DARLINGTON - When Darlington senior Alex Erickson talks about what makes the Redbirds go, it starts and ends on the defensive end.
The Redbirds used a suffocating defense to spark a 17-5 third quarter run and rolled to a 68-37 win over Iowa-Grant Friday night. The Redbirds, which led by six points at halftime, gave up just 19 second-half points to the Panthers.
"We had a flat first half, said Erickson who scored a game-high 30 points and hit four 3-pointers. "We knew we had to get it done on the defensive end and get out on the fastbreak and in transition when we are at our best."
Darlington (14-2, 9-1 SWAL) battled back from a 4-0 first quarter deficit. The Redbirds scored nine unanswered points highlighted by Erickson's layup on the break. Darlington junior Brandon Hardyman scored on a putback at the end of the first quarter to give the Redbirds a 15-5 lead.
The Panthers answered in the second quarter with an 8-2 spurt and T.J. Anderson's layup cut the Redbirds' lead to 17-13 with 5:44 left in the period. Erickson then buried a 3-pointer to give the Redbirds a 22-13 lead. Iowa-Grant senior Cole Solomon, who scored a team-high 20 points, hit a 3-pointer that cut the Redbirds' lead to four points. However, the Redbirds went on to take a 24-18 halftime lead.
"We got pretty sloppy in the second quarter," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We didn't play our game. Our game is pressuring the ball on defense and then pushing the ball in transition. Twenty-four points is a good quarter for us. When we do a good job on defense, it starts with ball pressure."
The Redbirds' 17-5 third quarter run was keyed by a pressure defense that created several easy scoring opportunities in transition. The Redbirds started the third quarter by feeding the ball inside to senior Kyle Mulchahy. Hopkins compared his team to the Packers - a passing football team that has to run the ball a certain number of times to have an efficient offense.
Hopkins said the Redbirds are a perimeter team that has to get the ball inside.
"It's not that we will score every time," he said. "We get the ball inside, we get some fouls and open up some outside shots."
Erickson drilled a 3-pointer with 4:44 to go in the third quarter that gave the Redbirds a 35-21 lead. Darlington senior Bryan Reichling's steal late in the third quarter led to Erickson throwing down a dunk that ignited the crowd and gave the Redbirds a 41-23 lead with 3:08 left in the third quarter. Darlington junior Mitchell Whalen came in and scored on a layup to extend the lead to 47-25 late in the period.
"I just wanted to go in for the dunk," Erickson said. "If I missed it, I missed it. We had a safe lead so I tried it."
Whalen scored 12 points off the bench and hit two 3-pointers. Darlington senior Zach Brown scored 10 points and had nine rebounds.
"He is the quickest guy on our team," Hopkins said of Whalen. "He is quicker than most off the dribble. He has the ability to penetrate."
Erickson understands that the offensive game can be an easier job with teammates.
"When we have several guys contributing it makes us a better, well rounded team and deeper offensively," he said.
The Redbirds used a suffocating defense to spark a 17-5 third quarter run and rolled to a 68-37 win over Iowa-Grant Friday night. The Redbirds, which led by six points at halftime, gave up just 19 second-half points to the Panthers.
"We had a flat first half, said Erickson who scored a game-high 30 points and hit four 3-pointers. "We knew we had to get it done on the defensive end and get out on the fastbreak and in transition when we are at our best."
Darlington (14-2, 9-1 SWAL) battled back from a 4-0 first quarter deficit. The Redbirds scored nine unanswered points highlighted by Erickson's layup on the break. Darlington junior Brandon Hardyman scored on a putback at the end of the first quarter to give the Redbirds a 15-5 lead.
The Panthers answered in the second quarter with an 8-2 spurt and T.J. Anderson's layup cut the Redbirds' lead to 17-13 with 5:44 left in the period. Erickson then buried a 3-pointer to give the Redbirds a 22-13 lead. Iowa-Grant senior Cole Solomon, who scored a team-high 20 points, hit a 3-pointer that cut the Redbirds' lead to four points. However, the Redbirds went on to take a 24-18 halftime lead.
"We got pretty sloppy in the second quarter," Darlington coach Mike Hopkins said. "We didn't play our game. Our game is pressuring the ball on defense and then pushing the ball in transition. Twenty-four points is a good quarter for us. When we do a good job on defense, it starts with ball pressure."
The Redbirds' 17-5 third quarter run was keyed by a pressure defense that created several easy scoring opportunities in transition. The Redbirds started the third quarter by feeding the ball inside to senior Kyle Mulchahy. Hopkins compared his team to the Packers - a passing football team that has to run the ball a certain number of times to have an efficient offense.
Hopkins said the Redbirds are a perimeter team that has to get the ball inside.
"It's not that we will score every time," he said. "We get the ball inside, we get some fouls and open up some outside shots."
Erickson drilled a 3-pointer with 4:44 to go in the third quarter that gave the Redbirds a 35-21 lead. Darlington senior Bryan Reichling's steal late in the third quarter led to Erickson throwing down a dunk that ignited the crowd and gave the Redbirds a 41-23 lead with 3:08 left in the third quarter. Darlington junior Mitchell Whalen came in and scored on a layup to extend the lead to 47-25 late in the period.
"I just wanted to go in for the dunk," Erickson said. "If I missed it, I missed it. We had a safe lead so I tried it."
Whalen scored 12 points off the bench and hit two 3-pointers. Darlington senior Zach Brown scored 10 points and had nine rebounds.
"He is the quickest guy on our team," Hopkins said of Whalen. "He is quicker than most off the dribble. He has the ability to penetrate."
Erickson understands that the offensive game can be an easier job with teammates.
"When we have several guys contributing it makes us a better, well rounded team and deeper offensively," he said.
