Today's Sports

LAKEWOOD — Following a mandatory two-week hiatus due to the holidays, Evergreen boys basketball coach Scott Haebe was nervous about how his team would open 2009.

While the Cougars weren’t perfect Jan. 3, they were awfully good.

Hot shooting from the perimeter (eight 3-pointers) and a tenacious defense that forced 16 turnovers carried Evergreen to a painless 70-42 cross-classification victory over Lakewood that exceeded their coach’s expectations.

LAKEWOOD — Young teams are prone to mental lapses on the basketball court.

Evergreen girls basketball coach Ali Johnston is well aware of that fact, which is why she wasn’t shocked by how the Cougars performed following a two-week break Jan. 3 against Class 5A Lakewood.

For three quarters, Evergreen struggled to find its range from the field and had a difficult time just keeping possession of the ball, committing 20 turnovers. As a result, they trailed the Tigers by 18 points entering the fourth quarter.

Several readers of this column have inquired recently if I knew what had become of “Frances” the Canada goose that lingered at Evergreen Lake into winter. Since I had suggested that the people who were concerned about Frances should call Carol Wade, I called her last week to find out what had transpired.

One of the better football players in the state would rather be playing baseball.

Andrew Melton isn’t afraid to admit that. And a lot of opposing coaches in Class 4A probably wished he never ran the ball this year for the Dakota Ridge Eagles.