Eagles Create Bottleneck

Huntsville Dishes Out 54-31 Home Court Loss To Cards

FARMINGTON -- Meryl Massie Gymnasium hosted Farmington Cardinal basketball one more time but surrendered a win to visiting Huntsville, 54-31, in a Dec. 9 non-conference boys basketball contest.

A week after beating Huntsville during the Greenland tournament, Farmington couldn't get on track offensively scoring fewer than 10 points in each stanza as the team struggled to overcome a bottleneck simulated on their goal created by Huntsville's defense.

Senior guard Jeremy Mueller was the only Cardinal, who produced more than 4 points in the game with two of his points coming on a play that epitomized Farmington's frustration.

Mueller's offensive output was largely due to his determination to drive to the hoop. He took a defensive rebound coast to coast finishing and drawing a foul for an old-fashioned 3-point play to whittle Huntsville's lead down to fewer than 20 points, at 45-26, with 5:54 left in the fourth quarter. Coming out of an Eagles' timeout, Mueller stole the ball near mid-court and raced the other way elevating with an endeavor to throw down a one-handed slam-dunk.

The basketball bounced back above the rim as Mueller returned to earth then fell through for a score so the dunk was not successful yet the field goal counted. Farmington coach Beau Thompson then employed a half-court trap. Still, the Eagles found Jack Eaton open inside for a short-range jumper. Mueller came back to convert a one plus the penalty free-throw situation but with 4:46 showing Farmington was still down, 47-30, and Thompson emptied his bench.

Farmington found themselves in a hole early, trailing 8-0. Mac Spears broke the ice displaying his range with a 3-pointer after 3:03 had elapsed in the first quarter but the Cardinals experienced foul trouble trying to defend the taller Eagles in the paint. Huntsville never trailed in the game, holding leads of 15-7, 26-15, and 43-23 at the quarter breaks.

Huntsville 54, Farmington 31

Huntsville 15 11 17 11 -- 54

Farmington 7 8 8 8 -- 31

Huntsville (7-1): Drew Garrett, 15; Caleb Kirk, 12; Jose Aguilar, 9; Jack Eaton, 8; River Gosvener, 6; Ty Bohannan, 2; Collyn Barton, 2.

Farmington (6-1): Jeremy Mueller 16, Matt Thomas 4, Mac Spears 3, Matt Wilson 2, Michael Ingram 2, Jared Osnes 2, Skyler Barnes 1, Evan O'Dell 1.

Sports on 12/17/2014