Gaston boys learning how to finish games

Hounds have struggled all season with mistakes in late-game situations

By Nick Lilja

The Forest Grove News-Times, Feb 4, 2010

Chase Allgood / News-Times

Gaston’s Dusty Brown drives to the basket against a Faith Bible defender during last Wednesday’s game.

ADVERTISEMENTS

The Gaston Greyhounds had a tough week.

Gaston’s boys basketball team dropped two of its three games last week and now must win at least two of its last four in order to make the Northwest League playoffs – four games against the top four teams in the league.

And due to league tiebreaker rules, how much the Hounds lose by is almost as important as whether or not they lose in the first place.

In other words, it’s not going to get any easier.

So far this season, every step forward seems to have been met with an equal step back. Every steal is accompanied by a lapse in defensive coverage. Every winning streak is followed by a three-game skid. Gaston’s young team is still learning how to win together.

“Youth is a great explanation for our team’s play,” Gaston coach Lono Waiwaiole said. “We are inexperienced on both offense and defense.”

Last week’s step forward was a 52-49 win over Riverdale on Monday, but the step backward came with consecutive losses to Faith Bible on Wednesday and Nestucca on Saturday.

“Saturday’s game was the same as the game on Wednesday. We didn’t get it kicked into gear until the end of the game,” Waiwaiole said. “We need more [late game] experience and more maturity. The guys need to understand every minute is as important as the last minute.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>