ZINK SINKS IN PLENTY IN HORNET BOYS' WIN
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(1/30/08 Chico, CA) The Enterprise boys' varsity basketball team rode a 29-point and eight rebound effort from Shane Zink as they took a 65-57 win over Chico in an Eastern Athletic League game played Wednesday at "The Panther Pit."
 
The senior accounted for 13 of the Hornets' 23 points in the fourth quarter. Despite the loss, the Panthers' Rex Holmes nearly matched Zink's output by scoring 28 points and collecting seven rebounds.
 
Chico took the opening lead on Kevin Loustale's bucket 12 seconds into the game. James Williams hit a bucket 24 seconds later to give Enterprise its first points of the contest. Anthony Williams made a shot with four minutes left in the first as the Hornets were down 11-8. Holmes connected on a basket with 1:38 to go in the period as the Panthers kept a 13-10 lead.
 
Zink made a basket and a free throw with 6:03 remaining in the second quarter to cut Enterprise's deficit to 17-15. A three-pointer by Nate Anderson with 5:46 left in the period pushed Chico ahead 20-16. Loustale's hoop with 3:20 to go in the first half gave the Panthers a 25-20 lead. James Williams' three with 1:32 to go in the half kept the Hornets close at 27-25. Things began to change for Enterprise when Jovon Cunningham hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer as the Hornets went into the break with a 30-27 lead.
 
Holmes opened up the second half scoring for Chico by making a shot 31 seconds into the third quarter. Jacob Gray nailed a three-pointer with 6:14 remaining in the period for Enterprise's first score of the half. Zink's basket with 3:28 to go in the third gave the Hornets a 38-33 advantage. Holmes hit a bucket with 1:55 left in the quarter as the Panthers trailed 41-37.
 
A pair of free throws by Gray 25 seconds into the fourth quarter allowed Enterprise to take a 44-39 lead. Zach Stidham answered back with a hoop 12 seconds later for Chico's first score of the period. A basket and a free throw from Holmes with 3:47 remaining in the game kept the Panthers within seven points at 54-47. Zink made one of two free throws with 1:54 left in the contest as the Hornets took a 59-49 lead.
 
Gray helped Enterprise's cause by scoring 13 points and collecting four rebounds, while James Williams scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds. Anderson and Anthony Taylor each scored eight points for Chico.