (4-13 0-3), Friday.
In the first matchup the Falcons defeated the Chargers 56-43.
BOULDER CREEK
The Jaguars put together back-to-back victories for the first time all season following up a 40-31 win over Goldwater on Jan. 12 with a 60-36 victory at home against Sandra Day O’Connor on Friday. The win pushed the Jaguars to 3-2 in Northwest Region plays as Boulder Creek moved within two games of the .500 mark on the season at 6-8.
The Jaguars went for three straight wins when they played host to Deer Valley on Tuesday ( results unavailable at press time). The team is off until Jan. 26 when they host Kingman (17-1, 5-0)
Varsity basketball games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. For information on power ratings, which determine seeding for the state tournaments go to www.aia365.com/pr/index.php.

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