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For Immediate Releaseeureka, illinois
February 4, 2009
Momentum switching "Sides:" EC continues climb with sweep of webster
Eureka College became the first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team in three years to sweep a regular season series from the Webster University Gorloks, and did it the hard way — by winning at home. The Red Devils conquered their home floor for just the second time this season in six tries, vanquishing the Gorloks 60-55 Wednesday night.
Eureka (8-11, 6-5 SLIAC) used Michael Zasada's (McHenry, Ill./HS) sixth double-double of the season, and fourth in the last six games, along with a 10-0 second half run to further muddle the pack in the conference race. The Red Devils moved to within two games of first place, but remained log-jammed in sixth place in the league standings with five games remaining. The top four squads will quilify for the conference tournament at the end of the season.
The Red Devils enjoyed the largest lead by either side in the first half following an 11-2 burst that put EC in front 26-19 with five minutes on the clock. Surprisingly, Eureka would go the remainder of the half without scoring a single point, allowing Webster to fly into the locker rooms up 29-26. The Gorloks imposed their will on Eureka in the opening 20 minutes, with a 23-13 rebounding advantage and 10-2 lead in second chance points.
The game appeared to be headed toward a dramatic conclusion as neither team could gain more than a four point lead for over 12 minutes to start the second half. There were a total of nine ties and 12 lead changes in the game. The final tied score came with 10:35 to play after a layup by Webster's Nick Jones.
In came the Red Devils' second line, which clamped down defensively to swing the game in Eureka's favor just as it had done four days earlier when EC rallied from a 23-point deficit to win at Fontbonne. The Red Devils forced seven consecutive missed shots and took away two steals in holding Webster scoreless for over five minutes during a 10-0 run.
But despite the great defense, Eureka may well have missed its chance to bury the Gorloks had it not been for the pair of three-pointers drained by Alex Sides (Eureka, Ill./HS) that began the run. Kameron Bell (Clinton, Ill./HS) added two free throws, then Sides assisted on a bucket by Zasada with 5:32 left that gave EC a 52-42 advantage.
The Red Devils pulled out to their largest lead with two minutes to play after an amazing reverse layup by Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS). Darnall was fouled on the play, but missed the freebie, keeping Eureka ahead 58-47. Webster scored the next five points, and had possession with still over 30 seconds to play, but Andy Leppard (Crescent City, Ill./Crescent-Iroquois) turned in yet another clutch defensive play by denying Steve Hrdlicka from close range with Eureka's sixth blocked shot of the game.
The Gorloks had one last chance, down five points with 15 seconds to play, but they could not get a off quick shot, then missed when they finally did get a look at the basket with five seconds to go. It was Leppard that secured the final rebound of the game. Leppard and Sides were each 3-of-4 from the floor and 2-of-3 from three-point territory. Leppard had nine points off the bench, while Sides had eight.
Zasada led a balanced attack for EC with 11 points and 12 rebounds and four steals. He saved eight of his boards for the second half as Eureka out-rebounded Webster 21-13 after halftime. Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) registered nine points and four assists. Bell and Darnall had eight and seven points respectively. The Red Devils out-shot Webster 45 percent (24-for-53) to 38 percent (23-61). They attempted just nine free throws, their fewest in 16 games.
Ryan Turk posted a game-high 16 points for Webster and handed out four assists. Josue' Whitcomb pitched in 12 points, but only two after halftime when Webster was held to 32 percent shooting (9-28).
Eureka will continue SLIAC play Saturday, February 7 with a 5:00 pm tip-off at Principia College. The Panthers were the Red Devils' only other victim at home earlier this season. Eureka took an 85-66 decision over Principia on January 10.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
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