TOLEDO – For the Little Giants boys basketball team, the key to finding consistent success on the court will come when it finds consistency off the court. Inconsistency off the court, however, brings with it inconsistency on the court and it showed Tuesday night at St. John’s.
The Titans shot the ball well early and displayed an intense defensive effort throughout the night, requiring the Little Giants to work for everything they could muster on offense as St. John’s took a 65-36 win over Ross.
“We need to keep working, right now we have so many issues that we’re trying to take care of – both on and off the court—that it makes it difficult to do things the right way on the court,” Ross coach John Cahill said.
A Bryce Root 3-pointer three minutes into the game brought Ross within a point, 6-5, but the remainder of the first half belonged to St. John’s. The Titans then went on a 9-0 run and ended the first quarter leading 15-8.
St. John’s then outscored Ross 13-1 over the first five minutes of the second quarter and went into halftime with a 33-16 advantage. St. John’s hit five 3-pointers in the first half and out-rebounded Ross 17-9.
“I thought they defended very, very well,” Cahill said. “They have a couple veteran kids who played on some of those teams who maybe didn’t have big roles, but they won a lot of 50-50 balls and the plays we have to win to be in games like this.”
Ross’ best period of play came in the third quarter. The Little Giants were much-improved in possessing the ball in the offensive half-court, moving the ball and remaining patient for good shooting opportunities. The Little Giants outscored the Titans 14-13 in the third and began the fourth quarter trailing 46-30.
“I didn’t think our energy was very good tonight,” Cahill said. “But I thought we played a pretty good third quarter. Then in the fourth quarter it got away from us. We stopped defending and only scored six points on two (field goals)”
Cahill said the Little Giants have to become more disciplined in all phases, including during school hours.
“We have so many things that we don’t do correctly – in school or off the court – that I think have a carry-over to what we’re trying to do here.
“Hopefully we can get some of those things corrected – as a staff – in school and then get a little more continuity in terms of what we’re trying to do in practice. We have some kids that missed practice time because of study table because their grades aren’t where they need to be – and that’s the priority for us, to have the kids do well in in school – but it’d be nice if they could take care of that on their own (without needing to use practice time). We’ll keep working.”
Root led the Little Giants with 14 points and eight rebounds and Ethan Chumley added six. Jabryis Heidelberg also scored six points to go with six assists.
Cahill said the coaching staff is going to put all personnel options on the table.
“I think we have some young pieces we’re going to give a chance to and open up some practice time,” Cahill said. “I think there is some potential future kids that maybe we can get our culture started with and it feeds up. It will be a competitive practice (Wednesday) and if we start the same five on Friday I’ll be stunned. We’re going to give some other people some opportunities to step up and maybe a chance to play.”
Ross returns to action Friday when it hosts Toledo Central Catholic at 7:30.