Athletics
Spartans News

SG Basketball: Gotta Want It

By Erik Van Dyke
Toughness and hustle plays: that’s what was missing in our 27-19 loss to Marie-Rivier (2) this past Friday.

Despite a stagnant offence that struggled to find any rhythm at all, with top scorer Elisabeth Shane out with an illness, we still scored enough points to theoretically win because our initial defence was so good that we never allowed our opponents to score on their first attempt. With the guards scrambling like mad and the forwards smartly rotating, we forced missed shot after missed shot. It’s unofficial, but I’m guessing Marie-Rivier scored all of 4 points on their initial shots.

But, boy oh boy, did we get out-toughed.

There are two main stats when it comes to toughness and hustle plays: rebounds and loose balls. We got absolutely crushed on the boards, with our opponents regularly getting two, three and sometimes even four chances to score each possession. We regularly let the ball, when we already had it in our hands, get tied up for loose balls, or even worse, ripped out of our hands. We couldn’t come up with any 50-50 balls; it seemed like 95% of loose balls went to Marie-Rivier.

And that, folks, is the whole story. It is very hard to win a basketball game if you get out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-toughed. I am not suggesting that we’re not trying to do those things. But we have to play stronger, be more on our toes and develop an attitude that says, “That ball is mine. I’m not waiting for my teammate to get it. That ball is my responsibility. And once I get it, I’m not giving it up.”

Until we do that, no matter how hard we work, every game is going to be an uphill climb. The pretty layups and threes and blocked shots make the highlight reel, but it’s rebounds and loose balls and toughness that win games.

Next time we meet this team, let’s be better at those things.
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