Unity Christian 50, West Ottawa 48: Five Takeaways
Unity Christian gave West Ottawa its first loss of the season on Tuesday night, defeating the Panthers 50-48 in front of a packed crowd at Unity Christian High School. West Ottawa had its chances to take control of the game…
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Continue ReadingUnity Christian gave West Ottawa its first loss of the season on Tuesday night, defeating the Panthers 50-48 in front of a packed crowd at Unity Christian High School. West Ottawa had its chances to take control of the game and maintain its perfect record, however, timely turnovers and foul trouble ultimately doomed the Panthers. Unity’s Grant Balcer scored eight of his 10 points in the 4th quarter to help the Crusaders move to 4-1 on the year.
West Ottawa had four players score in double figures; Blake Pedersen (12), Tanner Wiegerink (10), Jack Gortsema (10), Brady Bosma (10). While four of its starters reach double figures, the Panthers struggled to find any production from its bench, as they were outscored 21-5 by Unity’s reserves.
Alex Janetzke’s Ankle Injury Looms Large for West Ottawa
The senior guard went down with an ankle injury early in the game and returned to the sideline on crutches. The loss of Janetzke was felt immediately by West Ottawa, limiting what the Panthers could do offensively. There’s no telling the severity of the injury, nor when he can return to the court for West Ottawa. The Panthers will need to have a next man up mentality and fill the void that was left when he wasn’t able to return.
Unity’s Depth Goes Deep
The Crusaders relied heavily on its bench Tuesday night, having 22 of its 50 points come from the reserves. Not only does this pose matchup problems for Unity’s opponents, but it also relieves the pressure of Unity’s starting five, who don’t necessarily need to force the issue and score in bunches when they’re on the court. The Crusader’s depth also provides a glimpse of what the future might hold, as two of its main contributors are twin sophomores, Drew and Cameron Chandler. The Chandler twins combined for an efficient 10 points. What stood out the most was their calm demeanor on the court. Neither of the two hardly ever forced the issue offensively, and played well on the defensive end, creating clogged passing lanes and forcing turnovers.
Tanner Wiegerink Provides A Sense of Security for West Ottawa
The 6’7″ forward may not have had the biggest night statistically, however, he provided consistent, turnover-free minutes offensively, and proved to be an even tougher opponent to score on. Tanner still has room to grow and fill out his lanky frame, yet his ability to deflect passes, alter shots and erase second-chance opportunities kept West Ottawa in the lead for most of the evening. Late in the game, Wiegerink played like the best player on the court as he made a series of clutch baskets in a variety of ways for the Panthers. If Wiegerink can consistently hit mid-range shots for West Ottawa, he’ll be one of the tougher matchups in the OK Red this season.
Unity Christian Out-of-timeout Executions Propelled Big Runs
In the first half, Unity called a timeout down 19-10. Out of the timeout, Unity flipped a switch and went on a 9-0 run to close the gap to three, trailing 24-21 at the break. This momentum shift changed the course of the game and gave the Crusaders confidence heading into the break. In the second half, West Ottawa extended its lead to six, 32-26. Once again, out of a timeout, Unity executed its halfcourt sets and press defense to perfection, creating turnovers, which ultimately led to the Crusaders taking back the lead.
Blake Pedersen Flashes Potential
West Ottawa’s senior point guard played effectively, scoring a game-high 12 points for the Crusaders, and dishing out a handful of assists as well. Despite being forced into a couple of key late turnovers, and called for several tick-tack fouls, Pedersen maintained his poise in a hard-fought loss. Down one with a minute to go in the game, Pedersen broke his man down and attacked the lane, and attempted a shot to give West Ottawa the lead. His shot rolled off the rim, and Unity wouldn’t relinquish the lead again. This may have been a low moment for Pedersen, however, given the circumstances, he acquitted himself well and proved that West Ottawa has a floor general it can rely on in make or break situations.