Martin hoping victory over Riders can springboard Generals into strong finish
brian questel
February 1, 2012
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Promo: Generals roll in fourth to post key win over Orrville; face key 5-game stretch
Martin hoping victory over Riders can springboard Generals into strong finish
By Brian Questel
In a surreal world, the one thing that Wooster boys basketball coach Craig Martin would change if he could would be his teams schedule.
One might think it would be his teams turnovers numbers, which he isnt happy with and has been at the heart of the Generals woes this season, but no, it really would be the schedule.
Ive asked (athletic director) Andy (Kellar) if we could change our schedule and have all of our games at home, laughed Martin following his teams 68-56 victory over Orrville Jan. 28. Were 5-0 at home and 0-7 on the road.
In reality, Martin saw the recipe for success home and away against the Riders.
We only had 10 turnovers in that game, which was a season low, said Martin. Were averaging 21 turnovers a game. I told the team every game our goal is 12 turnovers or less and to outrebound the other team by 10, and I guarantee you well win. This is the first time weve done that.
Weve shot a good percentage this season – 49 percent. When you turn the ball over 20 times, thats 40 points a game you have lost a chance to score. Against Orrville, we had a great team effort, our intensity was up. Right now were 5-0 at home and 0-7 on the road and we need to find a way to replicate that energy on the road.
Martin is hoping the Orrville win will provide the Generals a boost heading into the final eight games of the season, five of which will come fast and furious.
We want to play our best basketball at the end of the season, said Martin. Last year we got off to a slow start, in part because of Alex (LaLondes) injury, but we won six of our last eight games and got a win in the tournament before we unfortunately ran into Jackson.
We want to try to use the win over Orrville going into our last eight games. Our next game is at home against Madison. That was a team that beat us, but we led by four at halftime. In the second half our inability to take care of the basketball hurt us and we couldnt recover.
Turnovers aside, Martin also is hoping his team is settling in for the long haul, which includes next season as well.
Cameron Daugherty as a freshman has gotten better and better as the season has gone on, said Martin of his freshman post. For a freshman, hes been a steady player and hes given a good effort and shown the ability to finish inside. Hes shooting above 65 percent. With a weapon like that inside to go to like that, its beneficial to the team.
Grant Stokes has been steady all year. He really stepped up and had a big game against Orrville. Grant gets 6-12 points a game and 5-8 rebounds every game. Hes steady. Mason Tomblin is our energy guy – he brings intensity and hes our defensive stopper. James Preston at times has shown flashes of being a good player. The big thing is when he brings energy and effort, he can do a lot of good things for our team.
Those four players are key to the remainder of not only this season but next.
One of the things is we have eight games left, said Martin. We feel like were gaining experience and confidence going into the tournament and gaining confidence going into next year. Of the 12 players on the varsity, two are seniors, so we have 10 players returning who will have played.
One of those seniors, Luke McGee, stepped up against Orrville. We need him to carry over the way he played against Orrville the rest of the year. We just want continue to work hard and get better and try to finish strong.
The Generals will face a major test over a two weekends-day. Wooster hosts Madison at home Friday (Feb. 3) and travels to Lexington Saturday for a make-up game. The Generals second snowed-out contest will be another home game against Mansfield Senior on Tuesday (Feb. 7) and then Wooster will play at Clear Fork before returning home to host Triway in another Friday/Saturday twinbill to round out that stretch.
Thats quite a stretch, said Martin. All we can do is worry about what our team is doing and its effort.
And dont forget figuring out a way to get all those games played home.
