Titans take down Storm, 74-60
by Tom Smeeth
Saturday Dec 12th was a double-check game for the Storm men, who have begun to show demonstrable, and encouraging, improvement building on last year.
The good news on this night was that Seattle hung in against a very strong Tacoma team, check; the bad ... See Comment 1 (below) for full story and game details.
The Storm website.
Wil Bush led all scorers with 20 points. In less than eight minutes of play, Brian Walker found 14 points from long range. All four made shots fell for 3-points. He was perfect from the line, combining with Bush for 8 of 9 charity strip shooting. The two led Storm rebounding combining for 15 boards.
ReplyDeleteTheo Miller struggled under the Titan defense, denied all but six free throws.
The Titans go-to triumph was the troika of bigness underneath, Darius Walker (21 points, 10 rebounds), effective penetration of Anthony Enriquez who scored 16, rabbing six boards, hassling the Storm with his three steals, and JeRae Johnson who lit up the Center with over 60 percent shooting (20 points) and effective passing. Johnson finished with seven assists.
The Storm battled back several times to be in good position going into the halftime lockerroom, and several times were within single-digits of their guests, who finished last season with only two league losses. However, Tacoma picked up the pace at the end of each half to seize the win.
It came down to second chance scoring, with those 14 Tacoma points totalling the difference in the game.
Now with the holiday tournament during the break, Kyle Gray's troops get a chance to perfect their game in time to open league play just north of here. First game of the new year, is the second day of January, at Edmonds. The Storm women tip off at 5 pm.
... The bad was that the Titans strength overcame the Storm in strong finishes at the end of both halves, check-naught. Result? Storm loss, a 74-60 Tacoma win at the Wellness Center on the North campus.
ReplyDeleteTacoma had to overcome two bright areas for the Storm: the second half charge that left them outpointed 31-28, and superior bench play, as the Seattle subs outscored their Titan counterparts, 15-9. Alex Davis (9) and Nick Maylsheff (6) combined for those 15 points, taking the initiative that led to nine-of-ten from the free throw line.
The Storm start league play on the road, before returning for two home showdowns on January 6 and 9, hosting Whatcom and Everett. The doubleheaders start with the Storm women at 5:30 and 4 PM, respectively.