Pirates boys split last two games
Polson Pirates boy’s basketball coach Randy Kelley had a discussion with his team about their under performance in the third quarter of recent games.
Kelley said he felt his team is “under performing” offensively and defensively in the third quarter of games and in a double-overtime 76-75 loss, this phenomenon was a contributing factor to the loss.
“We didn’t have a very good third period and defensively, we gave up 24 in that period,” Kelley said. “They took what was a very close game at half time and they stretched that onto us to a 14-point lead. We had dug ourselves out of a hole, played hard and came up short. We talked about that before the Libby game and I think we were just moving in slow motion (in the third quarter). That is something that we have to get figured out because we aren’t communicating and we are getting beat off the dribble. The third quarter is our nemesis for sure and that is a time when we get down. We have to find a level when we are up and push the lead to 20. It would be nice because it would create a lot less gray hairs for myself.”
Against Libby, the Pirates were able to overcome their struggles in the third quarter and win the game 53-40.
Kelley attributed the team’s success to their defense as they were successfully able to neutralize sharp-shooting guard Ryggs Johnston.
“We put Tanner Wilson on him and he is our shutdown defender,” Kelley said. “Wilson did a great job. That Johnston kid is probably one of the best pure shooters we will come up against this year. Tanner just locked him down and only allowed him to get three points in the second half.”
Kelley said he got significant contributions from Matthew Rensvold and Jeremiah North Piegan. North Piegan led the Pirates in scoring by finishing with 17 points and Rensvold scored 14.
Kelley said the performance of Weston Danley has contributed to the Pirates’ depth.
“We don’t have a lot of depth and we are maybe six deep,” Kelley said. “They aren’t a bad ball club and they are very balanced. Danley came in and gave us some really good minutes. Defensively, we played much better the night before because I didn’t think we were going to have the legs to play after back-to-back games to be honest with you.”
As divisionals approach, Kelley said he anticipates the games will get “more intense.”
“January is kind of a low time to be honest because we have two conference games left for the month of January and that is kind of build up for us to be playing our best basketball,” Kelley said. “Then, we will have two weeks before Divisionals and not only improve in field goals but also at the free throw line. We just need to keep improving because January is a long month.”
The Pirates will play conference-rival Whitefish Saturday at Whitefish High School.
The Bulldogs will play mostly man-to-man defense against the Pirates.
“They have good team help, they communicate well and they play a good man defense,” Kelley said. “They do a little bit of trapping defense. That has gotten us into a few games and allowed us to get faster transition buckets.”
Kelley said a win against Whitefish would be big to move the Pirates forward in a log-jammed conference.
“We are basically 1-1 (in the conference) right now and with Whitefish defeating Columbia Falls, we are all in that second spot at the top of the conference,” Kelley said. “We are looking for that rematch and will need a big conference game. I believe the thing is we need to go on the road and do it.”