Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 02/02/1998 All articles from this issue

Foothill avenges early-season loss to rival De Anza

printer friendly version

Town Crier Staff Report

The last time the men's basketball teams from Foothill and De Anza colleges met on the court, the Owls couldn't find the basket in the first half.

Finding the basket was much easier the second time around.

Foothill scored early and often in a 78-69 win at rival De Anza last Friday night. The Owls scored the game's first nine points, increased their lead to 18 and held off the Dons in the second half.

The Owls, who have won two games in a row, hope to continue their recent fortunes when powerhouse San Jose City College comes calling at 7 p.m. tonight.

The Jaguars are tied for first place in the Coast Conference with West Valley College, a team they beat by 12 last Friday.

Jimmy White got Foothill off and running against De Anza by burying a jumper in the game's opening moments.

De Anza didn't convert it first field goal until the 14:32 mark of the half and the Owls leading 13-4.

Foothill's Ralph Fields led the attack with 10 points in the first half. He also fed Grady Wilburn for a thunderous dunk after stealing a pass.

At the intermission, Foothill was comfortably in front 39-22.

But the Owls got into trouble in the final 20 minutes when four starters fouled out. Fields, White Damien Strahorn and Bobby Enosa were all out of the game by the 5:18 mark of the half.

The contest was a real foul-fest, as the teams combined for 58 fouls. The Owls were whistled 33 times.

As the starters began to fall by the wayside, Wilburn and reserves Marlowe Wells and Ronnie Cooke picked up the slack.

Wilburn scored only one of his nine points in the second half but blocked four shots and contributed two steals. Wells bounced a half-court pass between two defenders to Fields for a brilliant layup. Cooke, despite a pulled stomach muscle, hit a pair of three-pointers when De Anza was attempting to get back in the game.

The speedy Wells, from Prospect High, finished with eight second-half points. His floor leadership and defensive pressure kept De Anza at bay.

White, despite missing most of the second half because of foul trouble, finished with 17 points. Fields added 11 points and Enosa - who used his 6-foot-5, 280-pound frame for some jarring screens - wound up with 10 points.

Foothill is now 2-4 in the Coast Conference and 9-16 overall. The Owls have four league games remaining.