ALBANY - The Albany boys basketball team kept its cool and marched back against Juda in one of the more physical games in the Six Rivers East this season Thursday.
With bodies flying and whistles blowing, Albany held Juda to just eight second-half points en route to a 51-35 win.
"We just got too emotional in the game," Juda head coach Andy Werner said. "Some of the calls weren't going our way and that affected our shooting, which affected our defense down the stretch. But Albany did a nice job to come back and get ahead."
The Panthers appeared ready to run away with the game early, scoring the first six points and leading 17-9 after the first quarter. Freshman Joe Jordan scored six points in the frame and Dylan Bauman hit a 3-pointer and another jumper to spark Juda.
"Juda has some really nice players with (Beau) Benner and (Tyler) Pierce. But when Bauman starts hitting 3s in the corner like that, they become really tough to guard," Albany head coach Derik Doescher said.
But the Comets came back firing to start the second quarter. Bryce Hulbert came up with an and-one to start the period and T.J. Zweifel and Adam Zurfluh each drove the lane to cut the deficit to 17-16.
"We played pretty well in the first and in the second we took a long time to score. It's a game of runs and unfortunately that didn't work out our way today," Werner said.
Twice more Juda retook a five-point lead, but Albany found itself prying closer. After a controversial turnover with six seconds left in the half, Zweifel found Mike Elmer in the paint for a quick bucket right before the half.
"Sometimes things didn't go our way and we let it affect us. I think we were trying too hard and forcing everything," Werner said.
Doescher knew the Comets was lucky to be sitting where they were.
"I told the kids at halftime that we were fortunate to be where we were and only down one, because I thought Juda really outplayed us in the first half," Doescher said.
In the second half, Juda got one last spark. Albany tied the score at 27-27 but Bauman drained his fourth 3 to put the Panthers up 30-27.
After that, it was all Albany.
The Comets went into a heavy diamond press for nearly the entire second half, frustrating Juda.
"Our defense in the second half was great. We got some steals and I think that really frustrated Juda," Doescher said.
After a steal on defense, Zweifel showed off his Chris Paul-like skills by breaking a Panther press with two stunning front crossovers and a behind-the-back crossover. As he hit the lane, Zweifel spun and dumped a no-look pass from across his head to the baseline, where Jake Lincicum finished off the highlight-reel play with a 10-foot jumper.
The hoop were the first in an 11-0 Comet run from the middle of the third quarter into the third minute of the fourth to give Albany a 42-31 lead with 5:34 left.
"We didn't shoot the ball sensationally well, but we played some good defense and that turned into some easy offense," Doescher said.
Juda was slowed by charging calls against both Bauman and Steve West in the fourth. The Panthers picked up 12 fouls in the second half to Albany's two.
"Albany is the hottest team in the league right now. I'm happy with how hard we played. We'll take some things away from this and learn from it," Werner said. "There's a chance we'll see them in the playoffs right away, so we have to be ready again soon."
Dylan Bauman led Juda with 14 points. Beau Benner had eight points to go along with six blocked shots. Jordan finished with seven points and Tyler Pierce was held to just five points.
Hulbert led Albany with 11 points in the game. Brandon Pfeuti, who scored the Comets' first seven points, finished with 10. Lincicum and Zweifel each had eight points and Adam Zurfluh scored seven.
"I have a bunch of very good ball players, and that's a nice problem to have. Teams can't key on just one guy because they all can go out and have a big game. We can spread it out pretty nicely," Doescher said.
With bodies flying and whistles blowing, Albany held Juda to just eight second-half points en route to a 51-35 win.
"We just got too emotional in the game," Juda head coach Andy Werner said. "Some of the calls weren't going our way and that affected our shooting, which affected our defense down the stretch. But Albany did a nice job to come back and get ahead."
The Panthers appeared ready to run away with the game early, scoring the first six points and leading 17-9 after the first quarter. Freshman Joe Jordan scored six points in the frame and Dylan Bauman hit a 3-pointer and another jumper to spark Juda.
"Juda has some really nice players with (Beau) Benner and (Tyler) Pierce. But when Bauman starts hitting 3s in the corner like that, they become really tough to guard," Albany head coach Derik Doescher said.
But the Comets came back firing to start the second quarter. Bryce Hulbert came up with an and-one to start the period and T.J. Zweifel and Adam Zurfluh each drove the lane to cut the deficit to 17-16.
"We played pretty well in the first and in the second we took a long time to score. It's a game of runs and unfortunately that didn't work out our way today," Werner said.
Twice more Juda retook a five-point lead, but Albany found itself prying closer. After a controversial turnover with six seconds left in the half, Zweifel found Mike Elmer in the paint for a quick bucket right before the half.
"Sometimes things didn't go our way and we let it affect us. I think we were trying too hard and forcing everything," Werner said.
Doescher knew the Comets was lucky to be sitting where they were.
"I told the kids at halftime that we were fortunate to be where we were and only down one, because I thought Juda really outplayed us in the first half," Doescher said.
In the second half, Juda got one last spark. Albany tied the score at 27-27 but Bauman drained his fourth 3 to put the Panthers up 30-27.
After that, it was all Albany.
The Comets went into a heavy diamond press for nearly the entire second half, frustrating Juda.
"Our defense in the second half was great. We got some steals and I think that really frustrated Juda," Doescher said.
After a steal on defense, Zweifel showed off his Chris Paul-like skills by breaking a Panther press with two stunning front crossovers and a behind-the-back crossover. As he hit the lane, Zweifel spun and dumped a no-look pass from across his head to the baseline, where Jake Lincicum finished off the highlight-reel play with a 10-foot jumper.
The hoop were the first in an 11-0 Comet run from the middle of the third quarter into the third minute of the fourth to give Albany a 42-31 lead with 5:34 left.
"We didn't shoot the ball sensationally well, but we played some good defense and that turned into some easy offense," Doescher said.
Juda was slowed by charging calls against both Bauman and Steve West in the fourth. The Panthers picked up 12 fouls in the second half to Albany's two.
"Albany is the hottest team in the league right now. I'm happy with how hard we played. We'll take some things away from this and learn from it," Werner said. "There's a chance we'll see them in the playoffs right away, so we have to be ready again soon."
Dylan Bauman led Juda with 14 points. Beau Benner had eight points to go along with six blocked shots. Jordan finished with seven points and Tyler Pierce was held to just five points.
Hulbert led Albany with 11 points in the game. Brandon Pfeuti, who scored the Comets' first seven points, finished with 10. Lincicum and Zweifel each had eight points and Adam Zurfluh scored seven.
"I have a bunch of very good ball players, and that's a nice problem to have. Teams can't key on just one guy because they all can go out and have a big game. We can spread it out pretty nicely," Doescher said.
