Jags Rout O'Connor

January 12, 2012

There was a feeding frenzy last night and it had nothing to do with sharks swarming bloody meat. The Boulder Creek boys’ basketball team got back to their winning formula Thursday night against Sandra Day O’Connor, 81-51. Every player saw action and it was evident that they all had a burning desire to contribute, and they did. From the start of the game the Jags turned up the defensive pressure going man to man, full court. By the end of the first quarter BC surged to a 10 point lead. They never looked back.

Josh Braun paced the Jaguars with 20 points including two monster dunks in the second half that even drew cheers from the O’Connor student section. Stephen Crim played his usual tough inside game for 17 points. Weston Newell dropped 14.

Even though the Jags played an aggressive, full court defense there were lapses on the perimeter that allowed O’Connor to penetrate and kick out to the open man for more three’s than Coach Walker would care to see. Boulder Creek also tended to leak down court before the rebound was secure. Boxing out still needs more work. Overall the team took a step toward the type of play that they will need to compete with the elite Division I teams of Arizona.

On the downside O’Connor played their usual chippy, some might legitimately call it dirty, play. In one sequence Weston Newell stole the ball from O’Connor’s Dan Peltin who promptly tripped Newell from behind. In another play, O’Connor’s Theo Igwe threw elbows, then a punch at one of the Jaguars. Then, at the end of the game, O’Connor’s Wes Meredith pushed Anthony Perri from behind as he went for a layup prompting a flagrant foul call. Unfortunately this is not a one game occurrence. The same trashy play occurred in the first meeting at Boulder Creek. One can only wonder if O’Connor does this in every game and if so, what action will, or should, be taken by AIA or the Deer Valley district.