ALBANY - Playing against a much bigger team, Albany coach Derik Doescher wanted to play a 2-3 zone and dare Shullsburg to beat the Comets from the outside.
Shullsburg sophomore Noah Wand did just that hitting seven of the team's 10 three-pointers for a game-high 25 points to propel the Miners to a 60-44 non-conference win over Albany Monday.
Shullsburg shot 45.8 percent and out-rebounded the Comets 34-20 including a 23-8 edge in the second half.
"Shullsburg shot the ball tremendously well," Doescher said. "Our game plan was to make them shoot it from the outside. We thought if we made them shoot it from the outside we would have the advantage. They threw it back in our face hitting 10 three-pointers. They showed us that they are a team that can go inside or outside."
Albany junior Tyler Dahl scored a team-high 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and had five steals. Albany senior teammate Mitchell Trow scored 12 points on four 3-pointers. However, the Comets couldn't string together enough rebounds and defensive stops to mount a comeback. Trow made two 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Comets take a 15-12 lead.
Wand made five 3-pointers in the first half and scored 12 points in the second quarter. The Miners went on a 13-4 second quarter run sparked by Wand's hot shooting. He drained a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 49 seconds to go in the second quarter to give the Miners a 27-19 lead.
"We were trying to take something away," Doescher said of Shullsburg's inside game that features 6-foot-8 sophomore Joseph Meyer and 6-5 sophomore Hunter Matye.
Matye scored 15 points and had eight rebounds and Meyer added nine points.
"Whenever you take something away it leaves something open," Doescher said. "You have to know who is hot. He (Wand) made them 3-pointers against the zone and man defense. You just have to tip your hat to him. It was a great shooting performance. That is what good teams do. You could see as a fan there is a reason why they are 9-2."
Dahl noted the big rebounding edge for the Miners.
"They just got far too many rebounds," Dahl said. "I just think we have to box out and have more effort going for the rebound. We do have people who will grind and work for it. We have the players who can score. We just have to get stops and limit the offensive rebounds on the other end."
Doescher said the Comets made contact and did a good job of rebounding early in the first half. He understands that rebounding is still an area that must improve.
"We put a body on guys early," he said. "Late, I think we went up and tried to push them under the basket and out-jump them. They are an athletic and young ballclub and that won't work."
Nothing came easy for the Comets in the second half. Albany shot 27.5 percent in the second half (8 of 29).
"For us to be successful, we have to have three players in double figures and some other scorers sprinkled in," Doescher said.
Dahl scored nine of his 21 points in the second half on several drives to the basket and had three steals.
"There is no doubt that Tyler is one of the best players in the conference," Doescher said. "He does a lot for us. He kind of sets the tone out there for us with how hard he plays."
Shullsburg sophomore Noah Wand did just that hitting seven of the team's 10 three-pointers for a game-high 25 points to propel the Miners to a 60-44 non-conference win over Albany Monday.
Shullsburg shot 45.8 percent and out-rebounded the Comets 34-20 including a 23-8 edge in the second half.
"Shullsburg shot the ball tremendously well," Doescher said. "Our game plan was to make them shoot it from the outside. We thought if we made them shoot it from the outside we would have the advantage. They threw it back in our face hitting 10 three-pointers. They showed us that they are a team that can go inside or outside."
Albany junior Tyler Dahl scored a team-high 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and had five steals. Albany senior teammate Mitchell Trow scored 12 points on four 3-pointers. However, the Comets couldn't string together enough rebounds and defensive stops to mount a comeback. Trow made two 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Comets take a 15-12 lead.
Wand made five 3-pointers in the first half and scored 12 points in the second quarter. The Miners went on a 13-4 second quarter run sparked by Wand's hot shooting. He drained a 3-pointer with 2 minutes, 49 seconds to go in the second quarter to give the Miners a 27-19 lead.
"We were trying to take something away," Doescher said of Shullsburg's inside game that features 6-foot-8 sophomore Joseph Meyer and 6-5 sophomore Hunter Matye.
Matye scored 15 points and had eight rebounds and Meyer added nine points.
"Whenever you take something away it leaves something open," Doescher said. "You have to know who is hot. He (Wand) made them 3-pointers against the zone and man defense. You just have to tip your hat to him. It was a great shooting performance. That is what good teams do. You could see as a fan there is a reason why they are 9-2."
Dahl noted the big rebounding edge for the Miners.
"They just got far too many rebounds," Dahl said. "I just think we have to box out and have more effort going for the rebound. We do have people who will grind and work for it. We have the players who can score. We just have to get stops and limit the offensive rebounds on the other end."
Doescher said the Comets made contact and did a good job of rebounding early in the first half. He understands that rebounding is still an area that must improve.
"We put a body on guys early," he said. "Late, I think we went up and tried to push them under the basket and out-jump them. They are an athletic and young ballclub and that won't work."
Nothing came easy for the Comets in the second half. Albany shot 27.5 percent in the second half (8 of 29).
"For us to be successful, we have to have three players in double figures and some other scorers sprinkled in," Doescher said.
Dahl scored nine of his 21 points in the second half on several drives to the basket and had three steals.
"There is no doubt that Tyler is one of the best players in the conference," Doescher said. "He does a lot for us. He kind of sets the tone out there for us with how hard he plays."
