Preppers use defense to get past Lancers

University turned its defense into offense late in the fourth quarter to edge Gilmour by a final score of 52-46 on Feb. 14.

University (13-6, 5-2) fell behind early in the first quarter. The Lancers (126) found defensive breakdowns in the Preppers’ full-court press defense by moving the ball around and finding open shooters beyond the arc.

Gilmour scored 12 of its first 15 points from threepoint territory.

“We wanted to try and attack their pressure rather

UNIVERSITY 54, GILMOUR 45

than just break it,” said Lancers’ Head Coach Dan DeCrane.

“I thought our guys did a great job of that. They got out of their full-court pressure for the majority of the game. We were able to get downhill and kick out shots.”

Once the Preppers changed their defense to half-court, things began to turn in their favor. The Lancers only scored 13 points in the second quarter and saw the lead get trimmed to only three points at halftime.

The Preppers gained momentum in the third quarter.

The defense was dialed in and forced five Gilmour turnovers.

The Lancers were held to just two points in the first six minutes of the third quarter.

Gilmour failed to convert a made basket until it was inside the two-minute mark. University outscored Gilmour by a 14-7 margin to take a four-point lead into the final quarter.

“In the first half we were 50-50. We were sometimes in it and sometimes we weren’t. In the second half we definitely executed the way we wanted to,” said Preppers’ junior forward Ricky Radtke.

The big man took control of the offense in the fourth quarter. The Lancers’ defense had held him in check for the most part throughout the first three quarters, but Radtke saved his best for the home stretch.

The junior forward set up camp inside the pant and could not be stopped. He grabbed several key offensive rebounds and bulled his way to the basket to score eight points in the final quarter.

“Ricky’s a really special player. He’s got the ability to score in a number of ways. Today he did most of his scoring in the paint, on the block and at the free-throw line,” said Preppers’ coach Sean McDonnell.

The Lancers didn’t go down without a fight. The offense came alive and they made it a 48-46 game inside the two-minute mark.

The Preppers put it away as they boxed out Gilmour to grab defensive rebounds and fired outlet passes down the floor to convert some transition points and clinch the victory.

Radtke led the Preppers with 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Junior guard Faris Dahman tallied nine points, four rebounds and an assist, while junior guard Cam Smith scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.

Gilmour senior forward Garrett Olsen led the team with 14 points, two rebounds and two blocked shots. Senior guard/forward Ian Miller scored eight points and pulled down three boards.

University will travel to face Chagrin Falls on Feb. 21, while the Lancers will face South on Feb. 18 in a road contest.

Both are non-conference games.