Against Rochester Adams, the Seaholm boys basketball team finally dealt with something they had not seen yet this year: Adversity.
The Highlanders knocked off the undefeated Maples 48-42 in front of an energetic home crowd in Rochester, giving Jose Andrade’s squad their first loss. The blemish snapped a 21 game win streak in regular season games dating back to last season.
What was disappointing about Seaholm’s first loss wasn’t the fact that we lost a game, which is bound to happen. What stung the most was the manner in which we played.
For starters, Seaholm had a considerable height advantage over a diminutive Highlander squad. Despite that advantage, this team was hoisting up outside shots like it was the Three Point Shootout during the NBA all star weekend.
When playing a guard-laden Adams team that had nobody even resembling a low post defender, that is where they needed to be attacked.
In a game like this, Adams did not have anyone who could body up with Shawn Conway and Jack Quigley in the low post. However, we let Adams off the hook by playing carelessly and putting up unnecessary triples.
This game would have been an easy win had the Maples just picked on Adams’ smaller, less athletic defenders and attacked the rim all 32 minutes of the game. Mix in the occasional three when you have a good look, but there’s no need to force them.
The game after Adams, the Maples squad barely hung on to beat a Troy Colts team that they routed early on in the friendly confines of the Seaholm gym.
After trailing in the first half by nine due to a flurry of turnovers, they made the necessary adjustments to dominate the inferior Colts and finally start to play some inspired basketball.
The Maples stepped it up significantly on defense and tightened up their ball control to complete the comeback and win by four.
Shawn “Elevator” Conway was clutch during crunch time, knocking down two free throws in the final ten seconds to put the game out of reach.
After a pair of sub-par performances compared to the rest of the season, this team needed a quality performance. They delivered just that in a 67-60 win over Avondale in Auburn Hills on Tuesday despite Pack being limited, who pinched his sciatic nerve in the previous game against Troy.
Andrade’s squad was moving the ball, getting three players in double figures.
Conway had 22, an injured Pack had 21, and Pino had 10.
As this team enters the final stretch of the regular season, the Maples will be facing an onslaught of teams looking for revenge on their home court, such as Athens, Lake Orion, Stoney Creek, and Rochester.
As the final stretch of the season approaches, this team needs to stay motivated.
After facing some competitive, hungry teams for a second time, Adams will come to Seaholm for a rematch on March 5 in an attempt to sweep the Maples this season.
I don’t think motivation will be an issue for that one.
