Eagles shock top GVC competition

By Reggie Stiteler
Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2:47 PM CST
Mt Shasta News

Siskiyous’ center Demario Ballard rises above the Butte defense for 2 of his 16 points in the Eagles’ 77-74 upset of the 13-5 Roadrunners Wednesday of last week. Ballard nearly doubled that production Saturday at Redwoods, dropping 31 on the Corsairs and leading the Eagles to a 2-0 start in the GVC.

Somehow, College of the Siskiyous men's basketball coach Billy Offill found room to hide a 6-foot, 7-inch game-changing center up his sleeve.

Offill's sleight of hand shocked the two Golden Valley Conference teams with the best preseason records last week, as the Eagles defeated Butte, 77-74, in Weed, then trumped Redwoods, 85-80, in Eureka.

The Eagles' wildcard was sophomore center Demario Ballard, who returned to the lineup for the first time since late November and provided a much needed boost with his dominating post presence.

In leading the Eagles to a 2-0 start in GVC play, Ballard scored 16 points against Butte and 31 at Redwoods.

“Demario fills a legit need for us,” Offill said. “Now other guys can play their more natural roles.”

One of the many beneficiaries on the Eagles' rejuvenated roster is Weed High School graduate Jeffrey Williams.

Williams is making the most of the open three-point looks coming his way as teams double cover Ballard in the post.

The freshman guard hit five three-point field goals versus Butte on the way to 15 points and six treys among his 20 points at Redwoods.

“Jeffrey Williams showed up,” a happy Offill said after the victory over Butte Wednesday of last week.

In Williams' game Saturday at Redwoods, Offill said “Every shot of his was a big one.”

It needed to be, as the Eagles dug themselves a 10-point deficit in the second half after leading by as many as 13 points in the first.

At Redwoods (12-9, 1-1 GVC), Siskiyous went to their power game to overcome the Corsairs 14-0 late first half run and ensuing 10 point second half advantage.

Siskiyous also received contributions from Alden Gibbs and Roland Johnson, who each scored 11.

Kellen Chewning nailed two big threes off the bench, according to Offill, as the Eagles finished the game with a five point lead.

Ballard grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots, complementing his 31 points.

Offill predicted his games would go down to the wire, and that is how each game played out this past week.

For the Eagles (8-13, 2-0), the breaks are finally going their way.

The big conference-opening match-up against Butte (13-5, 1-1) in front of their home fans was no exception.

After the Eagles Tyson Berry was whistled for an intentional foul in the game's opening minutes, Butte's 6-10 center Donnatas Visockis threw down an authoritative slam hyping up his Roadrunner teammates.

Not to be outdone, Roland Johnson broke free, retaliating with a dunk of his own as the Siskiyou faithful screamed from the stands.

The game's intensity forced a fast pace as the score see-sawed back and forth.

Butte stretched its first half lead to 10, but found themselves down 30-38 to Siskiyous at the half, after the Eagles made a 17-1 run, holding the Roadrunners scoreless for 4:40.

The home team's inspired play expanded their lead to 19 after Gibbs threw down a fast break dunk of his own.

But the Roadrunners rallied to within a single point with just 55 seconds to play.

Then Johnson and Eagle point guard Drew Herrera converted all four of their late foul shot opportunities to clinch the Eagles' first home victory of the season.

“That was a big win,” Offill said after the game, trying to hold back his grin. The coach has been waiting for his squad to break out at home, where they stumbled in their first four tries this season.

With their two-post lineup of Ballard and Johnson - and William Rajnus subbing off the bench - the Eagles held Butte to just three offensive rebounds the entire game.

Ballard and Johnson combined for 25 boards themselves, many in the second half, allowing the Eagles to control the tempo against their surging rival.

“We've played different styles all year,” Offill said. “We are able to do some things with a true center that we could not do before.

“Now our chemistry is pretty good and the kids are having fun.”

Winning tends to do that.

The Eagles travel to Feather River College (6-10, 0-2) tonight and hosts rival Shasta College (5-17, 0-2) Saturday in Weed.