- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,231,074
- Reaction score
- 59
CUERO — Veterans Memorial coach Billy White Jr. stressed the importance of denying Leander Glenn second and third shots going into their Class 5A, Division I regional final.
“That was one of things we talked about was we had to rebound the basketball,” White said. “That was something we saw with their size and their length that they were very capable of doing. Unfortunately, their size and length was a little more than we could handle at times.”
Glenn dominated the boards and took advantage of some costly Veterans Memorial turnovers to capture an 89-68 win Friday night at The Roost.
Glenn improved to 30-10 and advanced to the semifinals against Beaumont West Brook.
HISTORY MADE: London basketball tops Goliad in overtime to reach first state semifinal
ROAD TO STATE: Take a look at Coastal Bend boys high school basketball playoff schedules
The Eagles (27-10) had their 11-game winning streak snapped, and fell a game short of their second straight semifinal appearance.
“The biggest thing for us was not rebounding and we turned the ball over,” said junior Jeremiah Moore, who scored 24 points. “That’s the thing in the playoffs you have to do and we didn’t do that.”
Veterans Memorial held its only lead when sophomore Jaron Couture made a 3-pointer for a 5-3 advantage with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
But the Grizzlies used an 8-0 spurt in the first quarter, and a 12-2 run in the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead.
“There were some things we were able to get accomplished, but we never got into a complete rhythm,” White said. “That’s a tribute to them with their length and things of that nature. They were real physical with us and that kind of threw us off a little bit.”
The Eagles were able to pull within seven points five times in the third quarter, but could get no closer.
“The times we got close we just had careless turnovers that allowed them to extend the lead,” said Couture, who scored a game-high 27 points. “The main focus was to rebound the ball. I feel like that was one of the main reasons we lost because we didn’t rebound the ball.”
Veterans Memorial trailed by 16 points heading into the fourth quarter, and any hope of a comeback quickly faded when Couture fouled out with 7:42 remaining.
“Anytime you lose that caliber of player on any team, and especially our team because he’s a major factor,” White said. “That’s a lot of production that goes to the bench.”
White was disappointed with the loss, but with only three seniors on the roster, knows another playoff run is possible next season.
“Here we are as regional finalists,” he said. “It’s a tribute to our guys for coming in, busting their butts and believing in what they could achieve. Our goal is always to win a state championship, but I told them the work they put in and the things they were able to accomplish, they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
Glenn – Orden Roberts 24, Elijah Kumwenda 4, Hudson Roberts 12, Justin Lee 15, Dallas Hernandez 23, Malik Etiobbio 7, Qaylen Davis 2, Denim Moore 2.
Veterans Memorial – Alijah Brown 3, Jeremiah Moore 24, Jaron Couture 27, Joaquin Trevino 4, Jonah Grant 6, Caylem Lopez 2, Aden Cortez 2.
3-pointers – Glenn, O. Roberts 3, Hernandez 2, Etiobbio; Veterans Memorial, Moore 3, Couture 3, Brown.
Records: Glenn 30-10; Veterans Memorial 27-10
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Veterans Memorial falls to Glenn in 5A Division I regional final
Continue reading...
“That was one of things we talked about was we had to rebound the basketball,” White said. “That was something we saw with their size and their length that they were very capable of doing. Unfortunately, their size and length was a little more than we could handle at times.”
Glenn dominated the boards and took advantage of some costly Veterans Memorial turnovers to capture an 89-68 win Friday night at The Roost.
Glenn improved to 30-10 and advanced to the semifinals against Beaumont West Brook.
HISTORY MADE: London basketball tops Goliad in overtime to reach first state semifinal
ROAD TO STATE: Take a look at Coastal Bend boys high school basketball playoff schedules
The Eagles (27-10) had their 11-game winning streak snapped, and fell a game short of their second straight semifinal appearance.
“The biggest thing for us was not rebounding and we turned the ball over,” said junior Jeremiah Moore, who scored 24 points. “That’s the thing in the playoffs you have to do and we didn’t do that.”
Veterans Memorial held its only lead when sophomore Jaron Couture made a 3-pointer for a 5-3 advantage with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
But the Grizzlies used an 8-0 spurt in the first quarter, and a 12-2 run in the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead.
“There were some things we were able to get accomplished, but we never got into a complete rhythm,” White said. “That’s a tribute to them with their length and things of that nature. They were real physical with us and that kind of threw us off a little bit.”
The Eagles were able to pull within seven points five times in the third quarter, but could get no closer.
“The times we got close we just had careless turnovers that allowed them to extend the lead,” said Couture, who scored a game-high 27 points. “The main focus was to rebound the ball. I feel like that was one of the main reasons we lost because we didn’t rebound the ball.”
Veterans Memorial trailed by 16 points heading into the fourth quarter, and any hope of a comeback quickly faded when Couture fouled out with 7:42 remaining.
“Anytime you lose that caliber of player on any team, and especially our team because he’s a major factor,” White said. “That’s a lot of production that goes to the bench.”
White was disappointed with the loss, but with only three seniors on the roster, knows another playoff run is possible next season.
“Here we are as regional finalists,” he said. “It’s a tribute to our guys for coming in, busting their butts and believing in what they could achieve. Our goal is always to win a state championship, but I told them the work they put in and the things they were able to accomplish, they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
Leander Glenn 89, Veterans Memorial 68
Glenn – Orden Roberts 24, Elijah Kumwenda 4, Hudson Roberts 12, Justin Lee 15, Dallas Hernandez 23, Malik Etiobbio 7, Qaylen Davis 2, Denim Moore 2.
Veterans Memorial – Alijah Brown 3, Jeremiah Moore 24, Jaron Couture 27, Joaquin Trevino 4, Jonah Grant 6, Caylem Lopez 2, Aden Cortez 2.
3-pointers – Glenn, O. Roberts 3, Hernandez 2, Etiobbio; Veterans Memorial, Moore 3, Couture 3, Brown.
Records: Glenn 30-10; Veterans Memorial 27-10
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Veterans Memorial falls to Glenn in 5A Division I regional final
Continue reading...
