DiGIOVANNI: Want to boost scoring? Learn how to shoot
With the boys basketball season at the halfway mark, I thought it may be time to answer some questions and question some answers on the area hoop scene. Many things have stood out to me, with the most glaring being the lack of scoring across the board.
Some would argue that scores in the 40s or high 30s could be attributed to the myriad of defenses some area teams play. But, to this observer, the reason may be as simple as this:
No one knows how to shoot.
With so many players who would rather score on run outs or penetrate to the basket, the art of shooting the basketball has all but disappeared. We all know area coaches want their players to attack the basket, but when those players can’t make 12- or 15-footers, it is time to put in a little more practice time. A lot of teams do not seem to take the pregame warmups very seriously or use it as a chance to improve on inadequate field goal shooting, or even the poor free throw shooting that has been demonstrated in too many games.
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Conestoga coach Mike Troy reached a very lofty milestone last week in garnering his 300th career victory, accomplishing the feat with an overtime win over Strath Haven. Troy has long been one of the best coaches in District 1, not only at Conestoga but in his time at Devon Prep. It amazes me that Troy’s name is not mentioned in those circles, and it is a disservice to a very good coach and a very good person.
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I still do not know what happened to Downingtown East in the last two minutes of the Cougars’ 45-36 loss to Coatesville last week. After handling the Red Raiders’ pressure pretty well for the first 30 minutes, the Cougars lost their mind in the final two minutes. Long passes that were picked off and guys trying to dribble between two players led to the Cougars demise. But, Downingtown East proved they will be a factor in both league and district play.
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You have to wonder how good Church Farm would be if 6-foot-10 Fred Odihambo did not move to California before the start of the season. Odihambo has already been offered a scholarship by UCLA, and if he were still a Griffin, the pairing of Odihambo and 6-9 Jon Bol Ajak would have likely propelled Church Farm to a state title in Class 2A. But, that is life at a boarding school. They come and sometimes they go.
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How many close games does Avon Grove have to lose before one goes its way? First year coach Roy Blumenthal has done a great job and the Red Devils have already won three more games than Avon Grove did all of last year. But Avon Grove has four losses by a combined eight points. Senior point guard Brandon McCullough has bought into the new coach’s program and is getting a lot of Division 3 looks. McCullough is one of the area players who can actually shoot the basketball with some degree of accuracy.
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Former Malvern Prep coach Jim Rullo has Neumann University in the top 20 for the first time in school history. Rullo has brought the same in-your-face intensity he displayed when he was the Friars boss. Rullo has shown interest in Avon Grove’s McCullough as a future Neumann player.
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Can anyone explain how Coatesville’s Dapree Bryant and Jhamir Brickus excel on the varsity level as freshmen? The two are the main cogs in the Red Raider attack, along with senior Kamau Brickus.
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How can District 1 have only 39 Class 6A teams, yet 24 qualify for the district tournament? I am all for teams getting a chance to compete, but this smacks of the everyone-gets-a-trophy feeling. Of those 24, a ridiculous 10 of those teams will make the PIAA tournament. Making the district tournament and state playoffs should be a little harder, and that is what would make it a greater accomplishment.
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One man’s view of the top five Class 6A schools as of now in District 1, in no particular order: Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Abington, Conestoga, North Penn and Coatesville.
But, we have a long way until the end of February and things may change.
Peter DiGiovanni covers boys basketball for Digital First Media and PaPrepLive.com. You can reach him at pdgiovanni07@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaPrepLive.com.
