Shom
12-15-2009, 05:57 AM
Indians dropped in opener
by charlie roth (sports editor charlie_r@newsitem.com)
Published: December 13, 2009
COAL TOWNSHIP - If Shamokin Area is to contend for the Heartland I and District 4 Class AAA titles it won last year - and the Indians certainly can - then it can take a lesson from Saturday afternoon's opening-day 54-41 non-league loss to Indian Valley.
The veteran Warriors, from District 6, achieved a good bit of offensive balance. In simpler terms, they spread the wealth.
Morgan Barger and Nate Walters led the way with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Point guard Jake Schaffer had nine, while Will Long and John Bridgers had eight each.
That accounted for a starting five that kept the Indians' defense honest.
Shamokin Area, on the other hand, got 17 from Brent Forbes, seven from Jake Phillips and no more than five from anyone else.
And, after allowing Forbes to score 12 in the first half, the Warriors clamped down on him over the final two quarters.
"People have to emerge for us, they have to do some things," Shamokin Area coach Joe Klebon said. "And we're looking hard to try to
find some things.
"We played a lot of people and got them some quality minutes. We know what we have in Brent (Forbes), but after him, we're starting all over."
The first half ended in a 27-27 deadlock, but a 9-2 Indian Valley run to start the second half gave the Warriors the separation they would carry through the remainder of the game.
"We played a good half," Klebon said. "But their experience took over. They made some plays that we couldn't find an answer for.
"They have a nice team, a veteran team."
by charlie roth (sports editor charlie_r@newsitem.com)
Published: December 13, 2009
COAL TOWNSHIP - If Shamokin Area is to contend for the Heartland I and District 4 Class AAA titles it won last year - and the Indians certainly can - then it can take a lesson from Saturday afternoon's opening-day 54-41 non-league loss to Indian Valley.
The veteran Warriors, from District 6, achieved a good bit of offensive balance. In simpler terms, they spread the wealth.
Morgan Barger and Nate Walters led the way with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Point guard Jake Schaffer had nine, while Will Long and John Bridgers had eight each.
That accounted for a starting five that kept the Indians' defense honest.
Shamokin Area, on the other hand, got 17 from Brent Forbes, seven from Jake Phillips and no more than five from anyone else.
And, after allowing Forbes to score 12 in the first half, the Warriors clamped down on him over the final two quarters.
"People have to emerge for us, they have to do some things," Shamokin Area coach Joe Klebon said. "And we're looking hard to try to
find some things.
"We played a lot of people and got them some quality minutes. We know what we have in Brent (Forbes), but after him, we're starting all over."
The first half ended in a 27-27 deadlock, but a 9-2 Indian Valley run to start the second half gave the Warriors the separation they would carry through the remainder of the game.
"We played a good half," Klebon said. "But their experience took over. They made some plays that we couldn't find an answer for.
"They have a nice team, a veteran team."