Athens vs Logan Elm

[The Gloaming]

And sorry for the spelling errors and quote posts...driving and replying is not only dangerous but is killer to your ability to make sense.

[Raider6309]

This is a major win for Logan elm. Take over that valuable #1 spot. Could see warren vs Athens in the sectionals.

I didn't understand why Athens didn't run man to man. Logan elm scored half its points beyond the arc. Run man and press, not the whole game, just every so often to speed the game up.

[bman]

That wasn't meant as any dig at Athens, because I have a high opinion of the Bulldogs. But when one basketball team is in basketball shape and the other team is in the transition to getting in basketball shape because of the football run, you have to plan for that. Maybe a mix of man and zone would've been more appropriate, but Coach Skinner has been around for years and I believe he has a good sense of what he has at the moment, If the rematch does happen, I would expect Athens to play a lot more man and use its bigger size and length against Logan Elm.

[93Bulldog]

Man, zone, man, zone ... whatever the case may be ... if you would have told me Athens would turn the ball over 16 TIMES and only gave up 60 points - I would have taken that.

The game plan was fine. You go 9-of-17 from the free throw line and lose by 1 point. That's basketball.

[Raider6309]

I would have played man and have Lutz and Saltzman take turns guarding young. Young would have got tired fast. Elm goes as he goes

[93Bulldog]

I would have played man and have Lutz and Saltzman take turns guarding young. Young would have got tired fast. Elm goes as he goes

I think you guys are under the assumption Logan Elm would have just played straight-up isolation basketball.

I have seen them play numerous games before, dating back to the Tyler Evans led teams. They pick you to death if you try and play man-to-man. They would have had Young bobbing and weaving through multiple picks until he found himself all alone on the perimeter. Or they would wait and see if you switched on picks, and if you did, they would have waited until one of the bigger players switched on Young and he would have just taken it to the hole.

Maybe when Athens gets fully into basketball shape they can try playing man-to-man some on LE (if they square off again). But had they done it last night for the entire game - they would have got run out of the gym. The defense did it's job, you held them to 60 - what more could you want. Logan Elm may not score 60 or less the remainder of the year.

[The Gloaming]

I would have played man and have Lutz and Saltzman take turns guarding young. Young would have got tired fast. Elm goes as he goes

I think you guys are under the assumption Logan Elm would have just played straight-up isolation basketball.

I have seen them play numerous games before, dating back to the Tyler Evans led teams. They pick you to death if you try and play man-to-man. They would have had Young bobbing and weaving through multiple picks until he found himself all alone on the perimeter. Or they would wait and see if you switched on picks, and if you did, they would have waited until one of the bigger players switched on Young and he would have just taken it to the hole.

Maybe when Athens gets fully into basketball shape they can try playing man-to-man some on LE (if they square off again). But had they done it last night for the entire game - they would have got run out of the gym. The defense did it's job, you held them to 60 - what more could you want. Logan Elm may not score 60 or less the remainder of the year.

The defense didn't do it's job up 6 late when it gave up back to back wide open 3s. At least bobbing and weaving takes time You can defend screens and back door cut through switches and being sound defenders, getting beat every now and then happens in man but why on earth not pick up and make them shoot over you late when you're as big as the bulldogs are and know they love the 3ball.
And yes, free throw shooting was a factor. Where is the Bulldogs post play? Do they rely on a lot of one on one? I was baffled by the lack of plays to Watson and Burrow underneath. Everything was 10 feet+ from the basket. They should be able to abuse teams with those guys strength(burrow) and athletic ability/talent(ibi).

2-3 zones are what my friends and I play in an alumni tourney cause we are too fat and lazy to man up. Like you said, they are just getting time on the court together so things will improve.

[93Bulldog]

Lets keep in mind. Athens knocked off Logan Elm in the Logan sectional in 2011 with that exact same zone. Athens beat Logan Elm in 2012 with that exact same zone. Athens would have beaten Logan Elm had they hit their free throws in 2013 with that exact same zone. They should be 3-0 versus the Braves and they haven't changed much defensively.

Also ... Athens is not going to beat some inner city Columbus schools playing man-to-man (which is what you are going to see in the regionals if you get their). Athens is not going to man up on ASVSM either, which is who you need to beat if you do get to Columbus. I see no problem working on it now - to prepare for what needs to be done later on.

Athens is in DIVISION II with some real heavyweights with serious size and athleticism. They are a great team don't get me wrong - but when you get up into the upper levels of the tournament and see the ASVSM'S and the Dayton Dunbar's and Thurgood Marshall's of the world - you're facing teams with 2 or 3 division I college basketball players. The Bulldogs 2 deep bench, 1 freshman and 2 sophomores are not going to be able to man up on a team like that for 4 quarters.

