The Glacier Bears boys’ basketball team continued its struggles, dropping a pair of games last weekend to Wrangell.
The losses, by scores of 60-40 and 68-29, dropped the team to 0-6 in league play, but there were encouraging signs for the young team that is still learning to play together and to incorporate its newest members.
Junior Dylan Swinton continued his on-the-job learning process as he makes the switch from frontcourt player to primary ball handler. That duty is compounded by the fact Swinton is also the team’s leading scorer. He led Haines in scoring both nights, with 16 points in game one, and 14 in game two.
Coach Steve Fossman said, “It fatigues him a lot…but we need it right now. Whenever he goes out of the game, it’s almost an automatic that the other team will press us (full court), but he is getting a lot better at handling the double duty.”
“It’s different,” said Swinton. “It’s a big jump having played post the past two years. I think it’s going to work out, though, and having the two-man, pick-and-roll option we’ve been working on should really open things up eventually.”
The team also is still seeking ways to overcome a relative lack of height at its inside positions.
“We’ve got a ways to go as far as passing out of the post,” Fossman said. “Our guys are big enough to score one on one, but we’re still trying to do too much when double-teamed. If we can get a bit more inside-outside play I think that will really help us.”
As far as incorporating freshmen players, Fossman said, “They’re getting a lot of minutes, but as a (whole) team, we have to take better care of the ball, and I think the freshmen are learning that lesson, too. “
Fossman pointed out that Kirby Faverty has excellent court vision and uses change of speed effectively and noted that Cade Clay is “a workhorse who always gives 100 percent.”
He also noted that while their effort is great, younger players are up against juniors and seniors on other teams who have experience and confidence, which may overshadow their effort at times.
“Being a freshman but also getting big minutes can be tough,” Fossman said.
Senior Dylan Palmieri seemed to issue a call for calm at this point in the season.
“We seem to be overly focused on the score, at times, and that takes away from us actually playing good basketball and taking advantage of what the other team gives us. If we can just focus on playing good, smart ball, the rest will take care of itself,” Palmieri said.
As the team heads to the Cordova Tip-Off tournament this weekend, it will have a chance to put that bit of wisdom into action.
Additional leading scorers for Haines in game one were Dante Light with 12 and Ketch Jacobson with four. In game two, Light scored five while Hudson Sage added three.
Top scorers for Wrangell in the first game were Trent Stokes, 17, and Tyman Teat, 16. Trevor Miller led the Wolves in the second game with 16 points. Trent Stokes scored 11.