(Wenham MA) Change the pace.
Change the result.
Suffolk defeated Gordon, 82-67, on Thursday night at Gordon.
“We slowed it down a bit and we just tried to execute more in the halfcourt,” explained Suffolk coach Jeff Juron afterwards.
The Rams (6-2) had been averaging 100 points per game before they lost to the Scots (5-3), 84-82, on Wednesday in Boston.
“Suffolk played very well tonight,” said Gordon coach Tod Murphy. “They have three very good seniors (Alex Jacovides, Nate Hale, Brendan Mulson).”
It was the last game for that trio and they each made significant contributions versus Gordon.
Alex was the game’s high scorer with twenty-five points. “We knew we had to play more as a team against their hard zone,” he said, “by moving inside and out.”
“Alex is one of the best shooters in the country,” said Coach Juron, “you kind of knew that he was going to come back and shoot it better (nine points yesterday) today.”
Nate added sixteen points on six-for-nine shooting including four from long range.
Brendan put up eleven points. His defensive work versus GC top scorer Garrett Sattazahn was very much connected to the Ram result. Brendan limited Garrett to only nine shots.
“Brendan is a great defender,” said Coach Juron. “He can guard a lot of different positions. He’s a senior and I thought he left it all out on the court tonight. #12 (Garrett Sattazahn) is a heck of a player.”
The Rams took the lead for good, 13-11, on an Alex Jacovides layup 6 ½ minutes into the game.
The Scots would get within seven twice in the second half (55-48 & 65-58) but the Rams quickly responded from long range and in close.
“We haven’t had a 67-point game in quite a while,” said Coach Murphy. “Generally, teams I coach outscore teams in the paint, but they killed us there tonight.”
“I don’t think we had our legs,” added Coach Murphy. “We needed to do a better job of staying in condition during the break and we didn’t.”
The five Suffolk starters all played twenty-eight minutes or more. The Scots had double-figure minutes with nine players.
Key stats for Gordon tonight were steals (six) and assists (nine). In the win on Wednesday the Scots had twelve steals.
“Their press is really good,” said Coach Juron. “They turned us over a lot in the first game. Our guys just did a better job against it tonight.”
The nine assists were crucial because in the first win there were twenty-one assists. “We didn’t shoot the ball as well as we are capable,” said Coach Murphy.
Alex Jacovides on Suffolk’s first year in the Commonwealth Coast Conference: “It is a faster pace. There’s more offense. More firepower for every team.”
Alex told me he wasn’t sure about his post-Suffolk basketball plans. “I might go overseas,” he said.
Gordon has two more games left. Endicott will be the opponent on Wednesday (home) and Thursday (away). The Gulls only loss this season was to Suffolk.
“Our schedule has graded upward the whole time,” said Coach Murphy. “It’ll be fun to end the season with them.”
Garrett Sattazahn led the GC scorers with twelve points. Seniors Josh Crutchfield and Parker Omslaer each had ten points.
Junior Will Rowe (16 points, 10 rebounds) had a double/double for the Rams.
(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)
Writing Scots 