22 turnovers help wear down the Eagles late in the fourth quarter
For the second time in as many outings, Elsik got the best of Eisenhower.
Whether rebounding, forcing turnovers or shooting the trey, the Elsik Rams battled from behind using all phases of its game to grind out a 69-56 victory over host Eisenhower on Friday at Eisenhower High School.
The win gave the Rams sole possession of first place in district 18-5A and dropped Eisenhower to second.
The score doesn’t indicate how tight the game was. Throughout the first two and a half quarters, the game was closely contested. Neither team held an advantage of more than six-points, until Elsik (23-7, 6-1) took control of the momentum late in the third quarter.
Trailing 34-32, entering third quarter, Elsik executed 10 steals, and held an 11-4 edge on the boards which eventually allowed the Rams to break free and increase its lead down the stretch.
Despite Eisenhower suffering a game-high 22-turnovers, it led by as many as six points, 41-35, before the Rams’ harassing defense created its offense while going on an 8-0 run.
“The difference was the turnovers down the stretch. They caused us to have a lot of turnovers and we couldn’t capitalize and we didn’t take care of the ball. We played some good defense for about two and half quarters. We just couldn’t slow them down. We were concentrating on Elsik’s shooting guard Michael Ashiofu, who’s frustrated the Eagles with deep 3-pointers. We knew he could shoot the ball and is a well-rounded player”, said Eisenhower’s Junior Varsity coach Jeff Junigan.
Sophomore guard Darrell Watson started the run with back-to-back baskets. A slicing move to the basket ended with a finger role and a midrange jumper, after a steal by KeAndre Jackson. Caleb Bedford and junior Xavier Debose concluded the run with a basket each, putting the Rams up 43-41. From there Elsik closed the quarter, leading 52-47.
The quicker, scrappy Rams out-hustled Eisenhower (20-6, 8-2) on the boards and interrupted the passing lanes.
“We try to create opportunities for our offense. We’re going to stunt by trapping here and there and sometimes not. It depends on how fast we’re playing. Once we rebound, we’re going to get the ball to the other of the court as quickly as we can. When we have shooting spurs, we go inside, secondly. We have a good group of kids that play well together when there focused,” Elsik’s coach Tim Martin said.
Wingman Michael Ashiofu’s had a hand in five first half 3-pointers to lead Elsik in scoring with 22 points. Da’Shawn Robinson scored 13 while Caleb Bedford and Darrell Watson added 10 each.
“We just try to run what our coach tells us. We saw that they were denying the ball, so that opened up the middle and scoring opportunities were there. I was just a decoy on the court. After I get my shot going, when they run a defense like that, the game comes easy. I’m a shooter, that’s what I do. If they give me room, I’m going to let it fly”, Elsik’s shooting guard Michael Ashiofu said, who was 5-of-9 in the first half beyond the arc.” As far as defense, we gave it 100 percent. As you can see we don’t have a big team. No 6’8” or 6’9” players, so we have to hustle and use our speed to win our games.”
Both teams entered the game with one district lost.
Eisenhower owned the first half while looking to avenge an 85-63 road loss to the Rams in the second district game of the season, which wasn’t in the cards. After Ashiofu knocked down a game opening trey, the Eagles quickly got into the swing of things when guard Jaylen Brooks and junior forward Robert Stevenson accounted for baskets, to grab a 9-5.
“We knew coming over, it was going to be a very difficult game. We played them the second game of district, on December 31st. They weren’t quite ready to play, so we got them pretty easily. But I knew that was a trap for us coming here. The different is, he has a group of talented freshman and sophomores and I have group of kids that are juniors and seniors. That was the difference in the game, experience,” added Martin.
The familiarity between the two teams might have played a role in the Eagles ability to increase its lead more than three-points. Elsik responded to all that the Eagles’ run, to assure the game wouldn’t get out of reach.
Ashiofu gave the Rams its second lead of the game, connecting on his second trey, 10-9. Both teams traded baskets, rounding out the quarter with Eisenhower holding a 19-18 edge.
The second quarter turned into a tug-of-war, which ultimately kept the Eagles from running away with game, as Elsik pounded the offensive boards. The shorter Rams picked up 14-points off eight offensive boards to stay close when Eisenhower pushed three points in front, but a turnover and offensive rebounds erase it production.
Finally, at the midway point of the fourth quarter, Elsik wore down the tiring Eagles, as it took control of the game.
