A sniper’s eye

Thornton Academy’s Adam Ek’s crucial four points from the line

help lift the Trojans over Bonny Eagle 63-56.

SACO – The pre-holiday boys basketball clash Tuesday night between Thornton Academy and Bonny Eagle, both undefeated at 3-0, was billed as perhaps the marquee game headed into Christmas break. And, while it was intense at times, there was a certain composed, collected, and assured way that the Golden Trojans went about their business after going down 8-0 early in the first that never really left the outcome in doubt as the Trojans topped the Scots 63-56.

Thanks to some 3-point shooting excellence by Bonny Eagle’s Dustin Cole and Cole Libby, the Scots were able to blank the Trojans for the first three minutes of play. But as soon as Bonny Eagle senior guard Steve Simonds hit a lay up to make it 8-0, Thornton Academy Head Coach Robert Davies called a timeout.

“(Coach Davies) was telling us that we have got to go out there and play,” said Thornton Academy senior guard James Ek, who was instrumental for the Trojans all night. “We just can’t have one shot off of one pass. He said we had to play as a team, and then things would go our way.”

Short and to the point, Davies words inspired his team to pick things up. When the Trojans returned to the court, the team went on a 7-0 run, and trailed 17-13 at the end of the first. Thornton had taken the lead by halftime, and gradually pulled away in the third, helped along by strong outings by seniors James Ek and Andrew Shaw, as well as a superb sequence of free throws by James’ younger brother Adam. Bonny Eagle never really appeared to recover the swagger they displayed prior to Davies’ timeout, and the Scots fell to the Trojans.

“This is a huge win,” Adam Ek said. “We’ve got an 18-game season, but (Bonny Eagle) is definitely one of the top teams, they have a good coach, and they play well. It’s a big win for the team, but we have got to focus – we have 14 more games to play.”

After Davies’ timeout, the Trojans got their first bucket at 5:13 on a shot by Shaw, and gradually ramped up their tempo thanks to a shot by James Ek, and a huge 3 by Shaw at 4:12 to make it 8-7. In fact, much of the first half of the game was dominated by that same one-two punch combo – James Ek with his jump shots and big rebounds, and Shaw, whose size combined with an almost gentle touch on the ball makes him an equally dangerous shooter and inside man.

“It’s nice to be able to do everything that I can,” Shaw said. “Being 6’6” and being able to shoot the 3 and go to the hole makes me tough to guard. It’s really good, because when they key on me, it helps to open up things for other guys.”

The Trojans continued to stretch their legs in the second. Although they were down by as much as 20-15 thanks to an early 3 by Scots’ senior guard Isiah Brown, Thornton Academy tied it at 20 when Shaw hit a lay up, and – following a TA rebound on the next Scots’ possession – James Ek hit a huge three from a good two feet outside the arc. The Trojans actually led by as much as 27-23 prior to the break, although their advantage was cut to two when senior forward Jeff Amell knocked one down with 55 seconds to go.

“We hadn’t really been in that position except in the Portland game, when we were down,” Shaw said. “It’s tough, because we thought we were a better team than them. We knew that we just had to stay tough and come out in the second half and play better defense.”

Like two pit fighters locked in close combat, the teams traded blows in the third, and the lead swapped six times in six minutes as each school suffered a blow and then regained control. The break for the Trojans came at 3:07, when Shaw nailed a 3-pointer, drew the foul, and completed a four point swing to make it 36-33 in Thornton Academy’s favor.

Simultaneously, the expert outside shooting of the Scots began to quiet down as the third progressed – a problem that would only grow during the final frame. Thanks to another 3, this one by Alex Richardson-Newton in the closing minute, Thornton led 41-35 heading into the fourth.

“Sometimes you just go cold,” said Bonny Eagle Head Coach Phil Bourassa, “and when that happens, there is really nothing you can do. Even Reggie Miller would have an off night from time to time. And I told them right up to the end that I wanted them shooting those shots.”

Throughout the fourth, the Trojans appeared to be in control. But despite getting points from six different players, Thornton could never quite put the Scots away. With under a minute left, Thornton Academy only led 58-52. But when Bonny Eagle began intentionally fouling, they picked the wrong guy to zero in on. Twice in under 20 seconds the Scots fouled Adam Ek, and each time the sophomore – who shoots like he has ice water in his veins – capitalized on both shots. When he was finished, the Trojans led 62-54, and nothing that Bonny Eagle could do in the final seconds could close the gap.

“I usually practice free throws a lot,” Adam Ek said. “So I take my time, and just envision myself at the gym during the week, taking three dribbles and then putting it up. You have got to hit those to help the team.”

Thornton Academy’s Adam Ek (34) has his battle face on has he rushes around a screen thrown up by teammate and older brother James (23) during the fourth period of the Trojans’ 63-56 victory over the Bonny Eagle Scots Tuesday night.
Staff photo by Emory Rounds