I would imagine that when the Eagles when saw the tournament bracket for this past week's Fox Tournament, their reaction was similar to mine.
Oh boy.
In a tournament that featured powerhouses such as University City, Ladue and Fort Zumwalt South, the guys were seeded fifth, unfamiliar ground after they were starting first in their previous two tournaments. However, this week offered something that the Winfield and Clopton tournaments couldn't. This week, the Eagles got a chance to be in a tournament with the big boys.
Prior to this tournament, the Eagles were starting to catch their stride. Adam Glenville, the team's leading scorer from the 2009-2010 campaign, was starting to come into his own again as a scorer and rebounder. Blake Meers was continuing with his scary consistent play. Andrew Frank was steadily producing points. The bench was starting to contribute to the statsheet. And, most excitingly, the team was starting to find their three-point stroke. And all of it was going to be put to the test, starting with undefeated St. Louis Christian. If they came away victorious, they would get the chance to tussle with University City, the number one team in the tournament.
Unfortunately, the Eagles didn't get the chance. After entering the half with a 40-32 lead, the Eagles caved and fell to the Cougars, 71-80. Now this was in no way a devestating loss. In fact, it could be argued that this was the best team the Eagles had faced all year. And the Eagles didn't play horribly either. The Eagles out-rebounded, out-blocked, and had more assists then the Cougars. They were spear-headed by fantastic performances by Glenville (25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), Meers (24 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks), and Frank (11 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists). The Eagles just had too many turnovers (18). It was a disappointing loss only because of the half-time lead. But they didn't have time to mope. They still had two more games to play. And next, they faced Gateway Tech, a team that lost to U. City by only 10 points. Even the last-seeded team wasn't going to give the guys any breaks. And the guys knew it. Instead of becoming discouraged and folding, the Eagles showed up and soundly defeated the Jaguars, 76-62. Meers continued his streak of dominance (28 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks) and Glenville did a little more than just pitch in (23 points, 8 rebounds). Finally, the Eagles headed to the consolation championship against the host school, Fox. Once again, the Eagles showed up. Meers, Glenville, and Frank pitched in 41 points (15, 14, 12 respectively) and 23 rebounds (6, 7, 10 respectively) and the Eagles got a solid contribution from Ben Pickett (7 points, 7 rebounds). Ultimately, the boys finished the tournament 2-1 and came out of the tournament sporting a 10-5 record.
So you may be asking what the point of this article is. So far all I've done is throw out stats and scores. Well, my angle stems from the opening few paragraphs. This tournament was by far the most competitive that the Eagles had played in this year. And I know Eagles fans would have loved to square off against the likes of Zumwalt South and University City. My point is that the Eagles got to experience that atmosphere and come away with a few wins. They faced an incredibly athletic team in St. Louis Christian and played well. They just couldn't come away with a W. However, they got to still face a good Gateway Tech team and a decent Fox team. And in these cases, they did get the win. All with the experience of playing in a big-time tournament. Those are small things that could go a long way come districts. It was encouraging to see dominant flashes from Blake and Adam. And Andrew continued his consistent play. The only thing that was missing this week was the bench production. The bench only produced 11 points in three games, all coming from Zach Wetzel and Lance Lehmann. But this doesn't worry me. I know that as the Eagles enter the second half of their season, Coach Meers and Lehmann will have all of the Eagles on a tear going into districts. And with all of these small details being worked on, this last week could be a week fans look back on as a turning point.
BONUS: MID-SEASON AWARDS
I have taken this opportunity to hand out the mid-season CHS Hoops Awards. The awards include...
MVP: You all know this one.
Ray Allen Award: Awarded to the team's best shooter.
Steve Nash Award: Awarded to the team's best passer.
Dwight Howard Award: Awarded to the team's best defensive player.
110 Award: Awarded to the player who exhibits the most hustle.
Captain's Award: Awarded to the team's strongest leader.
MVP: Blake Meers
It's a tough call considering Meers and Glenville have eerily similar stat lines, but in the end Meers get's the award for his overall outstanding play. He contributes on the stat sheet on both sides of the ball. Here's a rundown of Meers' stats (all per game)... 16.5 points; 7.3 rebounds; 2.73 assists; 2.73 blocks; 1.87 steals.
Ray Allen Award: Adam Glenville
In a year where the shooting is constantly improving, Glenville shines bright. If you take away his 1-9 performance against Elsberry, he is shooting 39% from behind the arc. He also supports the second best FT percentage on the team at 62%.
Steve Nash Award: Andrew Frank
Frank is very smart player with an excellent eye for the court. He is among the area leaders in assists at 3.73 per game and makes some excellent passes that aren't always finished.
Dwight Howard Award: Brendan Norwine
Brendan is a quick PG with great hands. He is among the area leaders in steals per game at 2.73. And opposing point guards always seem to have difficulty scoring against him.
110 Award: Ben Pickett
Even though Ben's stats don't always show up on the sheets, his hustle always shows up on the floor. A very agile defensive player, Pickett always goes his hardest. Impressive considering he's had some struggles with a fragile ankle.
Captain's Award: Blake Meers
Just another reason why he is the mid-season MVP. Blake, while not the tallest guy on the court, is a physical presence down low. He has a passion for the game that is easy to see and he is good at controlling his words on the court (with an occasional slip up). He is everything a senior leader needs to be.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Not Champions Yet
So, over the last few days I've had quite a few people comment on how I haven't written in a while. Well, I was going to write about last week's Clopton Tournament. I actually sat down to write it. But I couldn't. For some reason, I couldn't. And tonight I figured out why...
As a writer, I need to write the truth. And of course, I can't ignore the fact that the Eagles coughed up yet another tournament championship game by shooting a dreadful 4-24 from behind the arc and committing not-so-timely turnovers. Instead of finishing the tournament with an 8-3 record and a redeeming victory for the Fort Zumwalt North loss, the Eagles felt the sharp pang of defeat again, this time at the hand of the Elsberry Indians.
However, I did discover one thing that I won't do as a writer. This is high school basketball. I'm not gonna dwell on mistakes, because these guys aren't professionals. It's gonna happen. Instead of focusing on the poor shooting and ball control, I can focus on the positives.
