ALBANY - When Albany senior Isaiah Shell's shots are not falling, he knows he can still be a force at the defensive end.
Shell played at the top of Albany's 1-3-1 zone and the Comets stymied Belmont rolling to a 59-32 win Monday, Jan. 20. Shell scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had four steals.
Albany (9-4, 4-1 Six Rivers East) used a 1-3-1 zone during stretches of the game and it sparked a 12-2 run in the second quarter and fueled a 16-4 surge in the third quarter.
"We came out in the first quarter and we didn't have the energy," Shell said. "We got in the 1-3-1 zone and it gets us energized and got us going offensively and defensively. It keeps our momentum going towards Saturday and conference."
The Comets bottled up the Braves limiting them to 28.5 percent shooting in the second half (6 of 21) and 18 turnovers in the game.
"It (1-3-1 zone) allows us to put Isaiah at the top where he can try to get deflections and steals," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We wanted to get into a more up and down game and the 1-3-1 got us going tonight."
The Braves opened the game with an 8-3 run in the first quarter. The Comets responded with junior Joey McNaught drilling a 3-pointer and senior Devin Blumer scoring on a putback to give the Comets a 10-9 lead at the end of the first period.
"We have talked that our biggest challenge the last three or four games is to get out and throw the first punch," Doescher said. "We are having to play from behind. We have to get off to a better start in games if we want to stay in the conference race."
The Comets used a 12-2 second quarter run to break the game open by forcing turnovers. Shell scored on a putback and made a layup to ignite the surge to give the Comets a 14-9 lead. Kauk scored down low and then the defense came up big again. Shell came up with a steal and dished the ball to Kauk for a layup to give the Comets a 28-15 lead with 2 minutes, 20 seconds to go in the second. Albany sophomore Tyler Dahl later scored on a layup and senior Juan Mora hit a jumper at the end of the second quarter. Even though Shell was just 2 of 9 shooting in the first half, the Comets led 34-18 at the break.
The Comets had a balanced scoring attack with eight players scoring. Kauk and Dahl each added 12 points. The Comets shot 51.8 percent in the first half (14 of 27) and finished 45.2 percent for the game.
"We know when other teams come in here they will key their defense against Isaiah," Doescher said. "He (Shell) does a good job of seeing the floor and passing so other guys can get involved. If other guys are willing to attack the basket and shoot we are a pretty good team."
The third quarter started much like the second quarter ended as the Comets went on a 16-4 run. Shell found his shooting touch in the second half hitting a jumper and 3-pointer to give the Comets a 43-23 lead with 5:43 left in the period. Albany senior Ethan Pfeuti later scored on a layup and Dahl banked in a shot to help the Comets take a 55-27 lead. Dahl scored on two layups in a 21 second span late in the third quarter to give the Comets a 53-27 lead.
"The zone helped cause some turnovers," Kauk said. "I think pushing the ball up on the fastbreak was the key. We were not selfish with the ball."
The Comets led by as many as 32 points in the second half and cruised from there.
"It's important to get other guys involved," Shell said. "When they are hitting shots they can't just key on me."
Albany played without senior Grant Schoenenberger who suffered an ankle injury in practice. Albany will play at Orangeville Saturday, Jan. 25 and then host Barneveld in a conference showdown Tuesday, Jan. 28.
"He (Schoenenberger) still had some swelling so we kept him out because these are non-conference games tonight and Saturday," Doescher said. "We want him to be ready for the conference games."
Kauk put the win against the Braves in perspective as he looks forward to a pivotal conference game against Barneveld.
"We have to work more on our defense and man-to-man," he said. "The upcoming bigger games are what matter. We have to beat Barneveld if we want a chance to win conference by ourselves."
Shell played at the top of Albany's 1-3-1 zone and the Comets stymied Belmont rolling to a 59-32 win Monday, Jan. 20. Shell scored a game-high 17 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had four steals.
Albany (9-4, 4-1 Six Rivers East) used a 1-3-1 zone during stretches of the game and it sparked a 12-2 run in the second quarter and fueled a 16-4 surge in the third quarter.
"We came out in the first quarter and we didn't have the energy," Shell said. "We got in the 1-3-1 zone and it gets us energized and got us going offensively and defensively. It keeps our momentum going towards Saturday and conference."
The Comets bottled up the Braves limiting them to 28.5 percent shooting in the second half (6 of 21) and 18 turnovers in the game.
"It (1-3-1 zone) allows us to put Isaiah at the top where he can try to get deflections and steals," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "We wanted to get into a more up and down game and the 1-3-1 got us going tonight."
The Braves opened the game with an 8-3 run in the first quarter. The Comets responded with junior Joey McNaught drilling a 3-pointer and senior Devin Blumer scoring on a putback to give the Comets a 10-9 lead at the end of the first period.
"We have talked that our biggest challenge the last three or four games is to get out and throw the first punch," Doescher said. "We are having to play from behind. We have to get off to a better start in games if we want to stay in the conference race."
The Comets used a 12-2 second quarter run to break the game open by forcing turnovers. Shell scored on a putback and made a layup to ignite the surge to give the Comets a 14-9 lead. Kauk scored down low and then the defense came up big again. Shell came up with a steal and dished the ball to Kauk for a layup to give the Comets a 28-15 lead with 2 minutes, 20 seconds to go in the second. Albany sophomore Tyler Dahl later scored on a layup and senior Juan Mora hit a jumper at the end of the second quarter. Even though Shell was just 2 of 9 shooting in the first half, the Comets led 34-18 at the break.
The Comets had a balanced scoring attack with eight players scoring. Kauk and Dahl each added 12 points. The Comets shot 51.8 percent in the first half (14 of 27) and finished 45.2 percent for the game.
"We know when other teams come in here they will key their defense against Isaiah," Doescher said. "He (Shell) does a good job of seeing the floor and passing so other guys can get involved. If other guys are willing to attack the basket and shoot we are a pretty good team."
The third quarter started much like the second quarter ended as the Comets went on a 16-4 run. Shell found his shooting touch in the second half hitting a jumper and 3-pointer to give the Comets a 43-23 lead with 5:43 left in the period. Albany senior Ethan Pfeuti later scored on a layup and Dahl banked in a shot to help the Comets take a 55-27 lead. Dahl scored on two layups in a 21 second span late in the third quarter to give the Comets a 53-27 lead.
"The zone helped cause some turnovers," Kauk said. "I think pushing the ball up on the fastbreak was the key. We were not selfish with the ball."
The Comets led by as many as 32 points in the second half and cruised from there.
"It's important to get other guys involved," Shell said. "When they are hitting shots they can't just key on me."
Albany played without senior Grant Schoenenberger who suffered an ankle injury in practice. Albany will play at Orangeville Saturday, Jan. 25 and then host Barneveld in a conference showdown Tuesday, Jan. 28.
"He (Schoenenberger) still had some swelling so we kept him out because these are non-conference games tonight and Saturday," Doescher said. "We want him to be ready for the conference games."
Kauk put the win against the Braves in perspective as he looks forward to a pivotal conference game against Barneveld.
"We have to work more on our defense and man-to-man," he said. "The upcoming bigger games are what matter. We have to beat Barneveld if we want a chance to win conference by ourselves."
