sean Hales / Messenger Photo
Gunnison senior Kevin Nay had 17 points against Rowland Hall last Friday, but only four other Bulldogs recorded points, and only one of those was in double figures.

Dismal shooting does in Gunnison
By Sean Hales
2-20-08

EPHRAIM—The Gunnison Bulldog basketball team had opportunities in the first half of its first-round playoff game against Rowland Hall last Friday.
But dismal shooting held the Bulldogs to just five points in the third quarter, and the Winged Lions beat Gunnison, 59-44, to advance in the 2A state tournament.
And it seemed as though the writing was on the wall early in the game, for anyone willing to see it.
Early in the first quarter, a Gunnison turnover resulted in a fast break opportunity for Rowland Hall, but the easy bucket rimmed harmlessly out.
With the bucket surrounded by Bulldogs, somehow a Winged Lion came up with the board, but his put back was no good.
But again, Gunnison was unable to find the handle, and the third time was the charm as Rowland Hall took a 6-2 lead.
The Bulldogs, unable to get inside shots, took what was given them and Cutler Frandsen, Erick Rosenvall a Drew Despain all hit three-pointers to keep the Bulldogs within seven, 21-14, at the end of the quarter.
Another problem for the Bulldogs was Rowland Hall’s free-throw shooting, which was lethal all throughout the game.
Gunnison’s Derrick Christensen hit a three-pointer to open the second quarter, when the Bulldogs outscored Rowland Hall, 10-8. During the period Gunnison had many opportunities to narrow the lead, and, maybe even take over, but few Bulldog shots found the bottom of the net.
The Bulldogs’ defense did a good job in the second quarter keeping Rowland Hall on the perimeter, but that would break down some in the second half and Rowland Hall would run away with the game.
Rowland Hall opened the third quarter with a six-point run, and it wasn’t until several minutes had expired that the Bulldogs hit their first field goal, a three-pointer from Erick Rosenvall.
Gunnison’s shooting woes were clearly reflected in the scorebook: Only five Bulldogs recorded points, and other than Kevin Nay with 17 and Rosenvall with 13, including three 3-pointers, no one scored more than six.
Gunnison ended its season with a 7-14 record but will certainly look to improve on that in the next couple of years as a talented group of sophomores, including Christensen, Rosenvall, Despain and Frandsen, mature.
The Bulldogs will only lose three seniors this year, although one of them, Nay, was among the top scorers in the state. Taylor Newman and Jeremy Reid are also seniors.