March 11, 2010
Noah Veach drives the ball to the hoop | DavidChandlerPhoto.com
High quality, professional action prints from the game available from David Chandler Photography.
A defensive team through and through, Grand Haven sure does have a knack for starting out on fire. After giving up the game’s first basket against Reeths-Puffer, the Bucs answered with four three-pointers in rapid succession before the first quarter had ended. Playing with a lead from that point forward, Grand Haven never looked back. The Bucs repelled the Rockets obligatory second-half flurry and went on to log a 62-54 victory. Grand Haven will meet Muskegon in the district championship on Friday.
Senior Isiah Law started the first quarter action for the Bucs, nailing two quick threes to begin the game. And where Law left off, Cam Hewitt picked up. Hewitt, a 2.9-point per game scorer on the season, drilled four three-pointers in the first half, as Grand Haven lengthened what would become a 35-18 halftime margin.
“I’m not a selfish player, but after I hit that first one I was looking for the ball,” explained Hewitt, who finished with 12-points. ”I’ve been going through a shooting slump since the playoffs started. So when the rim looks three-times the size as it normally does, well, you’ve got to take advantage of that.”
No argument here.
“It was really big for us to hit those six threes in the first half. That really set the tone for the game,” said Grand Haven coach Steve Hewitt. ”We’re pretty good when we’re hitting outside shots.”
Providing the yang to Law-and-Hewitt’s ying, Grand Haven’s Nate VanArendonk and Noah Veach battled with Reeths-Puffer inside, in a game that was more physical than most. Veach lead the Bucs with 15-points, while VanArendonk added 12-points of his own.
Chris Anderson analyses the defense | DavidChandlerPhoto.com
Down big entering the second half, a tumultuous yet successful season on the line, Reeths-Puffer turned on the pressure. They threw a full court press at Grand Haven, forcing multiple turnovers as the Buccaneer guards struggled to match the intensity of the Rocket backcourt of Jhamonte Melton and Dontreal McKinley. On offense, the Rockets turned to uber-athlete Chris Anderson to get them going. Anderson lead the game with 19-points, 14 of them coming in the second half. Anderson was getting it done against every defender Grand Haven threw at him, and in the processs had Rockets fans sniffing for a comeback.
There’s a reason Grand Haven is among the top defensive ballclubs in the state. More than simply adjusting to their opposition, they make successful adjustments. The Bucs figured out their opponents’ strategy and countered, surrounding Anderson with defenders to make the entry pass near impossible. Unable to get the ball to their centerpiece, the Rockets — like so many of Grand Haven’s opponents — were forced into taking low-percentage shots.
From there it was just a matter of time.
Cam Hewitt demonstrates impeccable form | DavidChandlerPhoto.com
Under pressure
Reeths-Puffer attacked Grand Haven’s backcourt in the second half of Wednesday’s matchup, which was just the latest in a long string of opponents trying to capitalize on the Bucs lack of experience at the guard position. It’s almost common knowledge by now: the road-map to beating Grand Haven is through their guards. And the more that teams believe this, the more they attack the Buccaneers perceived weakness. And the harder it becomes for Grand Haven’s backcourt.
But might it now be time to reconsider that perception?
“We’ve talked all year about what we’ve had to ask from our guards to replace an Austin Harper (now playing for WMU),” said coach Hewitt. ”We’ve got inexperienced guys who are asked to handle incredible pressure night in and night out –because they do get the other team’s best shot — and when it’s all said and done we average less turnovers this year than we did last year.”
Food for thought.
Keep up with the latest action and analysis by becoming a WMA fan on Facebook, or join the conversation by following WMA on Twitter. Heck, even start your own topic over at Allstars Among Us.
Loading ...
