|
Yappi.com writer MASSILLON-The mustangs that were on the floor inside a sold-out Tuslaw High School gymnasium did not have the wheels and pistons, but there was no shortage of horsepower. The Mustangs used 23 points from junior guard Ryan Travis and 10 of 13 shooting from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to pull out a 57-52 win on senior night. The win improved the Mustangs record to 5-13 and 2-10 in PAC-7 action. Fairless dropped to 5-13 overall and 3-8 in the PAC-7. The win was a pleasing one for first-year boss Jason Hmiel, a 1998 Jackson High School graduate who played under longtime floor boss Larry Taylor. To his hordes of Mustangs, Hmiel stressed one thing that would decide the game, the same as Taylor stressed to Hmiel during his scholastic career: execution. "Larry Taylor was big on executing the offense and playing hard on defense. Those principles are what I teach to my players," he said. "To see our guys play well tonight makes me happy." The win was even more pleasing for the Mustangs as they lost by 35 in the first meeting between the two schools. Hmiel made his team not forget that loss and informed them that Fairless won the first contest but the second one was going to be the one that counts. And the Mustangs made sure the second game would go in their way. "We lost to them earlier in the year and they shot the ball well from three-point range. They finished at 72% from three-point country and we did not defend the three well," Hmiel said. "We learned a lot from that game and made it clear tonight that they won the first one but we won the second one and the second game is what counts the most." Fairless connected on 42% from three-point range on 10 of 24 shooting but that was not enough to please an extremely irate head coach Matt Kramer, who issued a tongue-lashing to his team in the locker room well after the game. "We practiced OK this week but we dogged it the last two days and we didn't get after it. We just didn't overcome adversity for whatever reason I don't know," Kramer said. "There is no excuse for us to lose like that. We had no desire to win the game and we threw in the towel. And you can quote me on that!" The third quarter was the pivotal quarter in the contest. Tuslaw outscored the Falcons 20-14 but it became Ryan Travis show. The junior guard poured in 16 of his 25 points in the third quarter as he finished with a game-high 25 points. It was shocking to Hmiel that the Mustangs had a 9-0 run in the quarter, all the points scored by his forward. "Travis made that run? I didn't know that," Hmiel said in a stunned tone. "But he is one of many good players in the area that are not talked about. But it's OK because he goes quietly about his business and if there was one player I would go to battle with, it is him." Travis performance in the quarter had Kramer seething even more. "Our defense was horrible, period, he said. "Had we won this game, we could have called the FBI because it would have been a crime!" With two games left in the season, the Mustangs would like to go out on a winning note as the sectional-district tournament rolls around. Hmiel has enough trust in the players around him that they can win the next two games and make some noise in the tournament. "We want to win these two games playing Tuslaw basketball the way it is supposed to be played," Hmiel said. "If we can remain positive and stick together, then we can win a few more games." There were no Fords on the floor Friday night but this is certain: the Mustangs had all the horse power they needed. |
|
Yappi Ohio High School Sports | Boys High School Sports | Girls High School Sports | General Sports and Info |