Quick shooting sinks Panthers
Lawrence Park’s lack of offensive staying power kept them from winning against a top contender in senior boys Tier 1 basketball Dec. 17.
Losing 71-60 to Jarvis Bulldogs at home, head coach Cargel Stewart chalked the defeat up to two injured starters and a trigger-happy team.
“Our guys are going to have to learn to have some patience to move the ball,” he said. “That was one of the big differences in the game.
“Jarvis would make six or seven passes before they would take a shot, where we made two passes. That was huge.”
It showed, as the Panthers gave the Bulldogs plenty of opportunity, failing to crash the boards on the defence and falling into foul far too often.
Still, they managed a 15-13 lead heading into the second, with a new plan to man the ramparts.
But even with Lawrence Park’s defensive adjustment, Jarvis’s Jamal Gatali and Jaris Osman assailed the Panthers zone, taking a 32-25 lead into the half.
The third saw a big blow that put the Panthers’ offence into submission as Ismar Seferagic fouled out.
For the remainder of the game Brandon John came fast on the hardcourt for 23 points. With him was Meyer Laloux, pulling down rebounds and setting up shots.
Stewart said both Seferagic and John together provide a full claw assault on defences.
“Brandon John was great. Our big player Ismar was a really good player but he got into foul trouble early,” he said. “If I get those two guys clicking together that would definitely be beneficial.”
Providing a potent blast for the Bulldogs was Aaron Shadrach, hitting double digits and taking advantage of the Panthers’ turnovers at midcourt as Jarvis pulled away with a 55-37 lead at the end of the third.
“He’s been playing well all year. He’s won three tournament all stars this year,” Jarvis coach Mohit Dayaram said. “He’s got some looks already this year from U of T and Ryerson.”
During the third, Shadrach powered through a frantic Panthers defence and rolled in a reverse layup. He added two dunks off turnovers as well.
Other standout performances came from Osman, Gatali, Vino Suntharalingan and Samer Mouselem.
The Bulldogs came into the game with a 3-1 record, they’re only loss coming to one of two undefeated teams in the south: Eastern Commerce.
“With this game we just wanted to come out and let everyone play and go into the holidays feeling good.”
Top priority for the 0–5 Panthers, once they get key players back, is their attack, Stewart said.
“Hopefully the two starters that are out will be back and we’ll just go through the offence, do some more passes before the shot and kind of work on our man-to-man defence,” he said.
Jarvis is going full tilt for a game against Tier 1’s leader, Oakwood, in the New Year.
Even though they’re in tough Dayaram is optimistic.
“We’re doing well this year,” he said. “We’ve had four losses and they’ve all been really close, including one against Eastern.
“So I think as a team, we’re ready,” he added. “I think we’re hungry to move up in the rankings.”
