WARREN – Earlier within the season, Boardman’s coach Pat Birch felt his workforce play tentative when it had the higher hand.
It was value it as tonight, when his large lead wore off and momentum was misplaced, the Spartans edged him out with a 54-43 victory over the Warren G. Harding Raiders in an All-American Convention matchup.
“I feel we have been simply making an attempt to be good,” Birch stated. “It is exhausting to play for the lead a bit since you need to be aggressive however you do not need to be dumb. I believed our guys did job balancing that tonight.
“There have been most likely a few photographs I would not take wanting again, however you need to be aggressive whenever you’re open. With management, you continue to must play. “
The Spartans (11-Three, 5-Zero) did precisely that from the early lead, constructing a 17-Eight lead after 1 / 4.
Boardman slowed the tempo and executed most of his offensive units to perfection with seven gamers coming into the scoring column in that opening body.
DJ Evans led the Spartans with 13 factors and Spencer Smith added 11 whole, eight Boardman gamers scored.
“That is at all times good, clearly,” Birch stated. “You make your self snug. Our first possession was a pleasant and simple search for us. I feel we performed very properly in that first quarter on protection. They discovered their stability within the second quarter they usually have been fairly even. “
Harding (1-7, 1-Three) acquired into foul bother early and sat down a few starters.
“We knew what they have been going to do,” Harding’s coach Keelyn Franklin stated. “They’re workforce and executed. It took us a short while to do what we needed to do defensively.
“We weren’t stunned. I feel our lack of focus to begin the sport allowed them to go on the market and do what they did. “
The groups performed the second quarter even with Boardman main 25-15 on the half.
The chilly capturing groups have been a mixed four of 20 photographs within the interval.
“I believed we actually acquired slowed down in that second quarter,” Birch stated. We felt a bit not sure of what we needed to do. They began getting some second probability factors. At halftime, we went up 10 and it felt like they’d some life to it. “
The third quarter reversed in favor of the Spartans and Birch felt his workforce was in charge of this sport once more with Evans’ 7 factors.
Boardman held a 43-31 lead into the fourth quarter regardless of Ethan Anderson fouling his third with 6:35 remaining within the quarter.
Then Harding’s Johnny Graham made a Three to begin the fourth, together with baskets by Dom Foster and Ty Pennington to make it 46-41 with two minutes remaining.
“I’m wondering how that occurred,” Birch stated. Give them credit score. They began to make some photographs. We had an opportunity to get some rebounds they usually acquired out of hand. That made the distinction. Nonetheless, we made some free throws and we acquired out of right here. “
Boardman ended the sport on an Eight-2 streak with Smith hitting it large with consecutive 3s to cease any probability of a heroic comeback from the Raiders.
Foster led the Raiders with 14 factors and Aston Bates added 10.
“Our guys confirmed a bit of little bit of that can,” Franklin stated. “They only dug in and began preventing. They stated tonight we’re not going to get misplaced. We’re going to put our ft on the bottom, make an effort and attempt to rating some factors within the transition. We additionally took some photographs, which at all times helps your defensive power. He was pleased with the power to reply to some adversity. “
For Birch and the Spartans after enjoying on Friday, this was an incredible victory that places them in place within the convention.
“Whenever you go on tour within the convention and also you make a double digit revenue, that is not simple,” Birch stated. “Typically I feel we take with no consideration what it means to get these sorts of victories. It places us in place to maneuver ahead. I hope these guys recognize that they’re enjoying. So to return right here and get a win is large. “
