FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 12, 2014) -- The Tarheels and Heat both came out winners Saturday in Child, Youth & School Services 11- to 13-year-old basketball action at Santiago Gym, with the Tarheels taking a 15-6 win over the Blue Devils and the Heat winning convincingly over the Gladiators 30-5.
In the early game, the Tarheels led in a low-scoring 5-2 first half with Demarcus Collins and Juaquin Marrow both knocking down baskets. The lone Blue Devil basket came from Riley Wright on the first basket in the opening quarter.
The Tarheels' press coverage on inbound passes, a tough 2-3 zone defense and a quick start by Donovan Pearman, who sank three baskets in the early minutes of the third quarter, gave the Tarheels a 13-4 lead in the third quarter.
In a low scoring fourth quarter, each team sank baskets late, with the Tarheels coming away a 15-6 winner.
"We missed some easy layups," Tarheels coach Travis Edwards said. "But once we got some goals, we said 'this is what we have to do, we have to box out (rebounding) and go back up with the ball."'
Edwards said he told the team on rebounds rather than try and kick the ball out on the rebound, players needed to just go back up to the basket with the ball offensively, but he credited his defense with keeping the Blue Devils off the scoreboard.
"Our defense was just too rough for them," he said. "Our defense really came alive."
HEAT 30, GLADIATORS 5
In other 11- to 13-year-old action, the Heat jumped out to a 7-2 first-quarter lead and never looked back in their win over the Gladiators.Defense was the name of the game as the Heat allowed three first-half points to the Gladiators and followed up allowing the Gladiators one single basket in the second half.
On both offense and defense, David Lacy led the Heat by scoring a game-high nine points and controlling the offensive and defensive boards throughout the game.
Offensively, Ladarious Williams contributed 5 points while Tanner Ayral, Joshua Jackson and Jacob Rouhut contributed four points each.
Heat coach Diamond Hough attributed the win to his philosophy on how to play winning basketball.
"I like the kids to run and push the ball," he said. "I think a lot of teams are not ready for the pace we set and I try to use that to our advantage."
Hough said he was proud of his defense and teaches them to play defense with their hands and not their feet.
"We do a lot of drills to teach them to use their feet," he said. "I tell them to keep themselves between the ball and the goal. It's simple, basic defense 101. Players are going to make shots, so I tell them not to focus on the shots , just make it hard for them … do that and you usually have good results."
Hough identified two players who contributed on defense, one of which was a stalwart, the other an up and comer.
"C.J. Lacy is a great kid," he said. "He's been raised well, he listens and pays attention and he works hard. That and the fact he is a good size makes him a force in the middle. We are fortunate to have him.
"Then, there's Jaylon Sanders. He really stepped up. He had a bunch of steals a score and a lot of assists … it was really special. Jaylon is a quiet guy, but is very intelligent. We've been working with him and just hadn't played basketball before. I believe today he really had a breakout game. Today, he was a big part of the reason we created so many turnovers and had at least five. He usually subs in and out, but today I kept him in … his effort and the way he played defense today was exactly what we are looking for out of our guards."
With the win, the Heat remains undefeated at 3-0.
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