The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Phoenix overpowered in second half
Poor shooting allows Sandusky to put game away
After a competitive first half of play, Oberlin was overpowered by Sandusky, 60-48, in the opening game of the Lorain County Holiday Classic at Lorain High School on Dec. 29.
The Phoenix (3-4) took a 27-21 lead into halftime, but saw the wheels come completely off as the Blue Streaks (6-3) burst out of the break with an 8-0 run, using a smothering defense and an obvious size advantage inside the paint.
“We just didn’t play well that second half,” Oberlin coach Kurt Russell said. “We couldn’t make any shots. Our two seniors, (Devan Yarber and Justin Smith) couldn’t make any shots, and then the younger kids fell into that little cycle as well.”
Both teams struggled from the field, but it was a particularly miserable night for Oberlin. The Phoenix shot 34 percent, while Sandusky shot 42 percent.
“From the beginning of the game, we didn’t hit shots,” Smith said. “We didn’t hit shots. We didn’t execute our offense and we didn’t do the things that we were supposed to do. That’s kind of how the tables turned. We didn’t get shots to fall. They went on their run and we couldn’t with-
stand it. That’s just how it was.”
Smith finished with a team-high 17 points, four rebounds and one assist, while Yarber finished with 10 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block.
Sandusky became more aggressive after the break, repeatedly slashing into the paint with easy layups
and putbacks. Senior forward Bryce Bouldwin was the catalyst of the thirdquarter run, racking up a four offensive rebounds and four consecutive baskets in the paint. He finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Sandusky coach Colin Irish made it clear they wanted to get the mismatch down low.
“Whoever it was we were going to get the mismatch on the block, and we took advantage of that, but most
importantly we manned up defensively,” Irish said.
Irish knew his team was better than what they showed in the first half.
“(My message was) we’re better than that,” Irish said. We just weren’t disciplined in that first half. They outworked us, they outcoached us and they outplayed us. They did everything they needed to do in the first half.”
In addition to Bouldwin’s solid play, Sandusky’s Dylan Jones and Keith Williams each contributed in the third quarter, helping the Blue Streaks claim a 43-34 lead headed into the fourth.
Jones finished with a team-high 15 points, while Williams chipped in 10.
The game slowed down in the fourth quarter as Oberlin tried to make a lastditch run, but the youthful Phoenix just couldn’t string together enough baskets.
As he has all season, Russell continues to see growth in his young team.
“I have been very pleased with our younger players,” Russell said. “They have been playing well this season. I think tonight, maybe the atmosphere got to them. You know, we struggled. When you are young, you lose that confidence. We just got to get our confidence back and we’ll be okay.”
Freshman Trajan Chambers finished with nine points for the Phoenix.
Oberlin plays Elyria on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m.