Bucks' Season Elates Coach
Title
Bucks' Season Elates Coach
Subject
Motlow Sports
Description
Newspaper article relaying the Motlow Bucks most recent successes on the court.
Creator
Bob Hammers
Date
February 28, 1973
Rights
No restrictions. Open for research.
Format
.jpeg
Language
English
Type
Newspaper Clipping
Transcription
BUCKS’ SEASON ELATES COACH
The past four years seem shorter now that Coach Joe Daves has produced a state championship basketball squad for Motlow State Community College, especially since the team suffered through a 1-25 campaign just two years ago. “We’ve made some real strides since the losing season,” Coach Daves said, still very elated over beating Columbia State 89-87 last Thursday for the coveted crown. “Actually the losing season might have really given us the impetus to reach the heights we have attained. We had 10 games forfeited because of an ineligible player or we might have finished with a good record then.” The Bucks were 18-10 last year and with 6-9 Albert Thornton graduating, Coach Daves was not overly optimistic of the chances for a big season this time. His tallest player is only 6-4. “We knew it would have to be defense and quickness that would win for us,” he said, “and it was exactly that in the finals against Columbia. They were so much bigger than us.” Motlow, using a zone defense, bottled up the middle and kept Columbia from getting garbage shots under the basket. The Chargers, for the most part, had to be content with the 10-15-foot shot. George White, the sensational freshman from Nashville, had an unbelievable night. He hit 16 of 23 shots over the Buck zone to keep Columbia in the game right up to the time he fouled out in the second overtime. “We knew White could shoot,” Coach Daves said, “but he is usually more effective against the man-to-man defense. He had a great night and it’s almost impossible to stop a man as hot as he was hitting.” The quicker Bucks forced the Chargers into 18 turnovers while making only eight themselves, and in the last two overtime periods the floor mistakes proved costly to the Chargers. Probably the biggest single hit of strategy the Bucks used was in not trying to play in a physical game. The Chargers have a big enough team to intimidate many opponents. They even are willing to commit flagrant fouls early to achieve the purpose. “I knew we couldn’t win a fouling contest with them,” Daves said. “We went over it before the game, but for about 10 minutes some of the players started to get rough back and we picked up some costly fouls.” Lou Allen who hit the winning basket, had to sit out a good portion of the first half because of three quick fouls picked up while trying to retaliate. Captain Jack Battle also picked up some costly fouls.” “We called time out to stop that nonsense,” Daves said. “With Battle and Allen on the bench we’re in trouble and everyone knows it. They had to stop fouling and just concentrate on playing basketball.” As it turned out those early fouls committed by Columbia came back to haunt them as four Chargers fouled out, including three regulars, “Regardless of what happens in the regional, it’s been a great year,” Daves said. “It’s our first 20-victory season and our first state championship. I hope to think we are just building for the future.”
PLAYED VITAL ROLE --- Jack Battle (44) comes down with one of his 15 rebounds against Columbia State in the battle for the state junior college title Thursday. Battle sank a field goal to put the game in overtime and sank two free throws to send the game into its third overtime. He finished with 28 points
The past four years seem shorter now that Coach Joe Daves has produced a state championship basketball squad for Motlow State Community College, especially since the team suffered through a 1-25 campaign just two years ago. “We’ve made some real strides since the losing season,” Coach Daves said, still very elated over beating Columbia State 89-87 last Thursday for the coveted crown. “Actually the losing season might have really given us the impetus to reach the heights we have attained. We had 10 games forfeited because of an ineligible player or we might have finished with a good record then.” The Bucks were 18-10 last year and with 6-9 Albert Thornton graduating, Coach Daves was not overly optimistic of the chances for a big season this time. His tallest player is only 6-4. “We knew it would have to be defense and quickness that would win for us,” he said, “and it was exactly that in the finals against Columbia. They were so much bigger than us.” Motlow, using a zone defense, bottled up the middle and kept Columbia from getting garbage shots under the basket. The Chargers, for the most part, had to be content with the 10-15-foot shot. George White, the sensational freshman from Nashville, had an unbelievable night. He hit 16 of 23 shots over the Buck zone to keep Columbia in the game right up to the time he fouled out in the second overtime. “We knew White could shoot,” Coach Daves said, “but he is usually more effective against the man-to-man defense. He had a great night and it’s almost impossible to stop a man as hot as he was hitting.” The quicker Bucks forced the Chargers into 18 turnovers while making only eight themselves, and in the last two overtime periods the floor mistakes proved costly to the Chargers. Probably the biggest single hit of strategy the Bucks used was in not trying to play in a physical game. The Chargers have a big enough team to intimidate many opponents. They even are willing to commit flagrant fouls early to achieve the purpose. “I knew we couldn’t win a fouling contest with them,” Daves said. “We went over it before the game, but for about 10 minutes some of the players started to get rough back and we picked up some costly fouls.” Lou Allen who hit the winning basket, had to sit out a good portion of the first half because of three quick fouls picked up while trying to retaliate. Captain Jack Battle also picked up some costly fouls.” “We called time out to stop that nonsense,” Daves said. “With Battle and Allen on the bench we’re in trouble and everyone knows it. They had to stop fouling and just concentrate on playing basketball.” As it turned out those early fouls committed by Columbia came back to haunt them as four Chargers fouled out, including three regulars, “Regardless of what happens in the regional, it’s been a great year,” Daves said. “It’s our first 20-victory season and our first state championship. I hope to think we are just building for the future.”
PLAYED VITAL ROLE --- Jack Battle (44) comes down with one of his 15 rebounds against Columbia State in the battle for the state junior college title Thursday. Battle sank a field goal to put the game in overtime and sank two free throws to send the game into its third overtime. He finished with 28 points
Collection
Citation
Bob Hammers, “Bucks' Season Elates Coach,” Motlow State Community College Archives, accessed April 29, 2024, https://msccarchives.omeka.net/items/show/60.
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