I made the reference to Bishop Watterson because they are nowhere near the team ASVSM is, but they beat them with a wicked 3-2 match-up zone and it was a big reason why they won the state title.

[pfloyd]

... I tend to agree with 93dog on this one - the zone D did it's job ... held LE to 60 points ... even Dillon Young was held under his average, the 17 last night was the lowest scoring output I had seen from him in 3 games this season - he knocked down 23 vs Circleville Friday/20 in the season opener vs Washington CH ... 16 TO vs a team the caliber of LE , a team who WILL make you pay with the additional possessions ... FT shooting was not there for Athens, those missed FTs ALWAYS haunt you vs quality opponents which LE is one ... imo something that has not been brought up in this conversation is that Logan Elm is not the Dillon Young Show by himself this season ... last season LE held teams under 50 points a game BUT could not get 50 points themselves! Dillon Young was options 1-5 ... the 2013-14 edition of the LE Braves has 5-6 players who can and will burn you from beyond the arc - last night Logan Thompson led ALL LE scorers with 19 , his confidence as a shooter this season is over the top compared to last year, he didn't look for his shot, he looked for D. Young ... add to the mix Ridge Young, Trent Congrove, Waylon Altrip, Casey Tyler - they all look for their own shot - much improved from last season ...ball movement until one of the 5 options gets his shot is the name of the game this season ... can't guard just one ... I can't remember a rushed, bad shot taken by the Braves last night ... the maturity level on that TEAM has been turned up a notch this season add to that the solid fundamentals, and the basketball knowledge that each of the seniors has soaked up going thru the Stiverson/Holbert system ...you end up with a TEAM that will be a hard "W" for any team on the other side of the scorers table ...

[93Bulldog]

ball movement until one of the 5 options gets his shot is the name of the game this season ... can't guard just one ... I can't remember a rushed, bad shot taken by the Braves last night.

If or when Athens gets to that level (and I think they will) they will be darn near unstoppable on offense with the amount of talent they posses. Size, athleticism, talent + TEAMWORK & PASSING = big time success.

[catsandbucks]

93, what have you heard about your coach and qb chasing the referees into their locker room after the game?

[93Bulldog]

93, what have you heard about your coach and qb chasing the referees into their locker room after the game?

I highly doubt the QB would ever do such a thing. He is one of the most laid back kids I have ever come across. Not to mention he respects authority and adults. There is just way.

But to answer your question. I'm on the radio doing post game stuff. I have no idea what happens after games unless it takes place on the court in front of me.

(BTW .. the one ref, who I am familiar with, would not be chased anywhere by anyone. So the whole thing sounds a little off to me.)

[Rufus]

I could see the hallway to the locker room after the game. The refs ran off and had to be well into their area before the teams were done shaking hands. Skinner shook every player's and coach's hand..Burrow didn't even look that upset and as 93dog pointed out, he wouldn't do something like that.

I agree with The Gloaming though...Athens needed to come out of the zone. LE was too hot to give them 3 after 3...wide open. Now Athens could play a zone against those more athletic teams (ASVSM, Dunbar, Marshall) bc I'm willing to bet they aren't as good of shooters (all around) as LE..They'll want to play more ISO and take it to the hole.

Athens is going to be fine...but I do think they're going to have to play more than 6 guys to make a decent tournament run.

[93Bulldog]

The Hickory Huskers only used 6, baseballstud24 ... well, 6 1/2 if you count Ollie.

[Raider6309]

93, what have you heard about your coach and qb chasing the referees into their locker room after the game?

u are an idiot

[athens78]

dang gone Glouster refs anyhow. That's the only way we lose.

[The Gloaming]

Baseballstud24 is just mad cause he lost the 2003 Athens County 3 point contest.

[93Bulldog]

Baseballstud24 is just mad cause he lost the 2003 Athens County 3 point contest.

I'd be shocked to see bballstud24 make a lay-up ... let alone a three.

Its no surprise he lost.

[ShoeHorn]

93Bulldog, I have agreed with every single thing you have said in this thread but one. The Dogs are not "2" deep, they are "1" deep. The drop off after the 6th man is enormous. Everything else is spot on though, great insight.

[The Gloaming]

Baseballstud24 is just mad cause he lost the 2003 Athens County 3 point contest.

I'd be shocked to see bballstud24 make a lay-up ... let alone a three.

Its no surprise he lost.

He says it's cause he didn't get a chance to highlight his hair the night before.