Execution and preparation defeat Peregrines
Zach Heridia
Issue date: 11/30/09 Section: Sports
A lack of offensive execution defeated PUC on Nov. 24.
According to freshman guard Aaron Evans, PUC played well in a 69-68 loss to IU South Bend, but in crunch time they were unable to put the ball in the bucket.
"We just didn't execute," Evans said. "We had good looks, opportunities but they just didn't fall. I had shots that I could have hit, but just didn't. It's tough. They just didn't fall when we needed them."
The Peregrines' close loss still held good shooting and play, but not when the game became crucial. The team shot 53.3 percent in the first half, but a meager 35.5 percent in the second half. From the stripe, the team hit eight of 10 free throws.
In addition to the team's strong game, three players in particular did well. Junior forward Neal Hudson led the team with 17 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes. Freshman center Kameron Bright was just shy of his season averages of 15.4 points and 9.6 rebounds with Tuesday's performance of 13 points, seven rebounds. Jordan Champion also performed well, and was able to shoot 4-for-4 in the first half, all of which were 3-pointers. He missed his only shot of the second half.
Titans coach Denny Parks made a change at halftime to control Champion's shooting.
"We shut down 23, Champion, in the second half. We didn't worry about help-side defense with him. We let everyone help except him," Parks said. "We had someone play man-to-man with him the whole half. We shut him down because of it."
Another concern of Parks' was Bright. Bright had six points, three rebounds and two assists in the first half. To prevent Bright from contributing much, Parks employed two-time all-conference junior forward Ben Werner.
"Our big guys are stronger, I think," Parks said. "Werner was assigned to him. As a two-time all-conference selection, he has an advantage."
Coach Dan Voudrie agreed that Werner, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, became a point of interest.
"Ben Werner, he's a very seasoned player. He's had to battle with the big guys from Robert Morris, Olivet Nazarene…guys have been thrown at him from day one like Kam will be in his junior and senior years. Werner was able to just push him off the block, the boards. He controlled the rebounding game so much by being on Kam," Voudrie said.
Junior forward Mike Patton returned to action on Tuesday night. In his return, Patton shot 0-for-2, pulled down three rebounds, swatted two shots and had a steal in 17 minutes of action.
Voudrie said of Patton, "[He] has got to get more comfortable. Early on he was too tight. He wants it to happen so hard. He wants it right now. It will come back. He's been out for so long. He'll be back to himself soon."
According to freshman guard Aaron Evans, PUC played well in a 69-68 loss to IU South Bend, but in crunch time they were unable to put the ball in the bucket.
"We just didn't execute," Evans said. "We had good looks, opportunities but they just didn't fall. I had shots that I could have hit, but just didn't. It's tough. They just didn't fall when we needed them."
The Peregrines' close loss still held good shooting and play, but not when the game became crucial. The team shot 53.3 percent in the first half, but a meager 35.5 percent in the second half. From the stripe, the team hit eight of 10 free throws.
In addition to the team's strong game, three players in particular did well. Junior forward Neal Hudson led the team with 17 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes. Freshman center Kameron Bright was just shy of his season averages of 15.4 points and 9.6 rebounds with Tuesday's performance of 13 points, seven rebounds. Jordan Champion also performed well, and was able to shoot 4-for-4 in the first half, all of which were 3-pointers. He missed his only shot of the second half.
Titans coach Denny Parks made a change at halftime to control Champion's shooting.
"We shut down 23, Champion, in the second half. We didn't worry about help-side defense with him. We let everyone help except him," Parks said. "We had someone play man-to-man with him the whole half. We shut him down because of it."
Another concern of Parks' was Bright. Bright had six points, three rebounds and two assists in the first half. To prevent Bright from contributing much, Parks employed two-time all-conference junior forward Ben Werner.
"Our big guys are stronger, I think," Parks said. "Werner was assigned to him. As a two-time all-conference selection, he has an advantage."
Coach Dan Voudrie agreed that Werner, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, became a point of interest.
"Ben Werner, he's a very seasoned player. He's had to battle with the big guys from Robert Morris, Olivet Nazarene…guys have been thrown at him from day one like Kam will be in his junior and senior years. Werner was able to just push him off the block, the boards. He controlled the rebounding game so much by being on Kam," Voudrie said.
Junior forward Mike Patton returned to action on Tuesday night. In his return, Patton shot 0-for-2, pulled down three rebounds, swatted two shots and had a steal in 17 minutes of action.
Voudrie said of Patton, "[He] has got to get more comfortable. Early on he was too tight. He wants it to happen so hard. He wants it right now. It will come back. He's been out for so long. He'll be back to himself soon."
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