By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
The boys varsity basketball team picked up one win in three games over the holiday break. The Whalers took down Upper Cape Tech in the Cape and Islands Christmas Classic 65-51 last Friday at Cape Tech.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Eric Lowell drives to the hoop in the first half of last Friday’s boys basketball game against Upper Cape Tech at the Cape and Islands Christmas Classic. The Whalers beat the Rams 65-51 to earn their third win of the season. |
The win was sandwiched between losses to Martha’s Vineyard 63-53 last Thursday, also in the tournament, and to North Cambridge Catholic 60-25 Sunday.
While nearly all Nantucket High School sports teams took a break over the winter vacation, the boys basketball team evened their record at 3-3 overall heading into the new year and the heart of the schedule. The squad will have a break from games until next Saturday, Jan. 12 when it welcomes North Cambridge Catholic to the island for a rematch of Sunday’s loss.
“I would like to be undefeated and I would like to be over .500, but it is what it is and we are what we are. We are always striving to get better,” head coach Beau Almodobar said.
During the nearly two weeks without a game, the Whalers will be working on protecting the basketball and limiting turnovers, playing an aggressive-style game including being more physical on the boards.
In both losses this week the Whalers struggled to match the intensity and aggression of their opponents. Against Upper Cape Tech in the win, Nantucket had seven players with two or more fouls, but had five players with six or more rebounds and capitalized on Rams turnovers down the stretch to earn the win.
“We have to play more physical on the boards and sometimes you are going to give up a foul here and there, but we have to play more physical and more aggressive,” Almodobar said.
On Sunday in Cambridge, North Cambridge Catholic used a full-court press and some speed to jump all over the Whalers 20-3 to open the game.
“I am not pleased. I think it is a good lesson that we can learn from. If we are going to be the team I think we can be, we are going to have to learn to deal with pressure. Teams that are a little quicker than we are, we have to match that intensity and we didn’t do that,” Almodobar said.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Whaler boys basketball action versus Upper Cape at the Cape and Islands Basketball Classic at Cape Tech, Friday afternoon, December 28, 2007, first half. Jordan Ferreira brings the ball upcourt. At right rear is Tomas Smaliorius. |
The Panthers put a box and one defense on Nantucket leading scorer Jordan Ferreira and held the Whalers’ star shooter to zero points in the game. Josh Butler was the leading scorer with eight, followed by Delroy Lawrence with six points. Tomas Smaliorius and Eric Lowell scored four points each.
The most concerning stat of the game was in the turnover column. The Whalers handed over the ball 26 times, while scoring only 25 points in the game.
“We are looking to be a little more focused on our half-court set and a little more patient on our press. We have to match their intensity in breaking the press,” Almodobar said. Against Upper Cape Tech in the second game of the Cape & Islands Christmas Classic on Friday, the Whalers showcased some of the hustle and aggression their coach was looking for.
After falling behind 5-0 to open the game, the Whalers put on some defensive pressure went inside on offense against the Rams, which led to a 10-2 run. Lawrence scored six points from under the hoop and Ferreira added a lay-up off an Upper Cape Tech turnover to take the lead.
Late in the second quarter, Chris Welch and Ferreira each nailed three-pointers, while Evan Hourihan and Lawrence added points to go up 22-15. The Whalers led 27-20 at the break.
The dueling squads played an even third quarter, but the Rams hit a couple big baskets late in the period to pull within three with the Whalers already over the limit in fouls.
The Whalers, however, eventually proved that they were the stronger team, putting up 24 points to the Rams’ 11 in the fourth quarter. Ferreira and Hourihan each drained a three-point-shot, while Lawrence sank three baskets.
“It was so close all the way to the fourth quarter. I think they might have got a little tired and committed some turnovers down the stretch,” Almodobar said.
The Whalers were 4-for-6 in free-throw shooting in the final two minutes of the game.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Whaler boys basketball action versus Upper Cape at the Cape and Islands Basketball Classic at Cape Tech, Friday afternoon, December 28, 2007, first half. Rasheed Smith, front. |
The Whalers played close against Martha’s Vineyard on the opening day of the Cape and Island Christmas Classic, but the island rivals relied on physical play under the hoop to keep Nantucket’s inside players at bay.
“They were more physical than we were down low. We got out-muscled underneath. They were getting second- and third-chance rebounds and that’s not a good thing when you are playing Martha’s Vineyard,” Almodobar said.
The Vineyard held the lead 29-24 at the half and thwarted a late Whalers run at the lead to earn their first of two victories in the annual tournament.
“We came out and scored four or five straight points right in a row to knock it down to one. We never went ahead. We were just hanging around looking for a bolster, but it never happened. Under one minute and 20 seconds, we started to foul and they just hit their free throws down the stretch,” Almodobar said.
Ferreira led the Whalers’ offense with a game-high 23 points, but the Vineyarders held Nantucket’s inside players to minimal points. Lawrence and Butler each scored only two points each. Adam Spencer scored nine points and Smaliorius added six.
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