Story Last modified at 3:29 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Eagle River Christian boys score pair of lopsided wins
By DAVID MORSE For The Star
Although two games does not a season make, the results are no doubt encouraging after the first Eagle River Christian's Eli two games for the Eagle River Christian High Yaw goes up high for a School boys varsity basketball team. layup during the team's pre- game warm-up against Matanuska High Monday at Dec. 12, Eagle River defeated Valley Christian 69- Mirror Lake Middle School. 29 and upended Matanuska High 94-27 at Mirror Yaw, a 6-foot-5-inch Lake Middle School Monday. sophomore, scored 52 points as the ERCHS Eagles defeated their opponents 94- Under third-year coach Stewart Allen, the team is 27 after scoring 29 points in branching out in new horizons, playing in both the the team's season-opener Alaska Christian Sports Athletic Association and with Valley Christian. PHOTO BY DAVID MORSE Alaska State Activities Association Class 2A this year.
Although ASAA Class 2A applies to schools with enrollments of 250- 300 students, Eagle River Christian has less than 100 students but has opted to play up a class, said Allen. Matanuska was the local Christian school's first ASAA opponent.
With only six players suited up for Monday's game, the team exerted relentless full-court pressure in the first half in amassing a large margin at halftime.
Sophomore and 6-foot-5-inch utility player Eli Yaw had an incredible game, scoring 52 points from both inside and outside, said Allen. Yaw also contributed 19 rebounds.
“They just couldn't hang with our big guy,” said Allen, who is volunteering his efforts with the team.
He said the nucleus of the team has been putting a lot of the time into the sport, playing year-round and in seasonal leagues.
“Some of these guys are playing 80-plus games a year,” said Allen. The coach said the foundation is laid in the weight room, with the squad's top two players, Yaw and Joe Carlson, putting valuable time in pushing the weights. Allen said both players had been at Eagle River High last year before transferring to Eagle River Christian High.
“We made sure that everything was ... in order,” said the coach, referring to the 18-weeks of down time for in-district transfer students.
With just six players on the team, Allen said strength and endurance training is critical to the team's success.
So far, the prognosis of future success is also good.
Allen said he anticipates about 15 games against ASAA Class 2A teams, along with a handful of ACSAA games.
“We're trying to get some more games against teams like Eagle River High and Houston schools, but everyone's booked,” said Allen, who has helped Eagle River High coach Mark Erickson on occasion.
Story Last modified at 5:43 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2007 Eagle River Christian boys hoop squad wins again
Alaska Star Staff
The Eagle River Christian High School boys varsity basketball team kept their winning streak in the Alaska Christian Schools Athletic Association intact with their 75-40 win over Valley Christian last week.
Sophomore Eli Yaw scored a game-high of 35 points to lead the way with Joe Carlson adding 22 points. Other contributors offensively included John Braneau, 11; Morgan Echols, five and Nathan Jemar, two.
The Eagles, coached by Stuart Allen, also play in the ASAA Class 2A, Central Interior Conference. Eagle River Christian played Valley Christian Crusaders at Mirror Lake Jan. 30. They travel to Whittier for an ASAA game 3 p.m. Friday.
The Eagles play Valley Christian for their fourth and final time this season, outside of tournament play, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Palmer.
This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, February 1, 2007.
Story Last modified at 11:24 a.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2007 Eagle River Christian boys continue scorching pace
By DAVID MORSE For The Star
The Eagle River Christian High boys varsity basketball team posted two more victories last week, defeating both Wasilla Lake Christian and Whittier.
The Eagles, led by 6-foot-5-inch forward/center Eli Yaw, defeated Wasilla Lake Christian 61-50 Jan. 30 then dispatched Whittier 84-29 in Whittier Friday, reported head coach Stewart Allen.
Yaw, who is averaging more than 30 points a game with a season-high of 52, scored 27 against Wasilla Lake and 35 at Whittier.
Eagle River Christian competes in two conferences, both Alaska Christian Schools Athletic Association and Alaska State Athletic Association, Division 2A, the Central Conference.
The Eagles struggled early with Wasilla Lake trailing 26-24 at halftime and 44-39 at the end of three-quarters before outscoring their hosts 21-6 in the fourth.
Allen said the team did not have any problems defeating the smaller Whittier club, leading 28-6 at the end of the first quarter and extending their margin from there.
Allen said his team has gotten even better with the recent addition of point guard Jesse Archer, who had missed the early part of the season with a nagging knee ailment. “The dynamics of the team has changed. With Jesse at the point, it has made us strong on the (perimeter),” he explained, with Joe Carlson on one side and Ben Murphy at the other.
While Carlson has been averaging 20 to 25 points per game, Allen said Murphy provides good ball handling and leadership on the court.
Other varsity team members include Jon Bruneau and Nathan Jemar. Two other players were not present for last week's games, having left the state on vacations.
“I have been real happy with the guys — they play hard,” said Allen.
Their success, 4-0 in ACSAA, 4-2 in ASAA-2A, has also been getting the attention of the rest of the state.
“Schools are seeing how well we have been doing, teams are wanting to play us,” said Eagle River Christian school administrator Denny Archer.
“We appreciate the opportunity to play anyone,” said Steward.
The team has three games this week.
The Eagles play Valley Christian Tuesday, play at Lumen Christi tonight and have a home game against Kuspuk Friday at Fire Lake Elementary. The boys team plays 7:30 p.m. tonight and 5 p.m. Friday. Friday's game is subject to a change of location, said Allen.
High School Basketball
Jan. 30
At Borough Gym, Wasilla
Eagle River Christian boys 61, Wasilla Lake Christian 50
Eagle River Christian (61) — Eli Yaw 27, Joe Carlson 15, Jesse Archer 10, Jon Bruneau 5, Ben Murphy 2, Nathan Jemar 2.
ERC 11 13 15 21 — 61
WLC 11 15 18 6 — 50 Friday, Feb. 2
At Whittier
Eagle River Christian 84, Whittier 29
Eagle River (84) — Eli Yaw 35, Joe Carlson 20, Jesse Archer 11, Nathan Jemar 8, Jon Bruneau 5, Ben Murphy 5.
ERC 28 22 14 20 — 84
Whittier 8 8 8 5 — 29
This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, February 8, 2007.