GILPIN COUNTY – Having gone a combined 0-43 last season and the season before, things are looking up for the Gilpin Eagles boys' basketball team this year.

2019 Gilpin graduate and new head coach Will Lorenz has restored hope for long-suffering fans as the Eagles have already won two games so far—a nail-biting 52-50 win over Nederland on December 8, and a satisfying away 51-36 victory against Kiowa on December 18.

At home on Tuesday, January 27, they faced the Belleview Christian Bruins. Lorenz felt that his team “came out with great energy and were ready to play. We did a great job on the offensive glass, but the shots weren’t falling.” Score at the end of the first quarter: Belleview 19, Gilpin 10.

In the second quarter the Eagles made some adjustments and were able to beat the Bruins’ press, thereby creating good shot opportunities for themselves. Outscoring Belleview 10-3 by virtue of a couple of 3-pointers and solid free-throw shooting, within the last minute the Bruins sank two 3-point shots of their own to steal some of the Eagles’ thunder. Score at halftime: Belleview 28, Gilpin 20.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle with Belleview scoring nine points and Gilpin scoring six.

With no letup of effort in the final quarter, the Eagles kept going after it, but ultimately found themselves on the short end of this one by a score of 58-39.

Taurean Paxton finished the game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Benjamin Bushey contributed 9 points, had 3 steals, and pulled down a monstrous 15 rebounds. Landon Church added 11 rebounds. Jack Fisher recorded 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Ryan Marr scored 6 points and had 5 rebounds.

After the game Coach Lorenz related about how his team is made up of a great bunch of guys who continue to show up every day and work hard. Lorenz continued, “We plan on finishing the season strong. We’re not done yet.”