Slow start dooms Frazier in 73-55 loss to Avella
CLAYSVILLE ëƵ Zach Keefer understands his Frazier boys basketball team is a work in progress but he saw that as no excuse for the way the Commodores began their game against Avella on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles took control early, riding a 30-point performance from Westley Burchianti along with 21 points from Bryce Wright to a 73-55 victory in the consolation game at the McGuffey Tip-Off Tournament.
Frazier fell to 0-2 on the young season while Avella evened its record at 1-1.
ëƵWe need to start better,ëƵ Keefer said. ëƵJust low energy. ThereëƵs no excuse to come out and play like that. WeëƵve got to find a way from the opening tip to have good energy, be aggressive on the boards.
ëƵI thought they beat us right off the bat with the little things, 50-50 balls, they killed us on the boards and got second-chance opportunities, took the ball off of us.ëƵ
The Commodores grabbed their only lead, 7-6, midway through the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Dailan McManus. Burchianti followed with a 3-pointer, Wright hit a reverse layup and a driving basket and Burchianti swished another trey in a quick 10-point spurt to give the Eagles a 16-7 lead and they stayed in front the rest of the way.
ëƵFrom our leadership down, weëƵve got to make sure weëƵre ready to play,ëƵ Keefer said. ëƵIëƵll take blame for that. IëƵve got to do a better job moving forward.ëƵ
Frazier got to within 20-15 by the end of the opening frame after baskets by Trey Whitehead and Darian Bateman, and whittled the gap to four twice in the second quarter after a 3-pointer by Conlan Higbee and a layup by Brennen Stewart. Avella answered with an 8-2 burst to close the first half, including another 3-pointer by Burchianti at the buzzer to make it 32-22. Burchianti had four 3-pointers in the game.
The Eagles, coached by Mike Macik, outscored Frazier 22-13 in the third quarter with Wright tallying 15 points in the frame which ended with Avella leading 54-35 after another jump shot by Burchianti in the final seconds.
ëƵSome of us are struggling to score but weëƵve got to make sure to keep in our mind, no matter what happens at the other end, on defense we canëƵt take plays off,ëƵ Keefer said. ëƵThe shots are going to fall. WeëƵve got a lot of kids that can score points. WeëƵre confident in all of them. But weëƵve got to play better defense.ëƵ
Brock Alekson led the Commodores with 14 points and McManus followed with 12 points. Bateman and Stewart each wound up with seven points.
Cain Allen contributed eight points for Avella.
Alekson and Burchianti were named to the All-Tournament team.
ëƵI thought our big guy, Brock, played much more physical today,ëƵ Keefer said. ëƵI thought he had a pretty good game last night, too, but he moved his feet better and his hands were much better on both ends of the floor. We were able to feed him the ball.
ëƵThree (Burchianti) is a heck of a player. I wish we had some energy like that kid to make plays, put your team on your back type thing. WeëƵre searching for that and I think weëƵll find that as time goes on. WeëƵve got to go back in the lab and regroup.ëƵ
Keefer said he likes to use the early part of the schedule to mold his squad for when section play begins.
ëƵWe try to play bodies, work on some things that maybe we didnëƵt show yet to see if itëƵs something we can put in our toolbox, keep in our toolbox or leave out of our toolbox,ëƵ Keefer said. ëƵReally, try to find different combinations that work.
ëƵWeëƵve got a lot of experienced kids out there but a lot of inexperience with the chemistry together, and IëƵve got to be patient with it as do the kids. IëƵm confident weëƵll come along. We just need some time to adapt and weëƵll be OK.ëƵ





