Westside shreds Phoenix in rematch
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ALBERT J. MARRO / RUTLAND HERALD |
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By Dennis Jensen Staff Writer - Published: December 20, 2009
WEST RUTLAND — The Phoenix rises and yet falls.
Sharon Academy handed West Rutland a 59-32 thrashing on its home court a week ago.
Westside returned the favor against the Phoenix on Saturday, pounding the boards, hitting its shots and dominating the entire first half en route to a 48-27 win in a nonleague boys basketball game at Hinchey Gym.
But if West Rutland dominated anywhere, it was in the rebounding department. The 2-2 Golden Horde had four players with five or more rebounds and finished with an eye-popping 37-17 advantage on the glass.
The Horde came out inspired, hitting their shots and taking a 13-3 lead after one and a 28-9 lead at halftime.
West Rutland's Adan Garcia, who had seven points after one quarter and 14 points at the break, led his team with 22 points. Garcia said that the Golden Horde looked a heck of a lot better against Sharon this time around.
"We rebounded better," he said. "We played with much more intensity this time. We contested all of their shots and limited their second-shot opportunities."
Spencer Mumford had 15 points and seven rebounds and Emmitt Ackerman had seven points and six boards for Westside. Garcia had five boards, while Nate Edwards finished with seven rebounds.
Michael Landry had nine points and Bryce Lloyd finished with eight points and eight rebounds for the 3-4 Phoenix.
Westside outscored Sharon in every quarter.
West Rutland coach Mike Lufkin said he was particularly pleased with the big rebounding edge.
"Our focus this year has primarily been on rebounding," he said. "I told them that rebounding would make a big difference in this game."
Lufkin was also pleased with how well his team shot the basketball.
"Our defense has been there," he said. "What's been hurting is on the offensive end. I told the kids we had to have a big first quarter."
The Westside boys did even more, thoroughly dominating Sharon 13-3 in the first and 15-6 in the second period.
The Phoenix, meanwhile, could not get any kind of rhythm going. Sharon had lots of trouble penetrating the Horde's zone defense and took too many hurried shots. The Phoenix missed shots from both inside and outside, while turning the ball over 13 times in the first half.
Sharon Academy coach Blake Fabrikant he could offer no clear explanation as to why there was such a huge turnaround in the two games.
"Today was a struggle for us," he said. "We couldn't execute. We were out-worked."
Fabrikant said his young, inexperienced team "is like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" ball club.
"One day they're hitting shots and the next day they're not," he said.
Lufkin said he too has a young team but they are starting to execute his game.
"I have one senior," he said. "We're further along than I expected to be at this time of the season. We're getting better game after game."
West Rutland converted 9 of 19 free throws, while Sharon was 4 of 8 from the foul line.
dennis.jensen@rutlandherald.com
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