Basketball story

Critique very much welcomed

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After last Monday's non-district matchup against Klein Collins, The Woodlands coach Dale Reed was in awe of the Tigers, admirably noting that their style of play emulated that of a college basketball team.
Opponents are quickly finding out that the Tigers are unlike any team they play.

With its dynamic duo of Julian Olvbuyi and Demetri Goodson again leading the way, Klein Collins earned a 63-50 victory over the Highlanders at home.

"I think we played well," Olvbuyi said. "I liked how we moved the ball around and we took control of the game late."

It was an electric start that put the Tigers (12-6) in that position.

Using a spread 1-4 offense, Klein Collins opened up a 14-5 lead early, forcing six Highlander turnovers within the first four minutes of the game.

"We hadn't shot the ball well in the past few games, so we came out with an emphasis on the offensive end," Tigers coach Tim Schumacher said. "They're really good about going out and trying to get what we want as a team accomplished."

With Goodson's penetration and controlled efficiency, The Woodlands (8-8) had a difficult time covering Klein Collins' offensive threats.

Goodson (17 points) directed a steady game, scoring nine of his team-high 17 points in the first half, while picking apart the defense and dishing to open Tiger shooters, who connected on 8 of 16 from 3-point land.

Olvbuyi (seven points) was content to lead the Tigers' defensive effort, hounding Highlander ballhandlers into 10 turnovers that led to 10 fast-break points.

"Demetri and Julian are so vital to our team," Schumacher said. "They're commitment to our team is incredible. Those guys played under some great guards as underclassmen the past few years, and they've learned from some of the best."

The Woodlands closed to within six points early in the third quarter before Collins went to a three-guard lineup, igniting a 7-0 closing run to the period that all but put the game away.

"That run was just due to our intensity," Olvbuyi said. "It carried over from our strong defensive play, and that's what we're about."

Schumacher was pleased with how well his team played in the closing minutes of a quarter he figured to be the turning point of the game.

"That was huge," he said. "It really was. It opened the game up a bit and we need to take advantage of opportunities like that when we get them.

"We haven't always been doing that in the past, but I think tonight we took a step in the right direction."

It's an overwhelming demand to ask a team to deny penetration, close out on shooters and get back and prevent transition breaks, but that's what opponents are challenged with against a Tiger unit that is ranked No. 25 in the rcssports.com rankings.

"This was an important game for us because we hadn't played this well at times during the past week," Schumacher said. "But our guys were committed tonight, and they knew it was important for us to get this win

 

Three things I would change:

"admirably noting that their style of play emulated that of a college basketball team."

So it was admirable of him to note? I think you want "admiringly", or just a different word entirely.

"Olvbuyi (seven points) was content to lead the Tigers' defensive effort, hounding Highlander ballhandlers into 10 turnovers that led to 10 fast-break points."

"ballhandlers" seems unneccesary.

"Demetri and Julian are so vital to our team," Schumacher said. "They're commitment to our team is incredible...

use Their, not They're.

Otherwise, this is a good recap because it conveys both the big picture and the key stretches.

 

The first two sentences are the equivalent of a pretzel. We have to unravel them to get the straight dope.

 

Great points.

And, yea, the last point was a "D'oh!" on my part.