ETNA – The Happy Camp Indians boys basketball team was a definite underdog facing the Etna Lions in Tuesday’s season opener. After weathering an early run by the Lions, however, the Indians served notice that they came to play. Etna eventually prevailed 58-44, but Happy Camp put on an 3-point shooting exhibition that kept them in the game in the first half.

The Lions went up 6-0 to start the contest, via a Jarom Hiett put back and a pair of steal-n-scores by Brent Davis. Kevin Harrison put the Indians on the board with a bucket off a rebound, 6-2. Hoops by Hiett and Erik Anaya extended Etna’s lead to 10-2. A trey by Harrison made it 10-5. Anaya put three points on the board the old fashion way, 13-5. At the end of the first quarter, the Lions led 15-7, but not for long.

Brent Boykin came out firing in the second quarter, draining a 3-ball to cut the Etna lead to five points, 15-10. Boykin added a put back and it was 15-12. A Boykin freebie made it 15-13. The Indians took their only lead of the game, 16-13, when Harrison hit another 3-ball.

Etna responded with two baskets by Davis sandwiched around a hoop by Hiett to go up 21-16. Clint Eastlick hit from behind the arc, making it 24-16. Harrsion and Reed came right back with Happy Camp’s fourth and fifth 3-pointers of the half to make it a 24-22 game at the intermission.

Etna took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring Happy Camp 15-5. With Etna leading 27-24, Junior Zavalza hit from the land of three to up the lead to six points, 30-24. After a free throw by Happy Camp’s Sequoi Myers, Michael Caulder added a 3-ball to the Lions total to make it Etna 33- Happy Camp 25.

Etna’s lead going into the final frame was 39-27, and the Lions extended it to as much as 19 points. With the score 45-35, Eastlick started a 9-0 run with a hoop. A put back by Anaya made it 49-35. Three the hard way for Eastlick gave the Lions a 17 point advantage, 52-35. Eastlick scored off a steal to make it 54-35. The Indians would pare five pints off the deficit over the final few minutes, but were unable to mount a serious comeback threat.

Etna’s Brent Davis led all scorers with 20 points. Clint Eastlick accounted for 14 points. Erik Anaya had 9 points, all but 2 coming on put backs. Jarom Hiett added 8.
Brent Boykin and Kevin Harrison each put up 14 points for the Indians. Boykin had three treys and Harrison had two. Rony Reed accounted for 11 points.

Etna will play in the Yreka Invitational Tournament this Thursday-Saturday. The lions open with Brookings at 11:30 am. Happy Camp heads to the Butte Valley tournament this weekend.