Take Adam Glenville for example. Last year's breakout star had a slow start, averaging 12.5 points and 8 rebounds per game in the first four games. That may not seem "slow", but in the last four games, Glenville has been reminding us who he was last year and how he is developing as a player. In the last four games, Adam has put up 18.25 points per game and 9.25 rebounds per game. This includes 36% from beyond the perimeter (50% if you exclude the 1-9 performance against Elsberry) and a selection to the all-tournament team at Clopton (though it's debatable whether he should have been the MVP.) Glenville also looks more confident with the ball. His shot selection is good (aside from a few mistakes here and there) and his drives are great. Glenville is the team's best free throw shooter at 64% and he does a great job of getting to the bucket and getting to the line. He's great in transition and as a small forward, he's taller than most people who play the position, making his defense a great asset to his game. And like last year, Glenville is just going to keep getting better.
Also of note is the emergence of two bench players, Lance Lehmann and Zach Wetzel. Wetzel, a junior, and Lehmann, a sophomore, have been contributors on the floor this year, adding strong, physical minutes when needed, but last week's tournament suggested that these two are ready to start stuffing their stat line a little bit. During the tournament, Lehmann averaged 8.3 points per game including a very good 41% from 3-point range. Wetzel averaged 6.7 points per game and shot 38% from the promised land. This includes an impressive 14 point game against Confluence. Now you may ask why I'm concentrating so much on shooting with these two. Mostly because Wetzel and Lehmann have risen to the occassion and made themselves the sharp-shooters. If they continue their rise, they'll see more playing time. Which means about 15 points that the Eagles were missing at the beginning of the year.
Finally, the Eagles rebounded nicely against Wright City tonight. It was an impressive 55-33 effort that brought the Eagles to 8-4 on the season. And looking down the schedule, the Eagles only have one or two more games in which they really aren't favorites. Aside from the unorthodox collapse against Elsberry, the Eagles have been dominant in their 3 victories this semester. And this is the part of the season in which the games start to pile up. I know from experience that Coach Meers and Coach Lehmann will have them physically ready. The question is simply this. Which Eagles team is gonna show up? The one that outscored their opponents by an average of 31 points in their three victories this half? Or the one that laid an egg against Elsberry? I'm not worried. I'm confident in the first choice. Because the latter isn't like them. And sooner or later, the guys are gonna rise to the occassion. No reason to be negative about that.
As a writer, I need to write the truth. And of course, I can't ignore the fact that the Eagles coughed up yet another tournament championship game by shooting a dreadful 4-24 from behind the arc and committing not-so-timely turnovers. Instead of finishing the tournament with an 8-3 record and a redeeming victory for the Fort Zumwalt North loss, the Eagles felt the sharp pang of defeat again, this time at the hand of the Elsberry Indians.
However, I did discover one thing that I won't do as a writer. This is high school basketball. I'm not gonna dwell on mistakes, because these guys aren't professionals. It's gonna happen. Instead of focusing on the poor shooting and ball control, I can focus on the positives.
Take Adam Glenville for example. Last year's breakout star had a slow start, averaging 12.5 points and 8 rebounds per game in the first four games. That may not seem "slow", but in the last four games, Glenville has been reminding us who he was last year and how he is developing as a player. In the last four games, Adam has put up 18.25 points per game and 9.25 rebounds per game. This includes 36% from beyond the perimeter (50% if you exclude the 1-9 performance against Elsberry) and a selection to the all-tournament team at Clopton (though it's debatable whether he should have been the MVP.) Glenville also looks more confident with the ball. His shot selection is good (aside from a few mistakes here and there) and his drives are great. Glenville is the team's best free throw shooter at 64% and he does a great job of getting to the bucket and getting to the line. He's great in transition and as a small forward, he's taller than most people who play the position, making his defense a great asset to his game. And like last year, Glenville is just going to keep getting better.
Also of note is the emergence of two bench players, Lance Lehmann and Zach Wetzel. Wetzel, a junior, and Lehmann, a sophomore, have been contributors on the floor this year, adding strong, physical minutes when needed, but last week's tournament suggested that these two are ready to start stuffing their stat line a little bit. During the tournament, Lehmann averaged 8.3 points per game including a very good 41% from 3-point range. Wetzel averaged 6.7 points per game and shot 38% from the promised land. This includes an impressive 14 point game against Confluence. Now you may ask why I'm concentrating so much on shooting with these two. Mostly because Wetzel and Lehmann have risen to the occassion and made themselves the sharp-shooters. If they continue their rise, they'll see more playing time. Which means about 15 points that the Eagles were missing at the beginning of the year.
Finally, the Eagles rebounded nicely against Wright City tonight. It was an impressive 55-33 effort that brought the Eagles to 8-4 on the season. And looking down the schedule, the Eagles only have one or two more games in which they really aren't favorites. Aside from the unorthodox collapse against Elsberry, the Eagles have been dominant in their 3 victories this semester. And this is the part of the season in which the games start to pile up. I know from experience that Coach Meers and Coach Lehmann will have them physically ready. The question is simply this. Which Eagles team is gonna show up? The one that outscored their opponents by an average of 31 points in their three victories this half? Or the one that laid an egg against Elsberry? I'm not worried. I'm confident in the first choice. Because the latter isn't like them. And sooner or later, the guys are gonna rise to the occassion. No reason to be negative about that.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Are You Ready For Some B-Ball?
In basketball, I find that the line between fantasy and reality is often blurred. For example, let's look at the infamous Miami Heat. When the Heat acquired the three biggest free agents on the market (Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh), everyone assumed that they were unstoppable. The hype was built to an unbelievable level, especially as the NBA Tip-Off approached. And what did all of the waiting basketball fans get to see? They got the pleasure of seeing the Miami Heat fall flat on their faces to the aging, but talented Boston Celtics. Over the next few weeks, the Heat were the perfect picture of "bleh." Even with the most bedazzled team in the NBA, the Heat couldn't escape the extreme mediocrity that plagued them.
Now you may ask what this has to do with the guys and how their season is playing out...
