Warriors drop the consolation game of their Christmas tournament
Published 12:10 pm Friday, December 22, 2023
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Warriors guard Darian Jackson splits the defenders as he dribbles up the court.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel TJ Good drives hard to the paint; he would lead his team in scoring with 13 points.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Ron Parker takes his free throw, attempting to complete the 3-point play.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Ron Parker takes the layup; he would finish the contest with 8 points.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Coach Shane Williams encourages his team to finish off the game strong and win the 4th period.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Arlee Bahn pushes the ball up the court for the Warriors.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel TJ Good dribbles up the court during 3rd-period action.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Lane Parker draws the hard foul in the closing minutes of the game he hit both of his free throws.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
Toughness and effort were evident Thursday during the consolation game of their Christmas Tournament. Unfortunately, for the Happy Valley Warriors, ball security became an issue as they fell to North Green, finishing with a score of 89-56.
The Warriors fought throughout the game, but the early deficit proved too deep to overcome. TJ Good tried to spark his team early on, hitting a couple of jumpers. However, it wasn’t enough as the Warriors fell behind 31-7 in the first period. Despite their efforts, they managed to outscore the Huskies 25-19 in the second period but still trailed 50-32 at halftime. Good and Grindstaff combined for 13 points during this period, fueling the comeback attempt.
After halftime, Dylan Furr aimed to energize the Warriors, scoring a 3-pointer and contributing 10 points overall in the period. Nonetheless, the Huskies extended their 18-point lead to 79-48. A notable challenge for the Warriors was the Huskies’ size. “We have to be precise in our blocking out and demonstrate good technique. We have to position ourselves to prevent opponents from outjumping us. We can’t engage in jumping contests,” shared Warriors Head Coach Shane Williams.
Despite the score, the Warriors continued to battle and fought hard. They also used the final minutes of the game to give younger players valuable minutes and experience on the court. Good closed the contest with 13 points, Dylan Furr scored 12, and Darian Jackson chipped in 9. Reflecting on his team’s performance, Coach Williams acknowledged their improvement while emphasizing the need for further work. “We came up short today, but we are a young team. They need to learn to stick together, establish roles, and avoid overdoing things offensively. Defensively, we have to emphasize good technique, effective blocking out, and finishing possessions,” explained Coach Williams. The Warriors will enjoy the Christmas break before hosting the Unaka Rangers on January 2nd.”
