Provo boys basketball starts season with win at Westlake
Early in the high school basketball season, offenses generally don't click as well as they do later in the year. Adrenaline makes shots go wild, almost every easy basket becomes contested and ball movement isn't as crisp.
Since that's the case, teams often have to rely on their defenses to win ball games.
The Provo boys basketball team did just that in its season opener at Westlake Friday night, putting the clamps down on the Thunder offense on its way to a 49-36 win.
"I was very pleased with our defensive effort," said Bulldog head coach Craig Drury. "Since it was out first game, we made a lot of first-game errors but we played excellent defense."
That defense allowed the visitors to build an early lead as it held Westlake to just eight first-quarter points.
Offensively Provo used the inside-out combination of senior forward Jonny Flake (10 points) and the guards (long-range jumpers from three different players) to go up 22-9 at one point early in the second period.
Westlake roared back, however, with an 11-2 run led by junior forward Zavon Jackson, who totaled 13 of the 20 Thunder points in the first half.
"The effort by our kids was good," said Thunder head coach David Robinson. "We battled and we didn't give up."
Westlake cut the Provo advantage to four points twice, the last coming at 26-22 early in the third, but the Bulldogs answered with a 9-2 spurt of their own to push the advantage back into double digits.
"We made a mistake (early in the second half) on a pass that we let them pick it and turn into an easy layup," Drury said. "I think that might've been a slap in the face. We went out and knocked down a couple of 3-pointers and made some plays."
Provo also made some adjustments to slow down Jackson, limiting his scoring to just two points after the break - but Drury said he was impressed with how the junior continued to make plays in other ways.
"He's a great player," the Bulldog head coach said. "He was still making passes and setting up his teammates."
Robinson said his squad will be relying on Jackson to play a big role throughout the season.
"He has a great feel for the game," Robinson said. "Even with the challenges tonight, he was finding ways to help out, doing the things that don't show up in the scorebook."
Jackson's 15 points led all scorers, but Provo countered with 14 points and 12 rebounds from Flake.
"We stopped getting him the ball (after his quick early start)," Drury said. "We went away from him and when we did, that's when they caught us. I would've liked to see us throw it in there 10 times and he might've made eight baskets for us."
The Bulldogs also got 11 points from junior guard Dallin Bosco while Westlake got 12 from senior guard Gabriel Jaco as they were the only other players in double digits.
Provo (1-0) faces another tough test when it hosts Payson next Tuesday while the Thunder (1-1) will look to keep improving when they go to Tooele the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Daily Herald sports editor Jared Lloyd can be reached at 801-344-2555 or jlloyd@heraldextra.com. He can also be followed on Twitter at @JaredrLloyd.
Since that's the case, teams often have to rely on their defenses to win ball games.
The Provo boys basketball team did just that in its season opener at Westlake Friday night, putting the clamps down on the Thunder offense on its way to a 49-36 win.
"I was very pleased with our defensive effort," said Bulldog head coach Craig Drury. "Since it was out first game, we made a lot of first-game errors but we played excellent defense."
That defense allowed the visitors to build an early lead as it held Westlake to just eight first-quarter points.
Offensively Provo used the inside-out combination of senior forward Jonny Flake (10 points) and the guards (long-range jumpers from three different players) to go up 22-9 at one point early in the second period.
Westlake roared back, however, with an 11-2 run led by junior forward Zavon Jackson, who totaled 13 of the 20 Thunder points in the first half.
"The effort by our kids was good," said Thunder head coach David Robinson. "We battled and we didn't give up."
Westlake cut the Provo advantage to four points twice, the last coming at 26-22 early in the third, but the Bulldogs answered with a 9-2 spurt of their own to push the advantage back into double digits.
"We made a mistake (early in the second half) on a pass that we let them pick it and turn into an easy layup," Drury said. "I think that might've been a slap in the face. We went out and knocked down a couple of 3-pointers and made some plays."
Provo also made some adjustments to slow down Jackson, limiting his scoring to just two points after the break - but Drury said he was impressed with how the junior continued to make plays in other ways.
"He's a great player," the Bulldog head coach said. "He was still making passes and setting up his teammates."
Robinson said his squad will be relying on Jackson to play a big role throughout the season.
"He has a great feel for the game," Robinson said. "Even with the challenges tonight, he was finding ways to help out, doing the things that don't show up in the scorebook."
Jackson's 15 points led all scorers, but Provo countered with 14 points and 12 rebounds from Flake.
"We stopped getting him the ball (after his quick early start)," Drury said. "We went away from him and when we did, that's when they caught us. I would've liked to see us throw it in there 10 times and he might've made eight baskets for us."
The Bulldogs also got 11 points from junior guard Dallin Bosco while Westlake got 12 from senior guard Gabriel Jaco as they were the only other players in double digits.
Provo (1-0) faces another tough test when it hosts Payson next Tuesday while the Thunder (1-1) will look to keep improving when they go to Tooele the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Daily Herald sports editor Jared Lloyd can be reached at 801-344-2555 or jlloyd@heraldextra.com. He can also be followed on Twitter at @JaredrLloyd.
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