Both Echo basketball teams opened up Big Sky Conference play with huge wins, blowing out Central Christian 60-20 in the girls game and 66-32 in the boys contest Friday in Echo.

For the girls, Kristen McCallum and Lauren Elligsen each scored 16 points to lead the Cougs on the offensive end, but defense was the story in this one.

Echo forced Central Christian into 42 turnovers while swipping the ball 27 times. Elligsen led the way with seven while Evangalyn Marcum contributed five.

The Cougars also had 13 assists, which usually isnt much unless the other team doesnt have any, which is exactly what happened.

Echo held the Tigers, who only suited down seven players, to 8 of 28 shooting. Conversly, the Cougs shot 27 of 62 from the field.

After opening up a modest 18-9 lead to end the first period, Elligsen scored four straight buckets to open the second frame. All of her baskets came off Echo steals, then four fastbreak layins. Echo held the Tigers to just two points in the frame, outscoring them 17-2 to take a commanding 35-11 lead into halftime.

Taylor Tarvin chipped in eight points  and Marcum had six. Central Christians Micah Roberts led the team with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Saturday, Echo fell to Condon/Wheeler, 65-34, is Fossil to even out its league mark at 1-1.

The boys game against the Tigers was more of the same. The Cougars forced 39 turnovers, scoring 42 points off them, to run away with their first Big Sky Conference win.

Esau Ibarra had a near-perfect night, connecting on 8 of 9 field goal attempts for 19 points.

Head coach Ben Campbell made sure to spread the floor time around with no player logging more than 20 minutes.

The Cougars held Central to 13 of 44 shooting and outrebounded them 44-31. Connor Bettencourt led Echo with six rebounds while Bryan Ibarra had five.

Brian Gutierrez scored 10 points and freshman CJ Flores came off the bench to score 10 as well. For the Tigers, David Dorman-Kelly scored a team-high 17 points.

Echo notched its second Big Sky win Saturday in Fossil, hammering the Condon/Wheeler Knights, 55-33.

After the Christmas holiday, both Echo teams will compete in the Walla Walla Tournament at Whitman College, Dec. 28-30.