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Stifling Defense Pays Off For OMS

Sports

Written by David Wolman

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 08:00

Defense wins championships.

All of us have heard that old adage used over and over again, especially when it comes to basketball.

Gregg Poppovich’s San Antonio Spurs have hoisted four NBA titles in the past 10 years because of great attention to detail on that end of the court. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they had strong post players in Hall of Famer David Robinson and future likely Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, not to mention strong guards in Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Sean Elliott.

Defense was Osawatomie’s strong suit in last week’s fourth-place game in the Pioneer League tournament. While it didn’t win the eighth-grade team an NBA title, it helped break them into the win column for the second time this season — the Trojans’ first victory came by a forfeit by Central Heights the previous day in the tournament.
You want defense? Osawatomie put on a clinic.

Most times Anderson County brought the ball up the court, Osawatomie hounded their ball handlers with pressure. Several turnovers came as a result of the pressure. I noticed one of the Bulldog ball handlers became frustrated each time she was forced into a trap or coughed the ball up to an opposing Trojan defender, especially in the second half.

When Anderson County was able to get set in the front court, Osawatomie’s defense was on the prowl. Just about every shot was contested. Every pass was met by a challenge in the passing lane by a fearless Osawatomie defense. Every rebound was challenged, with Osawatomie coming up with a majority of them.
It was harassing defense at its best.

The game was close throughout. Neither team led by more than four points. Points were at a premium in this one. Anderson County led 9-7 at halftime. You figured that one of the squads was going to be rewarded for its play on the defensive end, although Osawatomie missed several close-in shots.

With under one minute remaining, Osawatomie was rewarded for its defensive efforts. Taryn McReynolds sank a shot, and the Trojan defense did the rest.
Osawatomie 13, Anderson County 11.

Osawatomie’s seventh-grade team also broke into the win column in their tournament opener, a 14-12 victory over Jayhawk-Linn.
Their performances again shows what some good defense can do.

— David Wolman can be reached at 755-4151 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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