Slow start dooms Frazier in 73-55 loss to Avella
CLAYSVILLE – Zach Keefer understands his Frazier boys basketball team is a work in progress but he saw that as no excuse for the way the Commodores began their game against Avella on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles took control early, riding a 30-point performance from Westley Burchianti along with 21 points from Bryce Wright to a 73-55 victory in the consolation game at the McGuffey Tip-Off Tournament.
Frazier fell to 0-2 on the young season while Avella evened its record at 1-1.
“We need to start better,” Keefer said. “Just low energy. There’s no excuse to come out and play like that. We’ve got to find a way from the opening tip to have good energy, be aggressive on the boards.
“I thought they beat us right off the bat with the little things, 50-50 balls, they killed us on the boards and got second-chance opportunities, took the ball off of us.”
The Commodores grabbed their only lead, 7-6, midway through the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Dailan McManus. Burchianti followed with a 3-pointer, Wright hit a reverse layup and a driving basket and Burchianti swished another trey in a quick 10-point spurt to give the Eagles a 16-7 lead and they stayed in front the rest of the way.
“From our leadership down, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to play,” Keefer said. “I’ll take blame for that. I’ve got to do a better job moving forward.”
Frazier got to within 20-15 by the end of the opening frame after baskets by Trey Whitehead and Darian Bateman, and whittled the gap to four twice in the second quarter after a 3-pointer by Conlan Higbee and a layup by Brennen Stewart. Avella answered with an 8-2 burst to close the first half, including another 3-pointer by Burchianti at the buzzer to make it 32-22. Burchianti had four 3-pointers in the game.
The Eagles, coached by Mike Macik, outscored Frazier 22-13 in the third quarter with Wright tallying 15 points in the frame which ended with Avella leading 54-35 after another jump shot by Burchianti in the final seconds.
“Some of us are struggling to score but we’ve got to make sure to keep in our mind, no matter what happens at the other end, on defense we can’t take plays off,” Keefer said. “The shots are going to fall. We’ve got a lot of kids that can score points. We’re confident in all of them. But we’ve got to play better defense.”
Brock Alekson led the Commodores with 14 points and McManus followed with 12 points. Bateman and Stewart each wound up with seven points.
Cain Allen contributed eight points for Avella.
Alekson and Burchianti were named to the All-Tournament team.
“I thought our big guy, Brock, played much more physical today,” Keefer said. “I thought he had a pretty good game last night, too, but he moved his feet better and his hands were much better on both ends of the floor. We were able to feed him the ball.
“Three (Burchianti) is a heck of a player. I wish we had some energy like that kid to make plays, put your team on your back type thing. We’re searching for that and I think we’ll find that as time goes on. We’ve got to go back in the lab and regroup.”
Keefer said he likes to use the early part of the schedule to mold his squad for when section play begins.
“We try to play bodies, work on some things that maybe we didn’t show yet to see if it’s something we can put in our toolbox, keep in our toolbox or leave out of our toolbox,” Keefer said. “Really, try to find different combinations that work.
“We’ve got a lot of experienced kids out there but a lot of inexperience with the chemistry together, and I’ve got to be patient with it as do the kids. I’m confident we’ll come along. We just need some time to adapt and we’ll be OK.”