The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“I think we’ve established our identity as a defensive team”
Energy was high as the Crested Butte Titans team prepared for another league showdown on Friday, January 31. The Titans were slated to face the Sierra Grande Panthers but as a winter storm rolled through, the game was rescheduled. While a cancellation is always a letdown, especially when preparing for a big match-up against a strong league opponent, coach Brandin Hamilton used the opportunity to continue work on a new zone offense in preparation for their game Monday, February 3 against Lake County.
The Titans faced Lake County earlier this season, falling to them in overtime, so a rematch was just what Hamilton wanted to truly gauge his team’s progression.
“I was looking forward to playing them again and finding out where we’ve improved,” says Hamilton.
Unfortunately, the Titans opened the rematch slow on offense once again. While passing was crisper, the final look to the basket continued to elude the Titans.
“Our ball movement was great, we just weren’t looking at the rim,” says Hamilton. “The lanes were there, we’re just still starting off games tentatively.”
That left the Titans defense to carry them through the first two quarters and they came through with quick rotations to cover open players, breaking up Lake County’s offense. The effort kept the Titans well within striking distance as they headed into halftime down 15-12.
“We were playing good defense, we just weren’t scoring,” says Hamilton.
Hamilton used the break to remind his players where the looks are on offense and the Titans were looking to take control in the second half.
Lake County had other plans and opened the second half hitting a three-pointer and scoring on a breakaway to build a 20-12 lead one minute into the third quarter.
“That was a little scary,” admits Hamilton. “The game could have easily gotten away from us.”
But Hamilton shifted the team’s pressure on Lake County from halfcourt to pick them up earlier, handcuffing Lake County for the remainder of the third quarter. Furthermore, the Titans started finding seams in Lake County’s defense to climb back into the game and taking a 23-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
“The switch made our guys more aggressive and we were just flying and chipping away at the lead,” says Hamilton.
The Titans continued their effort in the fourth quarter to build a ten-point lead and while Lake County looked to come back with bombs from three-point range, the Titans responded with free throws as they played most of the game in the bonus. Joe Hayes hit four of six free throws down the stretch and the Titans sealed the 36-29 win.
“We were 19 for 31 from the line, which isn’t spectacular but it did the trick,” says Hamilton.
Quinn Winter led the team with 15 points and Grant Johnson continues to progress on offense scoring 12 points.
“The last two games he’s really brought his game up,” says Hamilton.
The win brings the Titans’ confidence back up as they prepare for two league games this week. After heading to Sierra Grande on Wednesday, they will host South Park on Friday, February 7 in mighty Mt. Olympus. Tip-off for the boys’ varsity is at 5:30 p.m.
“The defense is really coming around and, offensively, we’re starting to execute a little better,” says Hamilton. “I think we’ve established our identity as a defensive team.”
