By Marissa VanWingen

Ellsworth Community College took an early lead and never looked back in an 81-34 victory over Sauk Valley on Tuesday.

The Panthers took a 7-6 in the first quarter before blowing the game wide open. A steal and bucket by Inma Martinez started an 11-2 run to end the quarter with a 10-point Panther advantage. In that stretch, the visitors only points came from the free throw line.

The suffocating defense continued in the second quarter as the Panthers advantage was never in peril. Sauk Valley (0-2) recorded one field goal in the period as ECC outscored them 14-8 to double-up the visitors scoring output at the half, 32-16.

The Panthers added to the lead, on top by 19 (40-21) and ended the third quarter on an 18-0 run that started with a Rosario Mera drive down the middle of the lane. The last bucket of the period was a Claudia Sanz Dorange layup to make it 58-21.

While the Skyhawks had their most offensive production in the fourth period, scoring double digits (13), ECC still won the quarter but 10 points for the 47-point victory.

All 11 players that played for the hosts scored, led by Sanz Dorange with 12 and Asia Beale added 11. As a team, they stole the ball 18 times, led by Martinez (four) and Beale (4), Sanz Dorange added three.

For more photos from the game, visit: 11-4-25 ECC vs. Sauk Valley basketball | Gallery | timescitizen.com

NJCAA Basketball
Tuesday at Iowa Falls

SVCC: 8| 8| 5| 13 – 34
ECC: 18| 14| 26| 23 – 81

ECC Scoring: Claudia Sanz Dorange 5 1-2 12; Asia Beale 4 3-4 11; Kana Nagashima 3 1-2 9; Inma Martinez 3 1-1 8; Addy Dennis 2 3-3 8; Sare Celaya Urrutia 2 3-4 8; Sofia Berraquero Beltran 3 0-0 7; Rosario Mera 3 0-0 6; Brooklyn Love 1 3-3 5; Yaiza Soriano Balaguer 2 0-2 4; Rebekka Holm 1 0-0 3.