Champs conquer Crusaders

ETHAN HENDRICKS
Staff Writer
staffwriter3@occc.edu

Landa McClure/Pioneer
Jesse Hargrav, Back-To-Back Champs player, dribbles around Zachary Higgins, of the Crusaders on Feb. 19 during an intramural basketball game. Back To Back Champs defeated Crusaders 76-57.

Back-to-Back Champs defeated the Crusaders 76-57 on Feb. 19.

Team captain of the Champs, Josh Hanover, said the team’s success was due to its ability to play well together and to substitute tired players.

“I think the team plays well together,” Hanover said. “We don’t hog the ball. We pass the ball around and work the court.

“Our ability to substitute is another key. If you want to win a basketball game or beat us you have to have more than five players.”

The stats seemed to back Hanover’s claims as every member of the Champs scored in double figures, but no one scored more than 12 points.

The Crusaders, however, seemed to have a problem hitting their shots; finishing the game with a 33 percent shooting average from the field.

The Champs started quickly, scoring 41 points in the first half. The Crusaders on the other hand scored only 27 points.

In the second half, the Champs kept the heat on their competition by spreading the ball around. They added 35 more points during the half.

The Crusaders could not score at the same pace as they were plagued by missed shots; scoring 28 points.

Dillan Dolezal led the Champs in scoring with 12 points from the field while the team was 4-4 in free throws. Ezra Baseedy and Hanover had two steals apiece, both of which were consequently capitalized upon with scores.

Antonio Watson led the Crusaders with 18 points from the field despite shooting 1-3 in free throws. He did however have five steals, two of which the team resulted in points.

Alex Savage, Crusaders team captain, finished with 16 points, including four 3-pointers.

Savage said his team suffered from poor communication and they did not work together.

“We didn’t play like we should have” he said, “We thought it would be an easy game, so we played laid back.”

The Crusader’s faced the Untouchables and Back-to-Back Champs played Jar Heads once again Feb. 26. Results were unavailable at press time.

The Jar Heads’ claimed two weeks ago they could have beaten the Champs in their first match if the Jar Heads had played them first.

“If we had played the Champs first we probably could have won,” said Richard Sango, Jar Heads player. “But we were tired from our first game so they had the edge.”

Hanover said his team doesn’t pay attention to any excuses.

“The could haves, should haves and would haves; the ifs, ands or buts,” Hanover said. “They don’t matter. What matters is we won.”