Setting the Table
Lakeside, Marblehead, Catawba and Johnson’s Island…what do you think of when you hear these names? Sunny days and ice cream. Sailing out for a day’s fishing then dropping anchor to watch holiday fireworks with the sun setting over Lake Erie. Eating Pizza at Sloopy’s or tooling around Sandusky Bay on a jet ski. How about a trip to Cedar Point?
If asked, most people would say these names conjure up memories of Lake Erie Summers. But what happens there between Labor Day and Memorial Day? For vacationers, fond memories fade as the leaves turn color. For the residents of the Marblehead Peninsula, it’s time to bid farewell to the annual visiting horde, close up for the season and focus on the school year. During the winter this means Danbury Laker Basketball.
Like Emmanuel Christian’s 2-3 zone, one of the foundational memories of life in the TAAC is the ride out to Danbury for the annual away game. For anyone who enjoys a part of their summer vacation out at the North Coast of Ohio, it’s a bittersweet feeling to see the water parks, dinosaur museum and other hangouts sealed up in a snow-white coating. It’s like some evil wizard cast a spell freezing all the fun in place until sometime in late May.
Thursday evening the Hawks made the hour-long trek to The Land Vacation-Time Forgot. They faced a 3-5 Laker team which had yet to play an opponent with a winning record. The Home team would find this challenge to be no fun, becoming frozen themselves on offense for long stretches of the game.
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Dixon Stoddard (’12) and Jonathan Krueger (’12)
Game Summary
Maumee Valley defeated Danbury 47-25 on Thursday January 6, 2011. The Hawks dominated play, smothering the Lakers 14-3 in the first quarter and pressuring their opponents effectively throughout the evening. Coach Robinson was able to provide valuable playing time for an expanded rotation en route to his 497th career victory.
First Quarter MV 14 – Danbury 3
Both teams started out the game in Man defense. Danbury seemed content to allow everyone but Rick free roam outside the three point arc.
After a few early misses on each side, Rick pulled a rebound and fired a three quarter court-length pass to Dixon, who pinballed off a Laker defender from the left baseline and layed in a deuce.
MV found success inside, notwithstanding the pre-game introductions which announced Danbury would be starting two post players. Jared found Jonathan on a pass in from the high post for two points
Meanwhile, Rick, who drew the assignment of guarding Danbury high scoring forward Caleb Helline, grabbed 3 defensive rebounds early to limit the hosts’ chances on offense.
Julius Turner entered the game at 4:37 and contributed early with a driving two pointer from the left wing plus one for an old-fashioned three pointer. Danbury answered, but Rick snapped a pass into Jonathan who was fouled shooting. He made both ends and the Hawks were up 9-3 with 3:41 left.
MV switched to zone which stymied the Lakers. The Hawks forced a steal, a traveling violation and a throwaway pass on three consecutive posessions. Danbury coach Drew Davie tried to right the ship and called time with 1:29 remaining.
However, MV kept up the heat. Rick was the beneficiary of great ball rotation and converted a three pointer. Dave Brown stole the next Danbury possession, drove the court , drew the shooting fouls and converted both ends.
At the 41.4 second mark, Nick Frasco entered the game for the first time. Daniel Brandon would have entered at this point, but the Hardest Working Man in Basketball had forgotten to put his game jersey on under his warm-ups. Oops, it was back to the locker room for Daniel who would return later in the game fully dressed for action.
There was no further scoring in the period and the Hawks were in command.
Second Quarter Danbury 7 – MV 4
Starting the quarter: Rick, Nick, Julius, Jonathan and Jared
Both teams started out in zone; MV in its hybrid 2-3 and Danbury in a 2-2-1 zone concentrated around the key. MV and the Lakers were both cold out of the gate; MV in particular missed several three point attempts.
At the 4:50 mark, Nick Frasco was fouled on a shot attempt and went to the line for two. He swished both ends to score his first points of the season. Nick had considerable playing time this evening, logging about two full quarters of action.
Danbury returned fire with a three pointer. The hosts also switched up to a 1-3-1 zone which the Hawks immediately exploited with a strong drive by Jared from the left side for a score. Again Danbury hit a three-ball to draw to 16-8 with 4:02 remaining in the quarter.
