|
Tolman hoopsters net first league win at Lincoln's expense |
|
|
Wednesday, 16 January 2008 |
LINCOLN – For Tolman High, the season boiled down to one of two roads following last Friday’s 48-point home loss to Classical High.
One direction pointed towards white, as in raising the white flag. The other, the bumpier of the two, was geared towards some deep rooted soul searching, the hope that the season is still savable.
Tolman demonstrated Tuesday that there’s still plenty of gusto and fight left in the tank. Despite squandering a 12-point second half lead to host Lincoln High, Tolman regrouped in overtime to post a much-needed 57-54 victory.
By BRENDAN McGAIR
Sports writer
LINCOLN – For Tolman High, the season boiled down to one of two roads following last Friday’s 48-point home loss to Classical High.
One direction pointed towards white, as in raising the white flag. The other, the bumpier of the two, was geared towards some deep rooted soul searching, the hope that the season is still savable.
Tolman demonstrated Tuesday that there’s still plenty of gusto and fight left in the tank. Despite squandering a 12-point second half lead to host Lincoln High, Tolman regrouped in overtime to post a much-needed 57-54 victory.
The victory for the Tigers was doubly sweet. It represented the club’s first league win in six tries. At the same time, coach Mike Kayata learned a great deal about the makeup of his club.
“We felt this game wasn’t about X’s and O’s. It was about heart and passion and showing the desire to play the game,” said Kayata. “I challenged some players to show that they have heart and pride in themselves, in the uniform and the program.
“I think they really decided that they were going to come out and play hard,” said Kayata. “We beat a good team. I think Lincoln is one of the top three teams in the division.”
Seydou Diarrassouba and Josh Lima nearly accounted for all of Tolman’s offense. Diarrassouba was responsible for 21 points in addition to eight assists. Lima himself enjoyed a fine contest, collecting a game-best 24 points to go along with nine rebounds.
Just how lethal was the tandem of Diarrassouba and Lima? When Tolman and Lincoln met up at last month’s Cumberland holiday tournament, they combined for 27 points.
Their production was nearly doubled on Tuesday, though they weren’t the only Tigers that stood out in Kayata’s eyes.
Point guard Jay LaRose brought three assists, five steals and rebounds to the table. Colin Shea was inserted into the starting lineup for one clear objective: to shadow Lincoln’s leading scorer Aaron Sabatino.
Sabatino registered 11 points, seven of which came in a first-half flurry.
“We really did a good job of shutting [Sabatino] down and that was on Colin Shea,” praised Kayata, whose crew is now 1-5 in D-II North. “We gave Colin one responsibility, which was to shut [Sabatino] down. Colin is the kind of player that if he gets confidence in what he’s doing will become better.”
“[Colin] did a good job, but Tolman played us man-to-man. It wasn’t anything complicated,” said Lincoln head coach Kent Crooks.
Nothing has come easy for Tigers this season and Tuesday nearly proved more of the same. Tolman went ice-cold over the final 5:54 of the opening half, scoring just three points (all coming on a Diarrassouba 3-point play). The Lions, despite shooting 10-of-26 in the first, were up a duce, 24-22, at the half, a half which witnessed 10 lead changes.
The visitors seized control thanks to 18-6 run to start the second half, the final three coming on a Lima trey – one of three he nailed – to give Tolman a 40-30 lead inside nine minutes remaining.
The Lions, who came in winners of three of their previous four, fell behind 42-30 before turning on the switch just in the nick of time. They battled back from a 48-41 hole with 1:53 left in regulation, the comeback bid beginning with a straightaway trey from Ethan Cloutier (11 points).
Cloutier scored on the next the Lincoln (3-3 D-II North) possession to pull Lincoln within a basket. A Tolman turnover gave Lincoln the ball back with plenty of time (38.5 seconds) remaining.
Diarrassouba appeared to have saved the day when he stepped in front of an intended entry pass, but Lincoln senior Willie Fay (11 points) trapped the Tolman senior near midcourt.
Fay gathered the ball, finding Jordan Wilson (11 points) near the foul line. With six seconds remaining, Wilson drove, connecting on a circus shot to send the game off to overtime.
Tolman’s psyche was Kayata’s chief concern going into the extra session, but Tigers quieted the coach’s fears thanks to jumping out to a 55-50 lead.
“We silly mistakes late. I was nervous and worried,” said Kayata. “but I told them it’s our time to get the game back. For whatever the reason, we rose to the occasion.”
Lincoln had a chance to force a second extra session, but Sabatino’s trey bid bounced off the back rim as the horn sounded. Zachary Trenteseaux finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“We need to play team basketball,” said Crooks. “When you’re out of sync, this is the result.” |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 March 2008 )
|
|
|
|
|
|
Horoscope
