Monday, November 22, 2010

The Right Foot

With the regular season now officially underway, the Reignmakers had a team effort and a win, 59-51 versus Shawn Kemps Kids.

The 2-3 zone is jelling and it worked better than the previous week. Another bigger, stronger team was met with bodies and tough shots inside as the Reignmakers battled all night long.

Brandon Hunter led the team with 25 points, 11 rebounds and three straight uncovered layups as Kemps Kids had miscommunications on defense during the second half. Then after they doubled up Hunter, Mike Petrilli (3 points, 2 rebounds) took advantage of a wide open three and kept the momentum rolling.

Kemps Kids took a small four point lead in the second half, but the Reignmakers battled back on three straight buckets and a big three, one of his two on the night, from Clinton Weigel (8 points, 100% from the field).

The Reignmakers never looked back. Down the stretch, the good guys hit free throws to solidify the win. But defense was the key tonight. The Reignmakers will most likely be the short team on the floor on every given night. But with the communication on defense increasing, the team becoming knowledgable with rotations, it leaves the opposition with contested shots inside, and quick three's on the outside. Chad Dobson's length up front and Ryan Stuver playing bigger than he is inside, aids this process in every way.

Coach Jason Hunter (11 points, 6 rebounds, 3-3 from 3) was please with the win.

"The right foot, thats where we started tonight. It's good to come out of the gate with a win, especially one where we had to battle all night. Shows a lot about this team and we are getting better on defense every night."

The shots were falling as well as the Reignmakers had their best shooting night of the young season. 47% from downtown and 50% from everywhere else is always something to look for. But the shots wont be there every night and defense will always be key.

The Reignmakers play next Sunday against another big team, the Richfield Hicks, at 6 PM in the Brunswick Rec Center. The team may be without Stuver and Dobson, but injured big man Andy Kempf could make his season debut coming off of his groin injury. He will be a game time decision.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

kempfs height is only average... i have a good idea why u call him a big man ;)