Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
powelltribune.photoshelter.com
Trapper basketball completed its tough preseason schedule last week, as they hosted a scrimmage with the Montana State University — Northern.
The Oct. 21 scrimmage with the Lights finished up a preseason that included seven scrimmages, including three against four-year schools. It provided Trapper coach Jay Collins with a clear picture of his team’s potential heading into the regular season.
The format for last week’s scrimmage included four separate periods in which the Trappers won the first period and held the score close through the second.
Heading into the third portion of the scrimmage the Lights threw a zone defense at the Trappers, which Collins admitted they had difficulty figuring out; the coach said they have not worked on their zone offense yet.
In the fourth period Collins decided to experiment with different lineups and ensure he got a good look at each player as they transition into the regular season next week.
He said the team has made significant strides from even the previous weekend against Rocky Mountain College and University of Montana Western.
More work on their press defense as well as work on their rotational help defense helped the Trappers keep the Lights to around 40% shooting from the field for the day.
One of the areas Collins felt the team needed to focus on is executing halfcourt offense and knocking down open shots.
“I told the guys that just our practice time will not make you good shooters,” Collins said.
The Trappers’ shooting — particularly from 3-point range — dropped from the previous weekend. Moving forward, however, Collins feels that once the team learns how to play fast as opposed to playing rushed, more shots will start to fall.
Continuing to improve and maintaining their work rates is something Collins believes will help his team be competitive come February, when the Trappers enter into the final stretch of the season.
The next week will be spent practicing before the home and season opener on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. against the Rocky Mountain College JV.