Stevenson came from behind in the second half to eliminate Elma, 55-44, in the first half of the doubleheader on Monday, Feb. 13.

That concluded Elma’s season at 4-16. Elma had lost to Trico League champion King’s Way Christian 67-42 in the district opener last week.

With Avery Brown scoring 11 points and his teammates having a hand in 18 Stevenson turnovers, Elma led 23-19 at the half on Feb. 13.

The Eagles, however, had committed 13 turnovers of their own in that half. Their inability to pad their lead proved crucial when the Bulldogs improved their offensive efficiency in the second half.

Stevenson’s Austin Brannan, who entered the game averaging more than 23 points per contest, buried a trio of 3-pointers in scoring 12 points in the third quarter alone. The Bulldogs took a 38-30 lead into the fourth quarter and were never threatened.

“If we hadn’t had that many turnovers (in the first half), that could have easily been a 12-16-point (lead) at halftime,” Elma coach Marvin Prince said. “In the second half, we didn’t turn it over as much but we didn’t attack the basket as much. We got passive on the offensive end.”

Brannan led all scorers with 27 points.

Brown topped the Eagles with 16 points. Guard Sohtye Tep, one of six Elma seniors closing out their prep careers, scored eight of his 10 points in the second half.

Trace Thompson, one of Elma’s leading scorers, missed the final four games with a broken elbow.

“In all of the years I’ve coached, this team (consists) of some of the most enjoyable young men I’ve had,” Prince concluded. “Every day, they came to work. For these kids to stick with it every day says a lot about them.”

Prince thanked his assistant coaches Ken Witt and Carson Seaberg for their work this season.

Stevenson 11 8 19 17 — 55 Elma 9 14 7 14 — 44

Stevenson (55) —Fielding, Brannan 27, Hoidal 3, Delarosa 4, Campbell 4, Lanz, Nichols 11, Krog 2, Pearson 4, Hansen. FG — 20-45 (.444). FT — 10-13.

Elma (44) — A.J. Brown 8, Tep 10, Vollen 4, Spalding 2, Avery Brown 16, Peterson 4, Schneider, Acuff. FG — 16-46 (.348). FT — 8-15.