Don't think for a second that I'm calling the guys mediocre. As a matter of fact I think they're playing very well. My point is, the expectations for the Heat were that they would go undefeated, beating every team by 20 or more. And obviously, the Heat didn't follow up with those results. I think going into this season, CHS Eagles fans had similar expectations. With all 5 starters returning (plus all of the top reserves), why wouldn't the Eagles contend for a state championship this year? In fact, why shouldn't they easily defeat every single team they play? Well, folks, I've got some news for you. Unless you're the UConn Huskies women's team, you aren't going to win every game. Every team has its off-nights, and so does every player, especially in high school when the players are finding the strengths and weaknesses of their game. But enough of this, let's talk about our Eagles...
The Eagles are going into Christmas break with a solid 5-3 record that boasts wins over St. Charles High and Hannibal, and features losses to Fort Zumwalt North, Imagine College Prep, and Parkway West. And even though it isn't technically mid-season, I think we've seen enough to evaluate what the Eagles are doing well and what they need to improve. Let's start with the positive...
Positive
Forcing the Issue: The Eagles have always had one consistent strength...their fastbreak. They're a fast-moving team that pushes the ball and is great in transition. And of course, there's no exception this year. Teams are having major problems stopping the Eagles from running the court. Coach Dave Meers has the guys in shape and running wild. No problems here. Moving on.
The Front Lines: When your five starters are producing, you're always going to be a step ahead of the competition. And that's exactly what the Eagles have in every single game they play. The Eagles starting five are starting off the year rolling. Here's the starting five's stat line (all numbers are averages per game)...
Andrew Frank: 11.6 points, 3.5 assists, 40% 3-point shooting
Adam Glenville: 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 32% 3-point shooting
Blake Meers: 16 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks
Brendan Norwine: 4.8 points, 2.9 steals, 36% 3-point shooting
Ben Pickett: 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds
Do the math and the Eagles starters are averaging 52 points a game. Even casual fans know that in a lot of high school basketball games, you won't even see 52 points scored by a team. When five players can collectively put 52 points on the scoreboard, you're team is gonna be dangerous. And that's what the Eagles have.
Bonus!: The Eagles reserves are starting to contribute. Lance Lehmann is showing that he can provide help on the offensive side of the ball. His shot still needs a little bit of work, but as a sophomore, it's already much better than a lot of people playing varsity basketball right now. He's going to be a great shooter soon. Robby Wilkinson adds a defensive presence on the floor and is a solid passer. A.J. Wynn and Jordan Norwine are doing a good job of backing up Brendan when he needs a rest. Zach Wetzel, a known shooter, hasn't had many looks yet but he's as reliable as anyone when he gets open shots. Freshmen Evan Marcks and Deantrell Prince are also starting to see good minutes.
Making it rain (or snow): If theres one thing the Eagles have struggled with in the past few years, it's outside shooting. This year? Not so much. The guys have showed up to this point that not only are they going to challenge their opponents with their fast style of play, but they have a threat present with their outside shooting. From behind the arc, the Eagles are shooting 31%, a good percentage considering they were 0-15 in the first two games. And even though there aren't stats to record other mid-range and long-range two-pointers, the Eagles have been able to consitently knock these shots down when it counted. And it's not only that their shooting is good, their shot selection is excellent. The boys don't force threes. They take the open looks. Their successful threes come from quick passes and good ball movement, which is something the Eagles seem to have a lot of this year. If the Eagles can boost their 3-point percentage just a little bit, they'll be an even more dangerous team then they are now.
Now for the negative. Luckily theres only one outstanding spot, with the addition of some turnover issues. But the most extreme negative is, you guessed it...
Negative
Cashing In: The charity stripe. That is going to be the key to the rest of the season for the Eagles. Let's break this down...
The Eagles have shot 184 free throws this season. They've made 96, compiling a 52% average. They shoot an average of 23 free throws a game and make an average of 11.
Now let's imagine that the Eagles shot 70% from the charity stripe, a pretty good percentage. Then they would make 16 a game, adding 5 points to their average per game. That automatically erases the loss to FZN and changes the dynamics of the other two losses, games which were close in the final quarter of the game (the Imagine game was close in the final minutes.) In order to win big games, the Eagles need to make those free shots. This prevents their opponents from playing overly-aggresive defense in close games, opening up more shots and probably swinging the momentum to the Eagles in certain situations.
Like I said, the Eagles are playing pretty well. Realistically, the Eagles could be 8-0. The loss to FZN was a heart-breaking loss on a shot that should have gone in. The losses to Parkway West and Imagine were games that were closer then their scores let on. The Eagles just missed a few opporunities. But, like I said, it happens. What defines a team is how it reacts when it faces adversity. And the CHS Eagles have done a great job of following losses strong.
Looking at the Eagles expectations for this year, I would say this; I believe they're meeting expectations. And they're getting better. The boys have displayed flashes of dominance in many of their wins and really outplayed some of their opponents in their losses. As they continuously get better, the Eagles will show that they're ready to surpass those expectations that many people set for them. January and February are heavy months for the Eagles. This is when the Eagles will show everyone the team they can be. And just like the Heat are doing now, the Eagles are going to start dominating. If you're an Eagle fan, now is the time to start watching.
Merry Christmas from CHS Hoops! Thank you for the support!
Now you may ask what this has to do with the guys and how their season is playing out...
Don't think for a second that I'm calling the guys mediocre. As a matter of fact I think they're playing very well. My point is, the expectations for the Heat were that they would go undefeated, beating every team by 20 or more. And obviously, the Heat didn't follow up with those results. I think going into this season, CHS Eagles fans had similar expectations. With all 5 starters returning (plus all of the top reserves), why wouldn't the Eagles contend for a state championship this year? In fact, why shouldn't they easily defeat every single team they play? Well, folks, I've got some news for you. Unless you're the UConn Huskies women's team, you aren't going to win every game. Every team has its off-nights, and so does every player, especially in high school when the players are finding the strengths and weaknesses of their game. But enough of this, let's talk about our Eagles...
