Text Box: Avon Lake Shoremen Basketball

Last update:  02/03/08

Game Summary:    Brecksville   01/11

Avon Lake

Shoremen

 

Brecksville Bees

VS

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SHOREMEN MAKE HONEY OUT OF THE BEES!

The JV Shoremen brought their 6-3 record HOME hosting the visiting Bees from Brecksville.  The Shoremen new they had to stop the Bees sharp-shooting junior guard, Keith Holland.  The Shoremen used a balanced attack to counter the sharp shooting Holland.

 In the first quarter the Shoremen took control of the game.  Led by Brandon Muck’s hot shooting and Trent Toy’s defense and rebounding, the Shoremen jumped out to a quick 10-7 lead.  Muck was on fire as he drained a long three, followed by two driving lay-ups.  In all, he scored 7 of the Shoremen's first 8 points.  Full court pressure defense by the Shoremen led to a Trent Toy steal, who quickly passed to the fleet-footed Greg Stephens.  Stephens used his patented jab step to blow by the flat-footed defender and score 2 more for the Shoremen.  Toy dominated the boards on both the offensive and defensive ends.  Timely substitutions kept fresh legs in the game as coach Fitch went to his bench late in the first quarter and saw contributions from Mike Magyar, Kyle McNamara, Greg Stephens, Dom Whitfield and Dan Olemacher.  Olemacher drained a three to close out the quarter and the Shoremen were ahead 17-12.

 The Bees saw more pressure defense from the Shoremen in the 2nd quarter as the intensity of Avon Lake was suffocating the Bees.  Offensively in the quarter the Shoremen received contributions from several players.  Muck nailed a three pointer, Pat England hit a 15-foot jumper and Mike Magyar drove the baseline and laid one in off the glass to give the Shoremen a 29-17 lead at the 2:38 mark.  Steve Heine, Brandon Spitzer, and Kyle McNamara applied relentless defensive pressure as the Shoremen held the Bees to just 21 points in the first half.  The only player causing the Shoremen problems was Holland who scored 14 of the Bees 21 first half points.  Draining four 3’s and a two. As the Shoremen headed to the locker room at halftime, long time Shoremen fan, Kathy Heine shouted, “ Shoremen are looking good”. 

 Throughout the 3rd quarter both teams applied full court pressure as the Bees desperately tried to change the pace to get back into the game.  Dan Olemacher scored on two driving lay-ups to keep the Shoremen lead at a dozen early in the 3rd quarter.  Toy contributed 2 steals, 2 rebounds, and a two-point bucket to keep the pressure on the Bees.  Stephens, Thompson & McNamara each scored a bucket in the 3rd to offset the hot shooting Holland.  Holland scored 10 of the Bees 12 3rd quarter points.  Brandon Koprowski provided a spark off of the bench as he scored 4 points on consecutive possessions, and the Shoremen pushed their lead to 52-38 at the end of the 3rd quarter. 

 To start the fourth, coach Fitch called England’s number and he scored quickly to push the lead to 54-38.  The Bees applied full court pressure the remainder of the quarter to try and salvage the game.  Spitzer, T.J. Thompson, and England did an excellent job of breaking the press and forcing the bees into personal fouls. Late in the game the Shoremen appeared to shift into "preserve the win" mode as their intensity and relentless pressure subsided.  Long range three’s by the Bees were cutting into the large lead as you could feel the momentum of the game change to Brecksville.  However, the Shoremen quickly re-grouped by taking care of the basketball and forcing the Bees to foul to get the ball.  Pat England made four critical free throws in the last two minutes to seal the victory, and the Shoremen finished the game in comfortable fashion with a 67-58 victory.

 All players contributed to the victory including sideline support from the injured Ben O’Connor. The Shoremen improved their overall record to 7-3.  Next Stop…BEREA!

 

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Text Box: SHOREMEN RIGHT the SHIP!

Text Box:  Friday night lights…Shoremen style in the Avon Lake FIELDHOUSE in front of a packed home house and a fired up “Pep Band” vs the Bees from Brecksville was the perfect setting to get back on the winning train for the Shoremen (7-2 / 4-1). The first quarter saw Brian Mielcusny draining a 16’ baseline jumper to start 2-0.  Tommy Kuzniar quickly followed from the other side to make it 4-2 at the 5:05 mark.  The Shoremen 1-3-1 half court trap after made baskets gave the Bees fits resulting in great scoring opportunities for the Shoremen.  Mike Herrilko’s rebound follow-up two points made it 6-2 Shoremen.  Brecksville went to a Box-n-1 defense targeting Tommy Kuzniar trying to keep him off his game.  But the Shoremen found other Shorehands to help as Jeff Ickes banked in two to make it 11-6.  Tim Daniels also helped take the pressure off the Box-n-1 by nailing one of his four (4) three-pointers on the night to end the first quarter 14-8! The second quarter was all Avon Lake.  Tim Daniels slid down the baseline for two and Mielcusny hit a foul line jumper from Parker Russell to make it 18-8 Shoremen.  Tim Daniels found the bottom of the net on his second three following a wild scramble for the ball.  Mike Herrilko made his presence known as a human “fly-swatter” racking up back-to-back swats in a commanding and impressive performance on the boards.  Kuzniar found Mark Homenik on a nice back-door bounce pass for two and the Shoremen were up 23-9.  Jeff Ickes chipped in an easy two on a quick put back at the 2:00 minute mark and Tim Daniels put an exclamation point on the 2nd quarter with his third 3-pointer of the half putting the Shoremen up 29-14 as they ran to the locker room.  The third quarter started with Mike Herrilko powering up for two off the glass. Kuzinar found pay-dirt on a nice fake and jumper for two 32-16 Shoremen.  The Shoremen were one showing a 1-2-2  ¾  court Zone trap after made baskets to silence the Bees. Herrilko notched another back-to-back SWAT which frustrated the Bees front court.  Jeff Ickes’ 15’ baseline jumper made it 37-18 Shoremen with 4:18 in the 3rd.  Jeff Ickes then found Tommy Kuzniar on a fast break which broke open the game 42-22 with 1:41 in the third quarter.  Tim Daniels found the touch for the 4th time again from behind the arc ending the quarter 45-26.  With 6:29 in the 4th quarter Tommy K. hit 2 free throws for the first points scored in the 4th.  At this point, Shoremen Legs were getting tired and the Bees started taking advantage of open perimeter 3-point shots and cut into the Shoremen lead 47-34.  The Bees went to their bench which invigorated the group with “hunger” and intensity resulting in another 3-point play for the Bees got them “buzzing” and back into the game 47-37.  The Shoremen had to re-group and focus with fresh legs from the Bees.  Slowing the game down enabled the Shoremen to maintain their ten point lead and the Bees couldn’t get any closer thanks to the Shoremen hitting and splitting free throws down the stretch.  With 23 Seconds remaining Brian Mielcusny split the final pair of Free Throws ending the game 55-43 SHOREMEN!  With the Amherst upset of North Olmsted the Shoremen were now tied for 1st in the SWC!  Next STOP at conference rival BEREA!

Team

1st

2nd

Total

Avon Lake

21

27

48

Brecksville

35

27

62

Team

1st

2nd

Total

Avon Lake

33

34

67

Brecksville

21

37

58