Blazer Men Up And Down Early On
Hood starts off with winning record, but turnovers threaten to slow them down
Blair Ames
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Sports
Only five games into the season the Hood College men's basketball team has already experienced the sweet taste of victory and the bitter taste of defeat.
After losing their first game of the season, 90-59, to the University of Scranton, the Blazers won three straight, including the Rinso Marquette Tournament hosted by Lebanon Valley College.
Hood knocked off New Jersey City University, 80-67, in the first round of the tournament and then won a back and forth affair against the host Dutchmen. The teams traded the lead for the first 35 minutes of the game before Hood was able to use an 11-0 run to take control of the game and win 78-70.
"They were probably our best two games of the year," sophomore forward Tyler Snoots said. "We played as a team, worked the ball around and everyone did their part."
Senior guard Ryan Junghans was named the tournament's most valuable player after averaging 22 points per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. He was also named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Week and the PrestoSports/Provident Pride Player of the Week, for his efforts in the tournament.
The Blazers winning streak was halted at three when Shenandoah University visited Thomas Johnson High School and handed Hood their second loss of the season, 84-72.
"It was a real sloppy game against Shenandoah," head coach Tom Dickman said. "It was a winnable game and we just turned the ball over and took some bad shots."
The game was a struggle as the Blazers committed 20 turnovers and shot only 39.2 percent from the floor.
"We're a small team and we don't get a lot of second and third chances," Dickman added. "We know we're going to be out rebounded and that makes each possession more valuable. We can't have turnovers."
Through five games, Junghans leads the team in points per game with 15.8, while junior transfer J'Air Brady leads the team in rebounding with five per game. Senior Tim Abercrombie leads the team in assists, averaging four per game.
After their first two conference games on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 Hood will have a 24 day layoff until the Hampden-Sydney College Tournament. The Blazers will need to use this time to correct their flaws if they want to be competitive in the CAC.
After losing their first game of the season, 90-59, to the University of Scranton, the Blazers won three straight, including the Rinso Marquette Tournament hosted by Lebanon Valley College.
Hood knocked off New Jersey City University, 80-67, in the first round of the tournament and then won a back and forth affair against the host Dutchmen. The teams traded the lead for the first 35 minutes of the game before Hood was able to use an 11-0 run to take control of the game and win 78-70.
"They were probably our best two games of the year," sophomore forward Tyler Snoots said. "We played as a team, worked the ball around and everyone did their part."
Senior guard Ryan Junghans was named the tournament's most valuable player after averaging 22 points per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. He was also named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Week and the PrestoSports/Provident Pride Player of the Week, for his efforts in the tournament.
The Blazers winning streak was halted at three when Shenandoah University visited Thomas Johnson High School and handed Hood their second loss of the season, 84-72.
"It was a real sloppy game against Shenandoah," head coach Tom Dickman said. "It was a winnable game and we just turned the ball over and took some bad shots."
The game was a struggle as the Blazers committed 20 turnovers and shot only 39.2 percent from the floor.
"We're a small team and we don't get a lot of second and third chances," Dickman added. "We know we're going to be out rebounded and that makes each possession more valuable. We can't have turnovers."
Through five games, Junghans leads the team in points per game with 15.8, while junior transfer J'Air Brady leads the team in rebounding with five per game. Senior Tim Abercrombie leads the team in assists, averaging four per game.
After their first two conference games on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 Hood will have a 24 day layoff until the Hampden-Sydney College Tournament. The Blazers will need to use this time to correct their flaws if they want to be competitive in the CAC.
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