Defensive switch sparks Cougars in 71-53 victory
Ed Thompson
The Cougars鈥� Legend Davis (24) gets a shot off around the defense of Frazier蘑菇视频 Isaac Thomas in the first quarter of Friday蘑菇视频 Section 4-AAA game at Charleroi.
Ed Thompson
Frazier蘑菇视频 Colton Arison (14) dribbles around Charleroi蘑菇视频 Legend Davis (24) along the baseline in the second half of Friday蘑菇视频 Section 4-AAA game at Charleroi.
Ed Thompson
The Cougars鈥� Will Wagner (44) powers to the basket over Frazier蘑菇视频 Joshua Skotnicki (24) during Friday蘑菇视频 Section 4-AAA game at Charleroi.
FALLOWFIELD TWP. 鈥� Four players hit double figures for Charleroi in its 71-53 Section 4-AAA win over Frazier Friday night, but it was a defensive switch that made the difference in the game.
Up 35-33 at the half, Charleroi coach Bill Wiltz switched up his zone defense and went into a 1-3-1.
The move was to counter Frazier蘑菇视频 hot shooting from long range with the Commodores (0-6, 0-3) hitting eight 3-pointers before halftime, compared to only four 2-point field goals.
鈥淭he move was the difference in the game,鈥� said Wiltz. 鈥淲e pushed them farther out from the hoop and made them uncomfortable shooting the three.
鈥淭hey shot lights out in the first half and give them credit, but we also have to do a better job of cutting off penetration.鈥�
The Commodores only managed a single 3-pointer in the second half.
鈥淭hat is one of the better games we shot all year, but they were hitting shots as well,鈥� said Frazier coach Zach Keefer. 鈥淭hey made some adjustments and we didn鈥檛 hit shots efficiently enough in the second half.鈥�
The Cougars (2-1, 4-3) were also hot early as they hit five 3-pointers in the first half and finished with nine.
Charleroi, which picked up its first home win of the season, limited Frazier to a pair of baskets in the decisive third quarter when the Cougars outscored the visitors, 18-9.
Turnovers were also a key in the game, which was tied 14-14 after the first quarter. Frazier finished with 27 turnovers, including eight in the pivotal third quarter, while Charleroi had 17.
鈥淚t is hard to win ball games with that many turnovers,鈥� said Keefer. 鈥淵ou aren鈥檛 going to win a lot of games turning it over like that, especially against a good team like them.
鈥淭hey are athletic and caused us some problems, but we also got ourselves into trouble at times.鈥�
Legend Davis led Charleroi with 19 points, 14 rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block. Will Wagner finished with 15, while Joe Caruso and Zach Usher both had 14 points.
鈥淎s Legend goes, we go,鈥� Wiltz said. 鈥淭hey followed Joe tonight and we had good balance tonight, and that is important for us.鈥�
Colton Arison led Frazier with 20 points, while Luke Santo and Owen Newcomer each scored 14.
Both teams return to action on Dec. 26 in the CFS Holiday Classic at Charleroi when Frazier plays Belle Vernon and Charleroi hosts Yough.
鈥淲e have to win on our home floor,鈥� Wiltz said. 鈥淲e have to play a little bit better.鈥�
Section 4-AAA
Frazier聽 聽 聽 聽 14-19-9-11 鈥� 53
Charleroi聽 聽 聽14-21-18-18 鈥� 71
Charleroi: Legend Davis 19, Will Wagner 15, Joe Caruso 14, Zach Usher 14. Frazier: Colton Arison 20, Luke Santo 14, Owen Newcomer 14. Records: Charleroi (2-1, 4-3), Frazier (0-3, 0-6).