By JON WEBB
A day after what head coach Jeff Hall called their “poorest defensive effort of the year,” the Scotties bounced back with a 68-46 win over Johnson Central in the second round of the Ashland Invitational Tournament.
Hall said the reason for the improvement was a simple case of personal accountability.
“We assigned each person a man and said ‘that’s how you’re going to be graded once we watch (film of the game),” he said. “Bottom line, your playing time will be determined on how you play defense and rebound the basketball, not by how many points you score.”
The players got the message.
Glasgow held Johnson to just 16 first-half points and built a 17-point lead by halftime.
Johnson double its offensive output in the third, but still weren’t able to catch the Scotties.
Hall said overall team effort was a major factor in the win.
“(Monday), I thought we played at a 75 to 80 percent pace, and you can’t play like that in these holiday tournaments,” he said. “(On Tuesday) we were far from perfect as far as playing basketball is concerned, but from an effort perspective I give our guys an ‘A’.
“And at this time of year, I’ll take effort over execution any time.”
Cameron Hall did a little of both against Johnson. The senior guard led Glasgow with 27 points, giving him a 29.5 points-per-game average for the tournament.
Parker Cash (10) was the only other Scottie to score in double figures.
Glasgow will face East Carter at 3 p.m. today to close out its participation in the Ashland Tournament. Coach Hall said Carter boasts “probably the best big man in the tournament” in 6’7 Colt Barnhill, and said his team will have to continue its defensive improvement.
“Right now, though,” he said after the game, “we’re more concerned about going and getting something good to eat.”