The Eagles are going into Christmas break with a solid 5-3 record that boasts wins over St. Charles High and Hannibal, and features losses to Fort Zumwalt North, Imagine College Prep, and Parkway West. And even though it isn't technically mid-season, I think we've seen enough to evaluate what the Eagles are doing well and what they need to improve. Let's start with the positive...
Positive
Forcing the Issue: The Eagles have always had one consistent strength...their fastbreak. They're a fast-moving team that pushes the ball and is great in transition. And of course, there's no exception this year. Teams are having major problems stopping the Eagles from running the court. Coach Dave Meers has the guys in shape and running wild. No problems here. Moving on.
The Front Lines: When your five starters are producing, you're always going to be a step ahead of the competition. And that's exactly what the Eagles have in every single game they play. The Eagles starting five are starting off the year rolling. Here's the starting five's stat line (all numbers are averages per game)...
Andrew Frank: 11.6 points, 3.5 assists, 40% 3-point shooting
Adam Glenville: 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 32% 3-point shooting
Blake Meers: 16 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks
Brendan Norwine: 4.8 points, 2.9 steals, 36% 3-point shooting
Ben Pickett: 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds
Do the math and the Eagles starters are averaging 52 points a game. Even casual fans know that in a lot of high school basketball games, you won't even see 52 points scored by a team. When five players can collectively put 52 points on the scoreboard, you're team is gonna be dangerous. And that's what the Eagles have.
Bonus!: The Eagles reserves are starting to contribute. Lance Lehmann is showing that he can provide help on the offensive side of the ball. His shot still needs a little bit of work, but as a sophomore, it's already much better than a lot of people playing varsity basketball right now. He's going to be a great shooter soon. Robby Wilkinson adds a defensive presence on the floor and is a solid passer. A.J. Wynn and Jordan Norwine are doing a good job of backing up Brendan when he needs a rest. Zach Wetzel, a known shooter, hasn't had many looks yet but he's as reliable as anyone when he gets open shots. Freshmen Evan Marcks and Deantrell Prince are also starting to see good minutes.
Making it rain (or snow): If theres one thing the Eagles have struggled with in the past few years, it's outside shooting. This year? Not so much. The guys have showed up to this point that not only are they going to challenge their opponents with their fast style of play, but they have a threat present with their outside shooting. From behind the arc, the Eagles are shooting 31%, a good percentage considering they were 0-15 in the first two games. And even though there aren't stats to record other mid-range and long-range two-pointers, the Eagles have been able to consitently knock these shots down when it counted. And it's not only that their shooting is good, their shot selection is excellent. The boys don't force threes. They take the open looks. Their successful threes come from quick passes and good ball movement, which is something the Eagles seem to have a lot of this year. If the Eagles can boost their 3-point percentage just a little bit, they'll be an even more dangerous team then they are now.
Now for the negative. Luckily theres only one outstanding spot, with the addition of some turnover issues. But the most extreme negative is, you guessed it...
Negative
Cashing In: The charity stripe. That is going to be the key to the rest of the season for the Eagles. Let's break this down...
The Eagles have shot 184 free throws this season. They've made 96, compiling a 52% average. They shoot an average of 23 free throws a game and make an average of 11.
Now let's imagine that the Eagles shot 70% from the charity stripe, a pretty good percentage. Then they would make 16 a game, adding 5 points to their average per game. That automatically erases the loss to FZN and changes the dynamics of the other two losses, games which were close in the final quarter of the game (the Imagine game was close in the final minutes.) In order to win big games, the Eagles need to make those free shots. This prevents their opponents from playing overly-aggresive defense in close games, opening up more shots and probably swinging the momentum to the Eagles in certain situations.
Like I said, the Eagles are playing pretty well. Realistically, the Eagles could be 8-0. The loss to FZN was a heart-breaking loss on a shot that should have gone in. The losses to Parkway West and Imagine were games that were closer then their scores let on. The Eagles just missed a few opporunities. But, like I said, it happens. What defines a team is how it reacts when it faces adversity. And the CHS Eagles have done a great job of following losses strong.
Looking at the Eagles expectations for this year, I would say this; I believe they're meeting expectations. And they're getting better. The boys have displayed flashes of dominance in many of their wins and really outplayed some of their opponents in their losses. As they continuously get better, the Eagles will show that they're ready to surpass those expectations that many people set for them. January and February are heavy months for the Eagles. This is when the Eagles will show everyone the team they can be. And just like the Heat are doing now, the Eagles are going to start dominating. If you're an Eagle fan, now is the time to start watching.
Merry Christmas from CHS Hoops! Thank you for the support!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Deja Vú?
"My goal in sailing isn't to be brilliant or flashy in individual races, just to be consistent over the long run."
This quote comes from Dennis Conner, a famous competitive American sailor. Yes I know, this blog is about basketball, not sailing. But clearly this quote can pertain to all sports. Especially basketball. And if you take a look at this quote, it really does apply to the Eagles' young season.
This week played out eerily similar to last week. After their destruction of Clopton on Wednesday (as I wrote about in my previous entry), the Eagles faced two challenges over the weekend. St. Charles High at home on Friday night. And then, Imagine College Prep on Saturday at the Midwest Showdown Shootout. Let's start with Friday.
If fans thought the Eagles looked good on Wednesday night, then I can't imagine what they thought on Friday night. The Eagles played as well as they have all season. Led by Andrew Frank (24 points, 4-5 from 3-point range) and Adam Glenville (18 points, 11 rebounds), the Eagles soundly defeated the Pirates of St. Charles High by a score of 67-52. Surprisingly, what carried the Eagles last night was their shooting.
Yes I said shooting.
3 pointers no less.
The Eagles couldn't miss last night. They shot 67% (Frank 4-5, Glenville 3-4, Lehmann 1-2) from behind the arc, a staggering number for a high school team. The Eagles did a fantastic job of quickly moving the ball around, getting the open shot, and knocking it down, which, up to this point, is something that they've had trouble doing. FOr a long time, the Eagles have had strengths in these areas: athleticism, fast-breaks, drives, inside play. Their weaknesses? Outside shooting and free throws. On Friday night, the Eagles overcame one of their weaknesses, adding another element to their game. This is an encouraging sign. If the Eagles can begin to shoot well from the outside (although I must admit, 67% is a bit steep to expect in every game), teams who scout them will have no weaknesses to expose on the defensive side of the ball.
