Seasons
Announcement
GP uses 2-3 to repel Douglass |
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Ron Bailey, Publisher
Zone made a difference.
January 15, 2015 - Known for his multitude of defensive pressures, Gwynn Park head coach Mike Glick took a different avenue against similarly undefeated, arch and neighborhood rival Douglass Tuesday night; his team played variations of a 2-3 zone all evening, riding the scheme to a 72-67 win in front of a packed home crowd. "You have to pick your poison with those guys" said Glick afterward, in his joyous locker room. "We wanted to pack it in and make them shoot". On eschewing his trademark pressure, Glick noted "We wanted to make them earn it".
Isaiah Miles, on the attack. Part of that was altering the 2-3, raising the baseline center big to the foul line. Doing so, noted Douglass junior point guard Don Carey helped make it "hard to get the ball inside". It also nullified Douglass' high low attack. Up 46-33 to start the fourth quarter, junior guard Justin Faison got started, including getting to the line three consecutive times. He finished with 25 points and five assists, including going 10-11 from the charity stripe. "My coach said I can thrive in this environment" shared Faison of his fourth quarter heroics, also admitting "Sometimes when my offense gets going, so does my defense", as the point guard ended up with a couple of steals also. Aiding him and his team's closing out the game was another change to their 2-3 zone, this time extending it in the half court and trapping out of it. A thorn in their side during the last eight minutes was Carey, who led Douglass with 17 points, 11 notched in the fourth period. Senior forward Cam Hayes led Douglass with 19 points, though lamented "We didn't play hard enough", citing "They outrebounded us" as proof. "This was a special moment" opined Faison, in his first year at GP after transferring from McNamara - the fan support tonight was incredible. "We feel like we can beat anybody. But we're not content". Glick was one happy coach, beaming "I'm so proud of how our team responded" to every Douglass charge; the squad never trailed in the second half, though at one point had only a single point advantage. Gwynn Park 11-0 and atop the PG 3A/2A/1A standings, next faces Chesapeake Math and IT on the road Friday, a 5:30p start. Tuesday senior forward Isaiah Miles flirted with a triple double, dropping 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight dimes. Douglass (8-1, 2-1) hosts league foe Forestville at 7p, tonight as well. Recruiting Update: Isaiah Miles, 6'4", 195 pound senior forward, Gwynn Park (MD) - Multifaceted, Miles can do some of everything - pass, rebound, hit shots and defend. He's a rugged performer who makes winning plays. Can finish. Indicated recruiters want to see him stop and pop more. Also needs a little more wiggle in his drives, as now Miles bruises his way to the rim. Lebanon Valley was in the house to scout him. Marymount and Shenendoah have shown interest. Coaches Present:
Delaware - assistant Chris Cheeks |
