The opening game tonight in Sectional 58 was Metropolitan and Interntional. Met entered the game a 34 point favorite based on Sagarin ratings. There is a significant talent difference between these teams.
International (ISI) led early but Met had an 18-12 lead after the first. Met had a couple of quick layups off ISI turnovers and after a ISI score Met had a 22-14 lead. Met then pulled the ball out to try to get ISI out of their 2-3 zone. It didn't work. ISI sat in the zone. Met ran nearly seven minutes off the clock and did not score before the half.
Met had the possession arrow to start the third quarter. They held the ball. ISI sat in the zone. Met missed the last shot. Still 22-14.
ISI had the ball to start the fourth. Missed their shot and Met rebounded with 7:30 left. And yeah, held the ball while ISI sat in the zone.
With a little over four minutes left ISI started to foul. They committed seven fouls in about 15-20 seconds. One kid committed five of them. Met made both free throws. ISI then hit a three pointer, Met missed a free throw and ISI scored going to the rim and got fouled. ISI missed the free throw so were down 24-19. Met than ran off a lot of free throws in a row and ISI just couldn't get good looks at the hoop.
I get Met wanting to get ISI out of the zone, but with an eight point lead I would be quite content as a big underdog to let my opposition shorten the game. I thought Coach Adams at the ISI staff did what they needed to do to give their kids a chance to win the game. Any 34 point underdog would sign up to be down four inside of four minutes. Credit to the Met kids for hitting the free throws and playing defense after standing around doing just about nothing for over 19 minutes of clock time and more than a half hour of real time.
Game ended 41-21.
I've heard about teams holding the ball for an entire period. Never saw it before today. And pretty much saw it twice.
International (ISI) led early but Met had an 18-12 lead after the first. Met had a couple of quick layups off ISI turnovers and after a ISI score Met had a 22-14 lead. Met then pulled the ball out to try to get ISI out of their 2-3 zone. It didn't work. ISI sat in the zone. Met ran nearly seven minutes off the clock and did not score before the half.
Met had the possession arrow to start the third quarter. They held the ball. ISI sat in the zone. Met missed the last shot. Still 22-14.
ISI had the ball to start the fourth. Missed their shot and Met rebounded with 7:30 left. And yeah, held the ball while ISI sat in the zone.
With a little over four minutes left ISI started to foul. They committed seven fouls in about 15-20 seconds. One kid committed five of them. Met made both free throws. ISI then hit a three pointer, Met missed a free throw and ISI scored going to the rim and got fouled. ISI missed the free throw so were down 24-19. Met than ran off a lot of free throws in a row and ISI just couldn't get good looks at the hoop.
I get Met wanting to get ISI out of the zone, but with an eight point lead I would be quite content as a big underdog to let my opposition shorten the game. I thought Coach Adams at the ISI staff did what they needed to do to give their kids a chance to win the game. Any 34 point underdog would sign up to be down four inside of four minutes. Credit to the Met kids for hitting the free throws and playing defense after standing around doing just about nothing for over 19 minutes of clock time and more than a half hour of real time.
Game ended 41-21.
I've heard about teams holding the ball for an entire period. Never saw it before today. And pretty much saw it twice.
