Opening night

The transition from soccer to basketball is now complete. All three teams opened up the season last night at Portage Christian, and while only two of the three were victorious, all three teams were successful.

Our brand new elementary team opened up the night. Coach Feddes had worked hard with the boys to get ready for the season, but since organized basketball was a new thing for them, we didn't know what to expect. After a few minutes it was obvious that the boys had learned something. Since the boys were using a regular ball and shooting a ten-foot basket, the scoring wasn't frequent, but it did look like basketball out there. Portage opened the scoring, but Nate and Joel scored to put the Patriots ahead at the end of one. HSRC shut down the Pacers in the second quarter while Brian and Nate each made a basket to give the guys an 8-2 lead at halftime. Portage got the ball more often to their #2 in the third quarter as he as their best ball handler. He scored along with #22 while the Patriots couldn't find the basket in the quarter and the lead was down to two entering the fourth. The Pacers again scored four in the quarter, while the Patriots could only manage a basket from Brian, so the teams headed to overtime. Joel scored pretty early in the quarter and the boy shut out the Pacers in the extra period, so the first game and first victory for elementary team was in the books. Joel, Brian and Nate each had four points. Connor was a monster on the boards, pulling down eight. Brian had four rebounds and four steals.

Junior high struggled mightily with PCS last year. (Well, they struggled in general last year.)  Portage had three large players, much heftier than anyone on our team and near, at, or over six foot tall. They worked the ball into one of those players near the basket and there wasn't much we could do about it. All those player moved on to high school. Thankfully. It didn't take long to see that this year's games would be a lot more competitive. The Patriots really worked the 2-3 defense well and didn't give Portage much inside, allowing PCS only eight shots. On offense, Henry handled the ball well and Will showed how much he has improved since practice began. We got some good shots but they weren't falling. Henry and David scored early, and Will finally got one to go down late to tie it up at six. PCS subbed a lot in the second quarter and the new players were gunners, much more willing to shoot from the outside. They weren't very successful and the interior defense remained strong. Our problems increased on the offensive end because Portage went to man-to-mad defense, which we had not practiced against. We had a lot of turnover, but the shooting percentage increased a little. Matt and Will scored baskets in the quarter, equaling the output of Portage and the score was tied at 10 at half.

Portage started getting the range in the third quarter. Their #1 started hitting from the outside while we still struggled against the man-to-man defense. #1 scored all nine of their points in the quarter. The Patriots scored four on baskets by Mark and David but that was it for our guys and we trailed by five going into the last quarter. David hit another shot to open the scoring. #1 scored later to push the lead to 21-16. Henry was fouled in the act of shooting and split the two free throws. He got a basket a little bit later to make it 21-19.  There was less than a minute to go and Portage had the ball and it didn't look good, but they had trouble getting players out on the floor and were called for delay of game. Since they had already been warned, it meant a technical foul and we would get to free throws. Henry went up there and made the first, but he couldn't get the second to go. We then got the ball out of bounds but couldn't get a shot to go. PCS rebounded and we couldn't get the ball back before time ran out, so we went down to defeat, 21-20. Both Henry and David scored six. Will added four and Matt and Mark each got a basket. Caleb had eight rebounds and Will had seven. Caleb also had five steals while Henry and Will had three each.

The varsity team had played Portage Chrsitian in a summer tournament and it wasn't pretty. After one quarter HSRC led 27-2 on their way to a 40-6 win (games were only two eight minute periods). Tonight PCS had several players that weren't at the tournament and they were better competition. Seth opened the 2012-13 season scoring with a three which PCS matched quickly. HSRC then scored seven straight, culminating with a three by Kyle. PCS got their second three to cut the lead to four, but Lucas matched it, then scored on a two-pointer. Seth got another basket before the end of the quarter to make it 18-6 after one. HSRC really struggled on offense in the second quarter, although Nate scored early from the field, then split two free throws to stretch the lead to 21-6. PCS drilled two three-pointers to get back to a single-digit deficit. Kyle scored, then Josh split two pairs of free-throws to push the lead to thirteen at half, 25-12.

Josh continued his strong play inside to open the second half, hitting a field goal. Seth then scored to give HSRC its biggest lead of the game, 29-12. After a PCS basket, Seth and Josh scored again. The game became a little more physical, and the next six points were scored from the line, four by the Patriots. Portage hit another three, their fifth of the game. Josh, working hard, again was fouled and made both free-throws to push the lead to twenty at the end of three. Portage hit only their second two-point basket to open the fourth, but Josh hit a basket, Nate two free throws, then Kyle and Josh each split a pair of free-throws  to complete the six-point run. Portage hit their third and last two-pointer of the night. Josh scored, then Portage hit two free throws. Caleb split two free throws, then a bit later scored on a nice drive after a head fake to give the Patriots their largest lead of the game at 52-26. Portage hit a late three, their sixth, but it was far too little and the game ended 52-29, HSRC. I counted at least five missed layups, and other offensive miscues kept the Patriots' scoring down. If they can get those problems straightened out, with that defense, the Patriots will be hard to stop. Josh led the team with fifteen, eight from the foul line. Kyle and Lucas had ten each and Seth had nine. The Slager brothers' rebounding dominance continued, Josh getting eleven and Kyle ten. Kyle had seven steals as well. Seth dished out four assists and Nate had two blocks.

Our first home game is Tuesday, November 27 versus Calumet, the conference regular season and tournament champs last year. The games, junior high and varsity, will take place at 5:30 and 6:30 at The Oaks, a Mokena Park District facility at 10849 La Porte Ave. We hope to see all of you there, wearing your Patriot spirit wear.