Carmichaels’ press pays dividends
Holly Tonini
Jefferson-Morgan’s Dylan Davis (10) drives the ball through Carmichaels’ Ty Aeschbacher (22) and Cory Fuller (32) Saturday at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Holly Tonini
Carmichaels’ Justin Newman tries for a shot around Jefferson-Morgan’s Chaz Mattish (23) and Christian Randolph Saturday at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Holly Tonini
Holly Tonini Carmichaels’ Ty Aeschbacher (22) goes for the layup around Jefferson-Morgan’s Nick Gustovich Saturday at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
JEFFERSON — After having their game against Renaissance Christian Academy cancelled due to the weather on Friday night, Carmichaels kicked off the 2013-14 season on Saturday with a 37-30 win over Jefferson-Morgan at the Rocket Tip-off Tournament.
After a sluggish first half for both squads on offense, the Mikes (1-0) used pressure defense and quickness to score 18 points in the third and hold on for the victory in the final eight minutes.
“We finally started hustling in the third quarter,” Carmichaels coach Don Williams said. “We moved our feet and got to loose balls. We were more aggressive and that led to some easier buckets for us. Our defense and rebounding won the game for us. We shot the ball very poorly today and we are lucky to come away with the win.”
The Rockets (1-1) split their two games to open the year after a 45-40 win over Carlynton Friday night.
Carmichaels built a 7-4 lead at the end of the first quarter on the strength of a lay-up by Tyler Aeschbacher and five points from Justin Newman.
J-M began the second frame with a 7-1 spree via two inside buckets from Christian Randolph and a trey from Austin Clark.
Trailing by three, the Mikes rebounded with a 6-2 run to end the first half and held a 14-13 lead at intermission.
Aeschbacher totaled five points in the second quarter and was the team’s leading scorer in the game with 13.
The Rockets jumped out to a 21-14 edge in the third, thanks to eight consecutive points and seemed to have the momentum, but the Mikes countered with an 18-2 rally.
“Turnovers were the difference makers,” J-M coach Dennis Garrett said. “They pressured us and we couldn’t handle it. We didn’t get any offensive rhythm in the second half and their press swung the momentum in their favor.”
Carmichaels’ press led to some easy lay-ups for the Mikes, as the Rockets were sloppy with the ball and had several critical turnovers in the third.
“The press worked for us,” Williams said. “With our press, they have to hustle and be aggressive at all times on the court. Communication is important and we can’t afford to pick up any cheap fouls. We knew our offense would probably struggle today because it was our first game, so to have the press was vital for us.”
Brandon Lawless had all 11 of his points in the third stanza, as the Mikes led 32-23 going into the fourth.
Defenses ruled in the final eight minutes of play, as both teams combined for 12 points in the fourth.
The Rockets got to within seven, 35-28, after a basket from Rece Henneman, but the Mikes ran out the clock and started the year off with a victory against its rival.
Henneman ended his night with a team-high 13 points, while Randolph collected eight points in the loss.
“At halftime we preached to them to play good defense and to box out,” Garrett said. “We did grab that early lead in the third, but then we came unraveled on offense. You have to play a full 32-minute game to beat a team like Carmichaels.”
Carmichaels will continue its non-section schedule with a home game versus Frazier on Tuesday, while J-M travels to Avella on Monday and hosts Mapletown on Tuesday. The Greene County rivals will see each other soon on the hard floor, as they will meet at Carmichaels on Dec. 18.