Eagles Starting to Understand the “Little Things Matter”

Ron Bailey, Publisher

December 29, 2005 – Two of the Gonzaga Eagle’s recent December games can be viewed as a microcosm of their development. The first a 46-43 defeat to St. Stephens/St. Agnes, prompting their coach, Steve Turner to label the game “a tough loss”, while the second, a 63-54 win over fellow WCAC member Ireton, led him to celebrate their “effort”, and the fact his team protected the ball which led to valuing offensive possessions.

During the game with St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes- a first round match up of the 17th Gonzaga Classic Tournament - Carlos Jones supplied 10 points, while West Virginia University -bound forward Jacob Green led the Eagles with 13 points. St. Stephens/St. Agnes’ Ramon Smith scored 13 points, while Andre Hunter and Tommy Murray both and added 10.

At halftime, the Saints of St Stephen’s/St. Agnes led 23-19, through protecting the ball, running their offense, and taking advantage of Gonzaga’s mistakes. Adding to the score was Green’s absence from play for much of the 2nd quarter. Despite his centrality to Gonzaga’s on court effort, Turner shared that Gonzaga has a “long standing rule” that when a player is saddled with 2 fouls in the first half, he must sit down.

The second half saw much the same, though the action, in part fueled by the competing chants of partisans in attendance, got intense. Both teams would at times engage in end-to-end play.

After the loss, Turner shared the mantra he implored his team to play with – “Little things matter”- wasn’t adhered to. Additionally he stated “We are playing too fast. We have to make other teams play defense” by eschewing the quick shots present in this contest. He also opined, “If we make layups and free throws in the first half, we win”.

When Turner and his Eagles took their home floor against Ireton about a week later, the team would fall behind 21-5, but close the 1st quarter on a 11-2 run. Turner lamented his team’s start after the game, indicating “We came out a little flat tonight”.

He would remedy that listlessness, by rotating his guards, the effects of which were obvious. In addition to Jacob Green’s 15 points and Max Kenyi’s 11, both forwards, guard Carlos Howard supplied 13 points. Howard dropped 8 of these points to close the first half, in a memorable sequence: After applying full court pressure with under 55 seconds on the clock, the Eagles forced an Ireton turnover. Howard promptly banked in a three-ball. Seconds later, he stole the ball, and scored. That shot made the score Gonzaga 33, Ireton 31. He would later hit another three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, much to the delight of the Eagle faithful, and triumphantly run to the locker room.

Gonzaga closed the first half on a 20-8 run, in part fueled by Howard’s scoring flurry. That output was not a shock to his coach, who stated, “Carlos is our best shooter”. During that stretch, the Eagles benefited from playing good defense and valuing the ball during offensive possessions as well.

The second half was much the same, though Ireton was a game opponent. Tucker Lucas led them in scoring with 12 points, while Mike Williams and Javonne Farrell both chipped in 11. Williams, a 7-foot center, displayed the improved mobility, court awareness, and touch that many have indicated he developed this summer. His fellow Englishman, Shane Walker, dropped in 9 points.

Not to be undone, Gonzaga’s Green imposed his will in the 4th stanza through blocked shots, made shots, and noticeably aggressive play. His coach, Turner, indicated after their St. Stephens/St. Agnes loss that he would be linchpin to their success, and that he needed to “be more patient”, as well as work in closer to the hoop on offense. It would seem that message is starting to be accepted.

Turner’s instructions to his team as a whole of valuing possessions and running their offense seem to have been received as well. “I thought all the guys did a good job of working the ball” said Turner. After the early loss in the Gonzaga Invitational, he stated, “We are going to be the team nobody wants to play” later in the year. Judging by the growth displayed during the course of a week in December that prognostication could very well ring true.

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