Offensive struggles continue for Weston Ranch
RENO, Nev.—Free throws and 3-point shooting were downfalls for Weston Ranch High boys basketball’s 63-50 loss to George Maldonado Classic host Galena Thursday.Weston Ranch (1-2) trailed by six with just over 2 minutes remaining, but a 17-of-22 shooting effort from the free-throw line helped Galena add some distance down the stretch.Defense, though, was not the reason why the Cougars lost the first-round contest says head coach Bill Slikker.Weston Ranch tossed up 3-pointer after 3-pointer, ultimately sinking six in a gaudy 29 attempts.“Like the old saying goes, you live and die by the three, and (Thursday) we died by it,” Slikker said. “We weren’t being aggressive enough and kept settling for 3-pointers. That’s not our style of basketball, and that’s what I’m most upset about.“What I was pleased with was our defense.”
James Nunnally led Weston Ranch with 25 points.Galena, which had a 23-20 halftime lead, itself struggled on the offensive end before racing away with 26 points in the fourth.
Galena’s star 6-foot-8 junior Luke Babbitt was limited to 12 points until hitting nine free throws in the fourth. He ended up with 23 points.
Despite being hampered by an ankle sprain, Weston Ranch forward Walter Jackson held his own defensively against Babbitt. Jackson finished with just three points and seven rebounds.“I thought we did a great job of containing Babbitt and everyone else on his team,” Slikker said. “Walter is just a gamer. His ankle was starting to swell up real bad. He sacrificed defense for offense.“I don’t know if he’s going to play the next two games of this tournament, because I’d rather have him healthy for the long haul.”
Reserve center Reggie Spiers is also out with an ankle sprain.Weston Ranch next faces Utah powerhouse Lehi, 65-59 losers to two-time defending Florida state champion Arlington Country Day, today at 5 p.m.Staff reports of theManteca (Calif.) Bulletin
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles/2006/12/15/sports/sports7.txt
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