By THOMAS RANSON
Lahontan Valley News
FALLON - A combination of power from both the offensive and defense ends enabled Galena's varsity boys' basketball team to frustrate Fallon, 62-44, Tuesday night in Fallon.
The Grizzlies forced a handful of turnovers that led to Galena's pin point execution on offense and accurate free throw shooting.
Galena, which is tied with Elko for the lead in the High Desert League, improves to 6-1, 18-8 overall. Fallon falls to 1-7, 3-15.
"We had stupid turnovers, things that we work on every day," said Fallon coach Corey Williams.
Fallon stayed with Galena in the first half as the Grizzlies possessed an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and led by 10 points at halftime. The 'Wave jumped to the game's first lead until a minute left in the first period.
"I thought they played very aggressively...doing a lot of different things," said Galena coach Tom Mauer of Fallon's game plan.
Galena's Bobby Contreras and Derek Lorenzen led the attack going into the second quarter. Fallon's turnovers escalated in the second quarter and Greenwave fouls also gave the visitors a comfortable lead.
Lorenzen led Galena with 17 points including 10-for-10 from the free throw line, and Contreras added 10.
Mauer said a defensive change forced more Fallon turnovers and allowed Galena to execute its offense. Galena led by 14 points after the third quarter and powered in 14 more in the fourth quarter.
The 'Wave's Lane Whitney contributed 17 points.
"He did a good job. That kid has bright future," Mauer said of the Fallon sophomore.
FALLON 62, GALENA GIRLS 40
Fallon's girls' varsity basketball team unleashed an offensive rampage in the fourth quarter Tuesday to down visiting Galena in Northern 4A action.
The Lady 'Wave recorded its second lop-sided win in five days to improve its league mark to 3-4, 14-9 overall. Galena hangs on to second place with a 5-2 conference record, 13-9 overall.
For the first three quarters, both teams battled each other with the Lady 'Wave taking a 39-31 lead into the fourth period.
A measured aerial attack of 3-pointers, two each from juniors Liz Lewis and Ashley Sloan, pushed Fallon to a 53-34 lead with 4:34 remaining in the game.
The 'Wave kept pounding the ball inside, drawing five fouls in the final three minutes. Stephanie Wolfgang iced the game by sinking 5-of-6 free throws.
The outcome surprised both coaches, especially Fallon's Chelle Dalager.
"We blew it up there, losing a 12-point lead in the third quarter," Dalager said of Fallon's eventual one-point loss. "I did not know they (the Greenwave) would come out and play that well here."
Galena coach Karen Friel felt Fallon had given the Grizzlies a good workout.
"They outworked us at both ends of the floor," she said.
Lewis led all scorers with 17 points including a trio of treys. Caitlin Anderson led Galena with 11 points before she fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Sports Editor Steve Ranson contributed to this story