The boys’ basketball team’s first game of the 2008 season started off with lots of points on the board and a packed house, the cheerleaders in full swing and Grace Academy looking to stop the Lobos on Lopez home turf. The Grace Academy Eagles, however, started off the game by fouling the Lobos twice in a row. The Lobos responded by putting plenty of points on the board, gaining the rebound in fast breaks and popping it into the basket with aplomb. Grace fouled Lopez again, suffering from first game jitters.

If the Lobos had nerves, they didn’t show it. During the first quarter, Alex Buffum stole the ball on the down-court break by Grace and had a fast effective lay up into the basket. Tak Peralta had some nice ball-handling and Kevin Dengler retrieved the ball in the key and had several fast breaks that set the house on fire. Michael Lease went in for defense in the second quarter and Colton Jardine had a couple of outside shots that went in smoother than a baby’s behind.

The eagles and the wolves took turns offensively and defensively almost equally during the first and second quarters, with fast breaks and wave after wave of turnaround sprints to each end of the court, but consistently the Lobos outscored the Eagles with fakes, setting up under the basket primed to grab the rebound, and capitalizing on a smooth relay of the ball to Lobos forwards.

Jardine and Shawn Samuel worked together several times to get it in the basket and Keldon Jardine, one of the smaller players, was just as eager and spirited in his turn on the court while Tommy Kramer had his share of defensive tangles.

The third quarter started off with the Eagles taking the score from 18-27 to 22-27 very quickly. Lopez, however, was quick to respond, but the Eagles kept up the pressure. Errors began to creep in; traveling personal fouls and fast breaks that proved unfruitful hindered the Lobos. There were plenty of penalties on both sides during the night and the Eagles took their turns with free throws as well. Tak Peralta, Samuel, and Buffum continued to work well on the rebound to get the points in the basket. The game was peppered with stunning break aways by Alex Buffum and Mica Arps, and fantastic outside shots by Keldon Jardine.