Lack of execution down the stretch dooms Napa Valley in loss to De Anza
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Execution in crunch time is a major key to winning games.
So far this season, putting games away in the second half has been an issue for the Napa Valley College men’s basketball team. Unfortunately, that was the case again on Tuesday night when the Storm fell to De Anza-Cupertino 91-82.
Part of the reason Napa Valley (0-7) has had these issues is due to the defense down the stretch.
“We’ve had a bad habit of not carrying each other as a team defensively in the second half, Napa Valley College head coach Steve Ball explained. “Both teams have the same situation in every college basketball game – you have to defend opposite of your bench in the second half. So it’s no coincidence that we give up 10 or 15 more points in the second half than we do on the first in every game because now you’re on your own, you’re on your own down there, you can’t rely on the whole bench communicating for you and with you.”
Along with the issues on defense, NVC only made 22 of their 33 free throws in the game.
“Absolutely would’ve changed the complexion of the game there a little bit,” Ball said of the missed shots from the charity stripe. “All you need is a little bit of doubt to creep into somebody’s mind. I feel like we shot better than we have in the past.”
The Storm started the game strong. On the offensive side, they reeled off an 11-0 run that saw them doing everything right.
“I thought we were playing really well in the first half,” Ball said. “There’s a smaller drop-off from the offensive side than there is with the defensive side when you change sides of the floor. They were able to execute. They took us out of some stuff by denying, we countered that in the second half was more backdoors.”
Leading Napa on offense was sophomore forward Jaivon Williams. He turned in a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. He also converted 11 of 15 free throws.
“He’s, in theory, the leader of our offense, and gets us into our stuff,” Ball added. “Like I said all along, he’s a tough matchup for people. He’s 6’4” and he’s a guard.”
Also adding to the cause was Chris Thompson who ended the night with 15 points and a rebound. Ben Trette also added 11 points and grabbed three rebounds.
Shakir Howard brought in the second-most rebounds for the Storm with eight while pitching in seven points, and converting all three free-throw attempts.
Napa Valley will have a little over a week until they head to Stockton to face San Joaquin Delta College next Wednesday night at 5:50 pm.