But like I said, this week ended like last week. With a rough loss. The Eagles fell to Imagine College Prep 43-37 on Saturday. And looking at the stats, it's clear what caused the Eagles to take a tumble to 4-2. Unlike on Friday, the Eagles were cold from long range Saturday. They dropped 45 percentage points in one day, shooting 2-9 from three. Like I said, this is one of their weaknesses. But after having such a hot night, no one would've expected such a hard shooting day for the boys. Cold outside shooting makes the Eagles game more one-dimensional. And no matter how impressive that one dimension is, the Eagles can't be the dominant team they want to be if they can't shoot from the outside.
Finally, there is one thing that haunted the Eagles on both nights. Free throws. The Eagles shot a combined 16-41 (39%) from the charity stripe this weekend. Yikes. That's a scary stat. If the Eagles can't hit their free throws, then any leads that they hold, unless they are commanding leads, are in jeopardy. And if the Eagles are in a tight game down the stretch, free throws will be a key part in taking home a W. In case I haven't stressed it enough, free throws are important. And 39% just isn't good enough.
Like I said, this week played out eerily similar to last week. After two very impressive wins at home, the Eagles fell short in a high-intensity game because of some missed oppurtunities. But let's look on the bright side. Senior Andrew Frank is getting better and better every game. Junior Adam Glenville is finding the form that made him the team's leading scorer last year. Brendan Norwine, Blake Meers, and Ben Pickett are all improving as the season goes on. And, aside from Saturday, the Eagles promptly dropped their turnover and shooting problems. Now all that remains is those pesky free throws. Next weekend, the Eagles head to Quincy, Illinois for the Quincy Shootout and then size up against Parkway West in the Family Arena for the GAC Shootout. If the Eagles can take home two wins, they will enter Christmas break at 6-2. If they want that to happen, then they'll need to stay consistent with the physical play, minimal turnovers, and hot shooting. They'll also need to solve this free throw problem. Fast. However, I'm confident that the Eagles will be able to shake off this loss and pick up two wins next weekend. Then they'll have all of Christmas break to iron out the wrinkles and avoid anymore weeks that leave Eagles fans with that odd feeling of deja vú.
This quote comes from Dennis Conner, a famous competitive American sailor. Yes I know, this blog is about basketball, not sailing. But clearly this quote can pertain to all sports. Especially basketball. And if you take a look at this quote, it really does apply to the Eagles' young season.
This week played out eerily similar to last week. After their destruction of Clopton on Wednesday (as I wrote about in my previous entry), the Eagles faced two challenges over the weekend. St. Charles High at home on Friday night. And then, Imagine College Prep on Saturday at the Midwest Showdown Shootout. Let's start with Friday.
If fans thought the Eagles looked good on Wednesday night, then I can't imagine what they thought on Friday night. The Eagles played as well as they have all season. Led by Andrew Frank (24 points, 4-5 from 3-point range) and Adam Glenville (18 points, 11 rebounds), the Eagles soundly defeated the Pirates of St. Charles High by a score of 67-52. Surprisingly, what carried the Eagles last night was their shooting.
Yes I said shooting.
3 pointers no less.
The Eagles couldn't miss last night. They shot 67% (Frank 4-5, Glenville 3-4, Lehmann 1-2) from behind the arc, a staggering number for a high school team. The Eagles did a fantastic job of quickly moving the ball around, getting the open shot, and knocking it down, which, up to this point, is something that they've had trouble doing. FOr a long time, the Eagles have had strengths in these areas: athleticism, fast-breaks, drives, inside play. Their weaknesses? Outside shooting and free throws. On Friday night, the Eagles overcame one of their weaknesses, adding another element to their game. This is an encouraging sign. If the Eagles can begin to shoot well from the outside (although I must admit, 67% is a bit steep to expect in every game), teams who scout them will have no weaknesses to expose on the defensive side of the ball.
But like I said, this week ended like last week. With a rough loss. The Eagles fell to Imagine College Prep 43-37 on Saturday. And looking at the stats, it's clear what caused the Eagles to take a tumble to 4-2. Unlike on Friday, the Eagles were cold from long range Saturday. They dropped 45 percentage points in one day, shooting 2-9 from three. Like I said, this is one of their weaknesses. But after having such a hot night, no one would've expected such a hard shooting day for the boys. Cold outside shooting makes the Eagles game more one-dimensional. And no matter how impressive that one dimension is, the Eagles can't be the dominant team they want to be if they can't shoot from the outside.
Finally, there is one thing that haunted the Eagles on both nights. Free throws. The Eagles shot a combined 16-41 (39%) from the charity stripe this weekend. Yikes. That's a scary stat. If the Eagles can't hit their free throws, then any leads that they hold, unless they are commanding leads, are in jeopardy. And if the Eagles are in a tight game down the stretch, free throws will be a key part in taking home a W. In case I haven't stressed it enough, free throws are important. And 39% just isn't good enough.
Like I said, this week played out eerily similar to last week. After two very impressive wins at home, the Eagles fell short in a high-intensity game because of some missed oppurtunities. But let's look on the bright side. Senior Andrew Frank is getting better and better every game. Junior Adam Glenville is finding the form that made him the team's leading scorer last year. Brendan Norwine, Blake Meers, and Ben Pickett are all improving as the season goes on. And, aside from Saturday, the Eagles promptly dropped their turnover and shooting problems. Now all that remains is those pesky free throws. Next weekend, the Eagles head to Quincy, Illinois for the Quincy Shootout and then size up against Parkway West in the Family Arena for the GAC Shootout. If the Eagles can take home two wins, they will enter Christmas break at 6-2. If they want that to happen, then they'll need to stay consistent with the physical play, minimal turnovers, and hot shooting. They'll also need to solve this free throw problem. Fast. However, I'm confident that the Eagles will be able to shake off this loss and pick up two wins next weekend. Then they'll have all of Christmas break to iron out the wrinkles and avoid anymore weeks that leave Eagles fans with that odd feeling of deja vú.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Bouncing Back and Winning Big
It's games like the one that the Eagles played on Wednesday that make you leave the gym thinking one word to yourself...Ouch. Not in a way that makes you sick to your stomach (unlike last Friday's adventure), but in the way that you just laugh and say it to yourself. 60-21? Ouch. At least, that's what I was saying to myself as I drove home from the Eagles' first home game of the '10-'11 season. Usually after these obviously mismatched games, fans have a tendency to think that the reason their team won by such an eye-popping amount was more due to the losing side than the winning one. But you know what else I was thinking as I drove home from the 40 point shellacking that the Eagles so kindly handed to the Clopton Hawks? "Ouch. The Hawks sure did get the best of us tonight."
