2008 Woodie Awards
Harvester's don't come up big at mac
Duncan McClain
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: On Sports
The Eastfield basketball team's season came to an end after a second-round loss to Brookhaven in the Metropolitan Athletic Conference tournament at Northlake College on Feb. 29.
"I was confident going into the game," Ryan Boyd said. "I knew it would be a hard game but I thought we would win."
Both of Eastfield's point guards ran into foul trouble or fouled out, which head coach Anthony Fletcher said discombobulated the team. Lacking its centerpiece, the Harvesters offense struggled to a 124-97 loss.
"It was hard to run what we wanted to run when we have guys who haven't played point guard playing it," Fletcher said. "We couldn't do what we had practiced."
Even with an injured team that started with no returning veterans and that lost several key pieces mid-season, the Harvesters went into the tournament competitively in third place, one game behind Brookhaven.
"It's very disappointing," shooting guard Jason Smith said. "Especially because we had the talent to win that game, but we just came up short."
In the first round of the playoffs, Eastfield pulled off a brilliant last-minute victory in overtime against Cedar Valley. This was the third time Eastfield beat CVC this season and the first time CVC finished within 10 points.
"We were happy to get the win," Fletcher said. "Statistically it's proven that it's hard to beat a team three times in one year."
Anthony Fletcher said several days before the game, Cedar Valley's coach mentioned this statistic to several Eastfield players. The team used this to stay motivated for the game. When overtime finished, Eastfield was up 96-94.
The coaching staff said several shooters on the Northlake squad shot uncommonly well from the three-point line, and the Harvesters defense had to adapt.
"We had to change up our philosophy and strategy throughout the game to find a way to correct some mistakes and win that game."
However, Fletcher thinks late season losses to Brookhaven, Richland and North Lake left doubt in the team's head for the final game.
"After the first round, sure we had just won, but we lost a couple right before that, that hurt us," Fletcher said. "I don't think we had true momentum going in."
Ryan Boyd, who was hurt for several games throughout the season, was appreciative of the way Fletcher managed the team this year.
"I feel like we did pretty good; at first we had problems as a team, but coach did a great job of bringing us together and stuck it out."
Although the team didn't win the M.A.C. tournament or the regular season title, Fletcher is proud of his young team's effort and the fact they remained nationally ranked the entire year.
"Any time a team wins over 20 games or more, it's a really good season," Fletcher said. "We had no guys that clocked time for us last year play this year, and to have them come together, gel and play some good basketball, is really tough."
Contact Duncan at duncan_mcclain@netmail.dcccd.edu
"I was confident going into the game," Ryan Boyd said. "I knew it would be a hard game but I thought we would win."
Both of Eastfield's point guards ran into foul trouble or fouled out, which head coach Anthony Fletcher said discombobulated the team. Lacking its centerpiece, the Harvesters offense struggled to a 124-97 loss.
"It was hard to run what we wanted to run when we have guys who haven't played point guard playing it," Fletcher said. "We couldn't do what we had practiced."
Even with an injured team that started with no returning veterans and that lost several key pieces mid-season, the Harvesters went into the tournament competitively in third place, one game behind Brookhaven.
"It's very disappointing," shooting guard Jason Smith said. "Especially because we had the talent to win that game, but we just came up short."
In the first round of the playoffs, Eastfield pulled off a brilliant last-minute victory in overtime against Cedar Valley. This was the third time Eastfield beat CVC this season and the first time CVC finished within 10 points.
"We were happy to get the win," Fletcher said. "Statistically it's proven that it's hard to beat a team three times in one year."
Anthony Fletcher said several days before the game, Cedar Valley's coach mentioned this statistic to several Eastfield players. The team used this to stay motivated for the game. When overtime finished, Eastfield was up 96-94.
The coaching staff said several shooters on the Northlake squad shot uncommonly well from the three-point line, and the Harvesters defense had to adapt.
"We had to change up our philosophy and strategy throughout the game to find a way to correct some mistakes and win that game."
However, Fletcher thinks late season losses to Brookhaven, Richland and North Lake left doubt in the team's head for the final game.
"After the first round, sure we had just won, but we lost a couple right before that, that hurt us," Fletcher said. "I don't think we had true momentum going in."
Ryan Boyd, who was hurt for several games throughout the season, was appreciative of the way Fletcher managed the team this year.
"I feel like we did pretty good; at first we had problems as a team, but coach did a great job of bringing us together and stuck it out."
Although the team didn't win the M.A.C. tournament or the regular season title, Fletcher is proud of his young team's effort and the fact they remained nationally ranked the entire year.
"Any time a team wins over 20 games or more, it's a really good season," Fletcher said. "We had no guys that clocked time for us last year play this year, and to have them come together, gel and play some good basketball, is really tough."
Contact Duncan at duncan_mcclain@netmail.dcccd.edu
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