Hoopster-007

Canyon's spacing on offense is impressive. Crosby is hustling! Playing harder....

22-7....Crosby finally driving and is fouled. 22-9...Crosby picking it up...

Crosby 2 of 16 field goals; Canyon 8/20. Crosby 10 turnovers; Canyon 2 3-pointers, Crosby 0-3; Canyon 2 of 3 Rebounds, Crosby 16; Canyon 13. Score: 22-6 .....Shannon makes 1 of 2 free throws.

Canyon attacks basket for layup with no time remaining. 20-4 at the half. Crosby is nervous, and Canyon is playing good ball. Canyon's offense is spreading the floor, lots of cutting and screens...as soon as there is a gap....attacking the basket for lay-ups. Defensively, Canyon is keeping those hands up...closing out strong and not leaving Crosby with much of any gaps in that zone.

Canyon just missed 3 lay-ups and fouls Crosby. 1:33 left in the half. Come on Crosby...grind! But turns the ball over again.

18-4 Canyon

Canyon is attacking the basket.... fouled and shooting two. Made one of two....Crosby turnover.

Crosby fighting for rebounds....missed put-back by Shannon and make by Sidney for 2 points. But Canyon answers with 2. 15-4

Canyon just hit a 3 pointer. Crosby missed shot on the other end....

Crosby can run with this team. Just going to have to relax and make a run. Canyon's zone defense is like a wall.....

Crosby fouls Canyon on inbound play underneath goal. Canyon shooting two free throws....9-2. Crosby missing outside shots.... Another turnover Crosby. Canyon playing good defense....up by 7...timeout.

Another turnover Crosby. Having problems getting the ball to Ashley (Shannon Jones).

8-2 Canyon at the end of the 1st.

8-2 Canyon....20 secs remaining in 1st. Crosby playing somewhat nervous.

Canyon 6-2; Crosby turnover.

Crosby is being slowed by Canyon's zone defense. Not attacking it.....

Paris at free throw line. Missed both.

Timeout. 4-2 Canyon

Crosby playing good defense. Turnover Canyon. 4 mins remaining in 1st...still 2-2.

Canyon missed both free throws. Applying full court pressure on Crosby.

Canyon scored off the tip. Defending Crosby with a zone defense. Crosby patient on offense, Gibson for Crosby scores 2-2.

Alright Lady Cougars! Let's do this!!!

Wall advances to UIL State Final, 60-40.

Wall v. Roger Cole - Wall is up 35-15 at the half. So far, Wall has been impressive offensively and defensively. Wall is very sound defensively...has good spacing on offense and each player who touches the ball sees the entire floor to make the appropriate reads for the best possible pass for high percentage shots. Wall is running the high/low very well, and when post player in the paint doesn't have a good shot, she has great floor vision to find her guards outside the 3 point circle for open shots/3's ---- including the weak-side guard that is positioned well behind her.

Personally, I do not believe "turnovers" were the primary cause for the loss; however, the turnovers that occurred during the two "turnarounds" were damaging. Often, turnovers can be minimized by knowing one's personnel and knowing who to have on the floor at given times and situations. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but if the main issue is "defense," that, in my opinion, is unacceptable for a team who is to be among the elite. There's significantly more to defense than pointing out who to guard or simply standing in one's spot while in a zone defense. You mentioned one aspect of defense, i.e., "contesting three point attempts." Well, on the surface, that seems simple and easy; however, it involves several defensive drills in order to perfect. It makes no sense for an elite team to have to get out of man defense because its ineffective and into a zone defense that looks almost as badly. Of course, one's zone defense is only going to be as effective as one's man defense because the zone defense is based on man principles. A good zone looks like a man....and a good man looks like a zone. Example, the 1st quarter of Crosby against Rudder, Crosby applied very good half-court man defense against Rudder and was up 18-2 at the end of the 1st quarter. Be that as it may be, great season for the young team, but their youth is not the reason they are not going to San Antonio.