Any fan who watched seriously tonight had to be impressed with the Eagles performance. They bounced back from that heart-breaking loss against FZN by wrecking Clopton 60-21. So they played a blood donor. Who cares? The boys looked sharp. The starting five couldn't have been more dominant. Let's go down the list...
Blake Meers: The MVP of the Tip-Off Classic didn't show any signs of slowing down tonight. After a slow start that included some missed shots down low, Meers let everyone know who was gonna dominate the post. He was physical, he pulled down rebounds, he put back misses, and he had 5 blocks. Need I say more?
Andrew Frank: The senior guard continued to impress Eagle fans tonight. Frank led all scorers tonight with 16. But as impressive as that is, even more impressive is how he did it. He was EVERYWHERE. I can't tell you how many fast-break layups and impressive drives he had tonight. And even still, he continues to command the floor. The way he handles himself with the ball is unmatched by anyone who sizes up with him on the hardwood.
Brendan Norwine: Brendan played tonight like he did last year. His ball-handling was impeccable. He had some nice drives and dishes. Most importantly for the Eagles though, he started to find his shot. He only shot two 3's tonight, but he did make one. One of the most dangerous things about Norwine is his ability to knock down open shots. I'm fully expecting defenses leaving him wide open as they guard Frank, Meers, and Adam Glenville. And with Brendan hot, that's good news for the Eagles.
Ben Pickett: The people call him Bendrick for a reason. Tonight, Pickett was excellent in his area of expertise: defense. When Ben is on, he is an absolute force down low. He can he use his quick hands to snatch the ball from a larger post-player, and he can also jump up there and stuff some guys too. Not only that, but Ben knocked down some tough shots tonight. In one instance, as he took a five-foot shot, two Hawk players yanked his arm down. No problem. He hit it anyway. He ended the night with 9 points. If Ben can continue to contribute his excellent defense and catch fire on the offensive side of the ball, opposing forwards are in for some trouble.
Adam Glenville: Last year's leading scorer looked like his old self tonight. He put up 14 points, tying him with Meers as the team's second leading scorer. But the thing that excited me about Glenville's game was his shot. Unlike last week, when he seemed to be forcing shots that weren't there, G-Money was smart with the ball tonight. When he wasn't comfortable with a shot, he kicked it out. But when he got an open look, he put it down. He knocked down 2 of 4 tonight. And from what we've seen, he can shoot even better. As an avid fan, I can't wait to go to games so I can see him put up 20-30 points night with about 3 or 4 threes thrown in there. And that day isn't far off.
So, all-in-all, tonight was a game that the Eagles could've played two ways.
1) Play with half the effort they could and know they could still walk away with a pretty sizable victory.
2) Play with intensity and make a point that no one is gonna win in their house.
Obviously, they went with option 2. And that's good. Because in their next two games, they won't get pushovers. On Friday, St. Charles High comes to CHS. And on Saturday, the Eagles go to Lindenwood to take on the always athletic Imagine Prep Bears. But I'm not worried. I'm looking forward to writing again on Saturday and telling you all about how strong and how dominant the Eagles look. And if they play like they did tonight, I'll get to do it all season long.
Any fan who watched seriously tonight had to be impressed with the Eagles performance. They bounced back from that heart-breaking loss against FZN by wrecking Clopton 60-21. So they played a blood donor. Who cares? The boys looked sharp. The starting five couldn't have been more dominant. Let's go down the list...
Blake Meers: The MVP of the Tip-Off Classic didn't show any signs of slowing down tonight. After a slow start that included some missed shots down low, Meers let everyone know who was gonna dominate the post. He was physical, he pulled down rebounds, he put back misses, and he had 5 blocks. Need I say more?
Andrew Frank: The senior guard continued to impress Eagle fans tonight. Frank led all scorers tonight with 16. But as impressive as that is, even more impressive is how he did it. He was EVERYWHERE. I can't tell you how many fast-break layups and impressive drives he had tonight. And even still, he continues to command the floor. The way he handles himself with the ball is unmatched by anyone who sizes up with him on the hardwood.
Brendan Norwine: Brendan played tonight like he did last year. His ball-handling was impeccable. He had some nice drives and dishes. Most importantly for the Eagles though, he started to find his shot. He only shot two 3's tonight, but he did make one. One of the most dangerous things about Norwine is his ability to knock down open shots. I'm fully expecting defenses leaving him wide open as they guard Frank, Meers, and Adam Glenville. And with Brendan hot, that's good news for the Eagles.
Ben Pickett: The people call him Bendrick for a reason. Tonight, Pickett was excellent in his area of expertise: defense. When Ben is on, he is an absolute force down low. He can he use his quick hands to snatch the ball from a larger post-player, and he can also jump up there and stuff some guys too. Not only that, but Ben knocked down some tough shots tonight. In one instance, as he took a five-foot shot, two Hawk players yanked his arm down. No problem. He hit it anyway. He ended the night with 9 points. If Ben can continue to contribute his excellent defense and catch fire on the offensive side of the ball, opposing forwards are in for some trouble.
Adam Glenville: Last year's leading scorer looked like his old self tonight. He put up 14 points, tying him with Meers as the team's second leading scorer. But the thing that excited me about Glenville's game was his shot. Unlike last week, when he seemed to be forcing shots that weren't there, G-Money was smart with the ball tonight. When he wasn't comfortable with a shot, he kicked it out. But when he got an open look, he put it down. He knocked down 2 of 4 tonight. And from what we've seen, he can shoot even better. As an avid fan, I can't wait to go to games so I can see him put up 20-30 points night with about 3 or 4 threes thrown in there. And that day isn't far off.
