The Crest boys seemed out of their league early on in their 68-35 loss at home to St. Paul Monday night.
The Indians opened things up with an 11-2 run and never looked back as the Lancers dropped to 1-5 and St. Paul improved to 4-2.
The key for us early was that we gave up a lot of easy buckets whether it was in transition or because of poor help-side defense. We gave up 21 points in the first quarter and 15 in the second and were not enough of a well-oiled machine to give up that many points in a half. Weve got to be better defensively, said coach Travis Hermreck.
The Lancers trailed 36-20 at the half but still managed to put up a solid third quarter, outscored by only four points.
There was a stretch there in the third quarter that I felt really good about how we were playing, Hermreck said. St. Paul banked in a three and hit some tough shots but that was about it. Thats definitely something that I feel we can build on.
The drubbing picked right back up when they got in the fourth quarter and St. Pauls lead eclipsed by 30 at the 3:28 mark of the the quarter, triggering the running clock.
Senior Hayden Hermreck led the way with 12 points followed by 11 for junior Zach Beckmon, eight for senior Jacob Holloran and four for sophomore Tyson Hermeck.
Hayden Hermreck and Holloran have been the mainstays for the Lancers atop the scoring column over the last two seasons but recently, Beckmon has been a reliable third or in Mondays case second option.
Zach has been a tough one-on-one matchup for anyone to deal with, Hermreck said. Hes pretty dang good at getting to the bucket and finishing strong. Weve got to be better offensively so we can create more of those situations that he can take advantage of. Were not the kind of team that can just catch a ball and then blow past someone, weve got to keep moving the ball and our bodies so we can get those opportunities.
Mondays game wraps up a killer first part of the season for the Lancers where theyve played multiple tough teams including St. Paul, but Hermreck hopes that the upcoming winter break will do his team some good heading into the final two-thirds of the season.
Our schedule has been tough, Hermreck said. And not to make excuses but weve played some really great teams to start the year off and its easy to get your dauber down when you lose five of six, but the guys are going to get a couple days off, get rested up mentally and physically and then were going to get to work. And were dang sure going to work.
Crest will be back in action on Jan. 4 when they travel to face Marmaton Valley.
