Posted Wednesday February 17, 2010

ECHO - The Nixyaawii Golden Eagles defeated the Echo Cougars 70-62 on Saturday, February 13, 2010. The Golden Eagles dominated play with strength, timing and athleticism. Nixyaawii shot 51.7% from the field with Echo hitting 37.5%. The Golden Eagles were 6 of 9 from the three point arc. Echo hit 5 of 20 three point attempts. Echo outscored Nixyaawii 31-24 in the second half but that wasn't enough to overcome the Golden Eagles lead. Echo had the leading scorer overall in Jacob Eby with 23. Other scorers for Echo included Jorge Munoz with 17, Jeremy Cisneros with 10 and Glen Swanger with 6. Leading scorers for Nixyaawii were Isaiah Case with 20, Ashton Picard with 16, Rico McKay with 14, Joe Crawford with 10 and Anthony Bonifer with 8.

The Golden Eagles controlled the first quarter from the opening tip shooting out to a 5-2 lead. Echo hit a slow spot only scoring three points during four minutes of the the first. Scoring for Nixyaawii in the first were Picard, Case and McKay. Echo players scoring in the first were Swnger, Eby and Cisneros. Nisyaawii led at the end of the first 23-11.

Nixyaawii outscored Echo 23-20 in the second. Scoring for the Golden Eagles in the second were McKay, Picard, Bonifer, Sampson and Case. Eby of Echo hit three treys in the second. Other Cougars scoring in the second were Munoz, Thorne, Cisneros and Swanger. Nixyaawii led at halftime 46-31.

Echo outscored Nixyaawii 17-15 in the third to chip away at the 15 point lead the Golden Eagles brought to the second half. Cougars scoring in the third were Swanger with 4 and Munoz with 11. Nixyaawii led at the end of the third 61-48.

Echo tried to close the gap in the fourth but the Golden Eagles' lead was too much to overcome. Cougars scoring in the fourth were Eby, Thorne and Munoz. Nixyaawii players scoring were Bonifer, Picard and Case.

Photos by Terry Aichele