Workers photograph / Brian Yauger Howland senior Jessie DeSalvo drives to the basket previous Harding’s Zoey Jenkins protection.
Warren – “Each time Warren and Howland meet, boys or ladies, it is a warfare.”
Tigers coach Aaron Kilos mentioned this after one other slugfest chapter of the rivalry.
Protection received the day for each groups as every was held to each under their scoring common, nevertheless it was Howland’s protection that stood tall, outscoring the Raiders 33-22 in a league battle.
“If you give attention to one thing heading right into a sport, it appears to be the lead canine.” Kilos mentioned. “We put a number of give attention to protection earlier than this sport towards Harding as a result of our offense averaged about 50 factors a sport main as much as at the moment, and (at the moment) our offense fell behind. However it’s a credit score to Harding. I am a troublesome out. They play very, very effectively. (Raiders coach Frank) Caputo is doing a fantastic job with them. If we are able to get that 50-point common and preserve groups beneath 30, we’ll be robust to beat.”
On an evening the place the photographs weren’t falling for both facet — the spotlight was Alyssa Massucci’s nine-point outing — it is easy to get discouraged, however the skilled Tigers did not let it overwhelm them.
Regardless of being held to only one level within the third quarter, the Tigers had been in a position to draw back and shut out the sport, scoring 10 within the closing quarter.
Enjoying in a sport with a match ambiance is only a bonus.
“That is it. Attempt to journey the wave and handle the strikes.” Kilos mentioned. “I do not know if anybody was there for our sport at Howland, nevertheless it was the loudest crowd I’ve ever heard at a highschool sport, boys or ladies. It was very, very intense and also you heard a few of that tonight.”
The Raiders fall again under .500, dropping to Eight-9 on the season and ending a two-game profitable streak.
Whereas protection has been the group’s identification this season, a evident mark on the rating sheet for Harding was his 5-of-14 from the foul line.
“Defensively, we’re doing what we need to do, we simply must get some buckets,” Caputo mentioned. “We had been 5-for-14 from the foul line, so (now we have to be higher in) these key moments. We held a extremely good scoring group to 1 level within the third quarter, and we missed, I believe, 5 in a row on the foul line. So now we have to repair the little issues. Our protection is absolutely getting us to the place we need to be, so now we have to maintain that depth on protection and the offense has to start out coming.”
Transferring to 12-Four on the season, the Tigers are nonetheless not the place they wish to be simply but. They’d a number of offensive performs and a number of defensive performs, however just a few with each. Like Harding, the issue is firing each on all cylinders.
Kilos is optimistic concerning the outcomes if and when he does each in the identical sport.
“We had some robust losses there, however I am glad to say we discovered from them as quickly as we are able to.” Kilos mentioned. “I do know we’re getting near the tip of the season, however as quickly as we are able to put all of it collectively, an offensive and defensive effort, we’ll be fairly robust within the match.”
The Tigers face league rival Canfield on Saturday whereas Harding hosts Massillon.
byauger@tribtoday.com