WCAC Semis Don’t Disappoint
Ron Bailey, Publisher
February 25, 2008 – Yesterday evening’s Washington Catholic Athletic Association semi-finals brought many an observer to American University’s Bender Arena, and despite their allegiance, most walked away satisfied with the action viewed. Again, the league has shown itself as one of the strongest on the East Coast.
In the first game, Gonzaga (29-1) ended Carroll’s (16-11) season with a 68-57 victory. Leading the game in scoring was Gonzaga junior Ian Hummer, whose 27 points were generated in large part by excellent passing, a facet of his team’s attack that must be stressed.
Senior Rodney Gould (white), not only distributed the ball but also scored three points for Gonzaga.
“That’s what our offense is based off, making crisp passes and making good cuts” shared sophomore Tyler Thornton (5 points) afterward, a key initiator of his team’s offense. “We executed well today, and it showed”.
“I told our guys we knew they were going to be coming in, trapping” recalled Gonzaga’s coach, Steve Turner of the Eagles’ game plan. “We told our guys to protect the ball, ball fake and make the extra pass. And that’s what they did tonight. We were able to get some easy layups”.
Nowhere was that more evident than in the fourth quarter, with both Hummer and senior Cam Johnson scoring around the rim after receiving on target ‘dimes’, while soon-to-be graduate Max Kenyi scored from the perimeter and foul line.
Carroll was led by senior Kris Joseph (18 points), and junior Rodney McGruder (13 points), arguably the most talented tandem in the WCAC. Unfortunately, McGruder fouled out halfway through the final period, and neither received the ball steadily, a point Joseph lamented.
“We have good guards, but I feel tonight they didn’t get me and Rodney the ball when we needed it” opined Joseph, quickly adding from a person standpoint “I could have definitely been more aggressive rebounding…scoring. Just overall I could have done a lot better”.
According to Turner, his team has prepped for the league title since last summer, and consequently is prepared to compete for the crown. “They took pride and staying together this summer, not every kid running around with their AAU team” shared the coach. “They set a goal to get tomorrow’s game, and now they have an opportunity to try and go win a WCAC championship”.
(For pictures and memorabilia pertaining to Gonzaga vs. Carroll, be sure
to go to http://starghill.exposuremanager.com/g/gonzagacarroll
for Michael Starghill’s excellent photograph-based work).