1 week Ago By Mark Perez-Krywany
Defense and effort is a requirement at Vermilion, and it was on full display on Dec. 23. The Sailors trailed Columbia, 15-9, to begin the second quarter, but they did not concede any more points until two minutes remaining before the half.
With the 17-0 run that followed, it was a key component for Vermilion to leave with a 63-55 road win. “(Defense) is non-negotiable with this program,” Vermilion coach Kurt Habermehl said. “They know that is what this program is built on and that is how we play.
They know that there are things that we bend on, but (defense) is not one of them. That is the expectation when you step on the floor for Vermilion.” The first quarter was not Vermilion’s best defensive effort, Habermehl said.
However, he thought the second-quarter performance was the team’s best defensive outing all year. “We talk a lot about deflections and deflections often lead to steals,” he said. “I thought the effort part was much better and we were able to do it full-court.
When you are able to do it full-court, you wear the other team out a little bit.” Vermilion’s Mason Cooper recorded six steals and scored a team-high 25 points. “At the start of practice we do (something for defense).
Zig-zags, or defensive shuffles on the baseline,” Cooper said. “Coach (Hebermehl’s) thing is that if we do not play defense, you cannot win a game.” Its defense forced eight turnovers in the second quarter and five in the third.
As Myers finished with 21 points, he believes the team’s confidence comes from its ability to execute on defense. “Coach (Habermehl) loved defense and we worked so hard on that in practice,” Vermilion’s Brock Myers said. “I think that is our main thing as a team, we want to force turnovers and get easy buckets on the other end, because of turnovers.
I think that helps us stay in games and win them.” Columbia had a bright spot in the fourth quarter, with a 9-3 run to trail, 54-48. However, the deficit was too much to overcome.
“Right now, we have two juniors and a bunch of sophomores playing,” Columbia coach Josh Scharf said. “This is something that we have to learn how to do. We have to learn how to be resilient, which is one of the values that we talk about all the time.
” Just as Raiders point guard Logan Menge got into foul trouble in the second quarter, the youth and inexperience on the court became the perfect opportunity for Vermilion to pounce on. Vermilion improved to 3-2, and it has won back-to-back games. The other win was against Milan Edison, 56-51.
The Sailors will go on the road for the fifth time and will take on Margaretta (Dec. 27). “It’s tough, especially when you’re not playing in front of your home crowd,” Cooper said.
“It is something to look forward to, which is to play in front of your home crowd. We do not know what environment to walk into (for every game). This gym does not have the biggest court, but you have to find out what you want to play for.
At the end of the day, you want to get the (win).” Columbia dropped its fourth consecutive game after starting 3-0. The Raiders’ next game will be on Jan.
3. The Raiders will host Midview..