So, all-in-all, tonight was a game that the Eagles could've played two ways.
1) Play with half the effort they could and know they could still walk away with a pretty sizable victory.
2) Play with intensity and make a point that no one is gonna win in their house.
Obviously, they went with option 2. And that's good. Because in their next two games, they won't get pushovers. On Friday, St. Charles High comes to CHS. And on Saturday, the Eagles go to Lindenwood to take on the always athletic Imagine Prep Bears. But I'm not worried. I'm looking forward to writing again on Saturday and telling you all about how strong and how dominant the Eagles look. And if they play like they did tonight, I'll get to do it all season long.
Friday, December 3, 2010
They've Only Just Begun
It doesn't seem fair does it? Coming into such a promising year and starting with 2 big wins...it just doesn't seem right. On Friday night, the Eagles fell 57-55 to Fort Zumwalt North in the championship game of the Bank of Old Monroe Tip Off Classic at Winfield, a game that was DOMINATED by the Eagles. There were only about 20 seconds in the game that the Eagles weren't tied or leading. Unfortunately, those were the times that counted. The loss dropped the Eagles to 2-1 on the newborn season and created an unexpected (and unwanted) emotional speed bump that the Eagles will soon need to get over.
In this first week, a few points have presented themselves concerning the Eagles play.
1. Seniors Blake Meers and Andrew Frank are stepping up big to begin their final seasons at CHS. Meers took home the Tournament MVP and Frank was a huge contributor for the Eagles, maybe not on the statline, but definitely on the court. The way he handled himself with and without the ball this week is a great encouragement to all those looking for the big-time guard to end his career with a bang.
2. The juniors need to find their '09-'10 form. Adam Glenville, Brendan Norwine, and Ben Pickett all played well this week. But we still have yet to see the form of the Glenville that lead the team in scoring last year. We have yet to see the Norwine who had the poise of a pro. And we haven't quite seen the production from Pickett, who Eagles fans can always count on for multiple points, rebounds, and blocks in a game. They all seem to be forcing the issue. Look for these three to settle in and start catching fire here soon.
3. Free throw shooting is a problem. I don't want to throw salt on the wound, but Friday night's game could've been won by free throws. And it doesn't matter when in the game they come; points are points. The two victories saw the Eagles shoot barely over the 50% mark from the line. And the loss saw some key free throw misses at the end...misses that came back to bite the Eagles. If the boys are gonna be the dominate team that they're expected to be, hitting from the foul line is a must.
4. The Eagles don't need to get flustered. In every game this week, the opponents, who were overwhelmed by the Eagles ability to push the ball up the floor, applied a full court press. And in every game, the boys seemed to be trapped. In order to hold and build leads, the Eagles need to keep their heads and stick to the fundamentals that make them such a good team.
All things aside, this was a great week for Eagles basketball. They played a 4A school to 2 points in a high intensity game. They soundly defeated a highly athletic North County Tech. And, in my favorite moment of the week, they defeated the Winfield Warriors on their own court. The team looked sharp out of the gun, with only a few minor tweaks to attend to. Two years ago, Christian High School rocked MSHSAA's world when the went 21-6. One year ago, the Eagles reassured all of their doubters with another 21-6 campaign. This year, they've got the reputation. People don't expect to walk all over the Christian High School Eagles anymore. They're a feared team. Now, the Eagles need to back it up. Walk the walk, so to speak. And after witnessing one full week of 2010-2011 Eagles basketball, I have no doubt that the Eagles will soon be living up to the hype that followed them into this year. So brace yourselves, Eagles fans. This is gonna be one heck of a ride.
In this first week, a few points have presented themselves concerning the Eagles play.
1. Seniors Blake Meers and Andrew Frank are stepping up big to begin their final seasons at CHS. Meers took home the Tournament MVP and Frank was a huge contributor for the Eagles, maybe not on the statline, but definitely on the court. The way he handled himself with and without the ball this week is a great encouragement to all those looking for the big-time guard to end his career with a bang.
2. The juniors need to find their '09-'10 form. Adam Glenville, Brendan Norwine, and Ben Pickett all played well this week. But we still have yet to see the form of the Glenville that lead the team in scoring last year. We have yet to see the Norwine who had the poise of a pro. And we haven't quite seen the production from Pickett, who Eagles fans can always count on for multiple points, rebounds, and blocks in a game. They all seem to be forcing the issue. Look for these three to settle in and start catching fire here soon.
3. Free throw shooting is a problem. I don't want to throw salt on the wound, but Friday night's game could've been won by free throws. And it doesn't matter when in the game they come; points are points. The two victories saw the Eagles shoot barely over the 50% mark from the line. And the loss saw some key free throw misses at the end...misses that came back to bite the Eagles. If the boys are gonna be the dominate team that they're expected to be, hitting from the foul line is a must.
4. The Eagles don't need to get flustered. In every game this week, the opponents, who were overwhelmed by the Eagles ability to push the ball up the floor, applied a full court press. And in every game, the boys seemed to be trapped. In order to hold and build leads, the Eagles need to keep their heads and stick to the fundamentals that make them such a good team.
All things aside, this was a great week for Eagles basketball. They played a 4A school to 2 points in a high intensity game. They soundly defeated a highly athletic North County Tech. And, in my favorite moment of the week, they defeated the Winfield Warriors on their own court. The team looked sharp out of the gun, with only a few minor tweaks to attend to. Two years ago, Christian High School rocked MSHSAA's world when the went 21-6. One year ago, the Eagles reassured all of their doubters with another 21-6 campaign. This year, they've got the reputation. People don't expect to walk all over the Christian High School Eagles anymore. They're a feared team. Now, the Eagles need to back it up. Walk the walk, so to speak. And after witnessing one full week of 2010-2011 Eagles basketball, I have no doubt that the Eagles will soon be living up to the hype that followed them into this year. So brace yourselves, Eagles fans. This is gonna be one heck of a ride.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
That's A Wrap
Considering it is Oscar week it would have been nice to see a movie script ending. Most people were expecting "Hoosiers" instead what played out looked more like the end of "Coach Carter." Let's just be straight, this is not the way anyone for CHS wanted the end of basketball season to go. Nothing will be able to sugar coat the unfortunate events of Wednesday and Thursday.