This time it was Dixon Stoddard’s turn and he squared up from 10 feet away on the left baseline for a beautiful jumper.
With 49.4 seconds left, Dave Brown dribbled out the clock and found Jared with five seconds left. His dunk attempt was off the mark, but he was fouled and converted one of two to end the quarter with the Hawks up by 10, 21-11
Third Quarter MV 13 – Danbury 4
Starting the Quarter – the game-openers
Coach must have challenged his starters in the locker room as the Blue and White came out with a sense of urgency. Jonathan Krueger opened the second half scoring with a two, followed by a Dave Brown steal and basket on a break then a good two pointer off a fake by Rick Deichert.
MV also flashed a man press at Danbury in the third quarter, causing the home team to struggle on offense.
At 3:20, Jared continued the Hawk scoring with a Big-man spinning move to the basket for two, extending the lead to 29-13.
Still in its press, MV trapped, tied-up and hounded the Lakers all over the court. MV took advantage of turnovers. Dave Brown scored two on a trademark floater from the paint...
...then Dave stole the ensuing throw-in and bounce passed to Rick for an easy two pointer.
The half ended with the Hawks dominating play 34-15, and the normally raucous Danbury crowd was as silent as the January night.
Fourth Quarter MV 13 – Danbury 10
Starting the Quarter – Dave, Rick, Jon, Julius, Dixon
Coach Robinson deployed a smaller lineup to start the fourth quarter, resting Jared and giving Dixon a workout against Danbury’s 6’4”, 270 pound center, Hunter Stevens. Hunter is probably the biggest player in the TAAC, with a frame comparable to Illinois-bound Chris Boles from Central Catholic. Dixon’s defensive answers in the quarter are brought to you this evening by Charlotte, your official Hawkblog Spokes-Baby:
Here is a true-life example of Dixon's defense, a steal at the end of a stout half-court defensive stand.
On offense, the quarter started with this play, a good example of MV’s fast break.
Rick made one of two. On the next possession, Julius lasered a pass to Dave on the break for a two pointer and MV was up 37-15. Nick re-entered the game with 6:07 remaining in the quarter, and the Hawks began to slow the pace down, running over a minute off the clock with the motion offense.
Danbury sensed the need to increase the tempo and went to the press with 4:40 left. MV broke it easily and burned the time down to 2:52 when Jared made this two and drew the foul.
The Lakers continued the press, and Rick broke free for a home-run layup at 1:32. Danbury tried one last time, but it was Julius' to race ahead and was fouled at the basket.
He made his free throws and the Lakers pulled anchor on the press. Near game’s end, Julius and Daniel Brandon put the last two exclamation points on the game and it was all Hawks, 47-25 at the buzzer.
Groupies…
MV continues to draw a road following, as members of the TC, OH and Liberty Center coaching staffs taking copious notes Thursday evening.
Final Game Thoughts
Balance was the theme of the evening. Again, Coach Robinson had numerous scoring options at his disposal. MV is not a team that can be stopped by a junk defense. On defense, the Hawks successfully mixed man, zone and press throughout the night.
Certain aspects of Thursday’s contest also had the feel of a hockey game in which a coach was trying out new front lines. Nick Frasco had substantial playing time and for the first time this season looked to be comfortable in the flow of the game. MV also tuned up play with the ‘small five’ of Rick, Dave, Dixon, Jonathan and Julius. This quintet looked like a group that would enjoy challenging any TAAC team to a running game.
Also seeing action during the evening was Omar Hazimah and AJ King (Parker Bayer was a scratch this evening due to illness).
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. The Hawks featured balanced scoring in their 22 point victory. Rick Deichert led MV with 10, followed closely by Dave Brown with 9, Jonathan Krueger with 8, Julius Turner with 7, Jared Sturt with 5, Dixon Stoddard with 4, Daniel ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’ Brandon with 2...
…and tonight’s latest Scoreapalooza entrant Nick Frasco with 2 from the free throw line. Both shots were so pure that neither one touched the net.
Hunter Stevens scored 9 for Danbury and Caleb Helline contributed 8 in a losing cause.
Next up
MV returns to the Varsity Gym Saturday, January 8, 2011 to face a new opponent, Division III Liberty Center from the NWOAL.
* - with apologies to the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs
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