The next few paragraphs could be dedicated to picking apart mediocre New Haven records, one sided officiating, or the fact that Wellston's Ben McLemore single-handedly outscored New Haven's varsity boys in the district final Friday, but none of that will be found below. The reason being, that will not help Eagle Nation heal any faster. In sports, just like life, sometimes you get a raw deal. It doesn’t pan out the way it was intended. Nevertheless it is important press on towards your goal.
Rather than bash MSHSAA, or the Shamrocks, or the officials for what happened in New Haven, Missouri let's focus on the great run the Eagle ball clubs made this season.
The boys finished with an overall record of 19-8 (it would have been 21-6 if not for two MSHSAA mandated forfeits), and the girls finished at 17-7. Even though both teams fell to New Haven in the semi-finals of the district tournament the Eagles are undoubtedly the best program in the district on papers. The only team who could legitimately make a case otherwise is the Wellston varsity boys who have a lot of talent up and down the board.
CHS shouldn't be hanging it's collective head because of last weeks results. The program should rest easy and know it put on a solid showing in 2009-2010. There was a whole lot of upside to this year. Take for instance Adam Glenville who emerged as the varsity boys leading scorer averaging 15.3 points per game. The only person in the entire program who outscored Adam was his senior sister, Andrea Glenville, who turned in a 17.5 a contest. Blake Meers held solid this year and Ben Pickett established himself as a valuable asset. Fans entered the season wondering if point guard Brendan Norwine could fill the shoes left by Kyle Wilhelm, and the sophomore answered the bell in a big way. For the girls, Katie Hare and Krista Reese have proven they have what it will take to propel the women's program for the next three years. And, of course, Andrew Frank became the most recent Eagle to score 1,000 career points.
So to keep with the Oscar theme we'll quote the Joker, "Why so serious?" Sadness is understandable considering the expectations these teams originally carried, but this was still a fantastic season. None of the schools Christian High dropped by double digits in the past three months are feeling sorry for the Eagles. For the second year in MSHAA this campaign was above par. Next year the boys look to return almost the entire squad, and there is promise in some up and coming girl's players. Their potential and desire will surprise a lot of people. Everything will be okay. Not all is lost. The CHS Eagles will be back next year. And oh yeah, Wellston merges with Normandy High School in the fall. No more Ben McLemore, ali-oops, or guys lighting it up from three to worry about. The varsity boys will be the favorite to win the class 2, district 5 title next year, without a doubt.
It was been another exciting season of CHS hoops even if it didn't end quite the way it was supposed to turn out. Maybe the end of this season will provide some motivation for next. No matter what CHS has something to look forward to in it's basketball program next winter.
Thank you to all of you who have followed us every week here on CHS Hoops. Your readership has been extremely appreciated. We hope you have enjoyed this year as much as we have. It has been our God-given pleasure and blessing to spend time analyzing Christian High School basketball, and we're sad to see another fantastic season draw to a close. But take heart, summer league action starts in just three short months!
The next few paragraphs could be dedicated to picking apart mediocre New Haven records, one sided officiating, or the fact that Wellston's Ben McLemore single-handedly outscored New Haven's varsity boys in the district final Friday, but none of that will be found below. The reason being, that will not help Eagle Nation heal any faster. In sports, just like life, sometimes you get a raw deal. It doesn’t pan out the way it was intended. Nevertheless it is important press on towards your goal.
Rather than bash MSHSAA, or the Shamrocks, or the officials for what happened in New Haven, Missouri let's focus on the great run the Eagle ball clubs made this season.
The boys finished with an overall record of 19-8 (it would have been 21-6 if not for two MSHSAA mandated forfeits), and the girls finished at 17-7. Even though both teams fell to New Haven in the semi-finals of the district tournament the Eagles are undoubtedly the best program in the district on papers. The only team who could legitimately make a case otherwise is the Wellston varsity boys who have a lot of talent up and down the board.
CHS shouldn't be hanging it's collective head because of last weeks results. The program should rest easy and know it put on a solid showing in 2009-2010. There was a whole lot of upside to this year. Take for instance Adam Glenville who emerged as the varsity boys leading scorer averaging 15.3 points per game. The only person in the entire program who outscored Adam was his senior sister, Andrea Glenville, who turned in a 17.5 a contest. Blake Meers held solid this year and Ben Pickett established himself as a valuable asset. Fans entered the season wondering if point guard Brendan Norwine could fill the shoes left by Kyle Wilhelm, and the sophomore answered the bell in a big way. For the girls, Katie Hare and Krista Reese have proven they have what it will take to propel the women's program for the next three years. And, of course, Andrew Frank became the most recent Eagle to score 1,000 career points.
So to keep with the Oscar theme we'll quote the Joker, "Why so serious?" Sadness is understandable considering the expectations these teams originally carried, but this was still a fantastic season. None of the schools Christian High dropped by double digits in the past three months are feeling sorry for the Eagles. For the second year in MSHAA this campaign was above par. Next year the boys look to return almost the entire squad, and there is promise in some up and coming girl's players. Their potential and desire will surprise a lot of people. Everything will be okay. Not all is lost. The CHS Eagles will be back next year. And oh yeah, Wellston merges with Normandy High School in the fall. No more Ben McLemore, ali-oops, or guys lighting it up from three to worry about. The varsity boys will be the favorite to win the class 2, district 5 title next year, without a doubt.
It was been another exciting season of CHS hoops even if it didn't end quite the way it was supposed to turn out. Maybe the end of this season will provide some motivation for next. No matter what CHS has something to look forward to in it's basketball program next winter.
Thank you to all of you who have followed us every week here on CHS Hoops. Your readership has been extremely appreciated. We hope you have enjoyed this year as much as we have. It has been our God-given pleasure and blessing to spend time analyzing Christian High School basketball, and we're sad to see another fantastic season draw to a close. But take heart, summer league action starts in just three short months!
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