Early in the season, there were issues with the Pembroke boys basketball team.
The roster only had seven players, there was some infighting with the players, they had no true point guard and the wins weren't coming. But the Dragons have now blown out four straight teams because of a 75-37 win over visiting Alexander Thursday.
Part of that problem was solved when Steve Moser showed up very early in the season as a transfer from St. Joe's in Buffalo, and the rest of the problem was solved with time.
Now, Pembroke is ready to wrap up the season with some wins, take on the first Genesee Region/Niagara-Orleans Tournament and then sectionals.
The Dragons improve to 10-6 and did it by thumping a team that isn't bad and did it in big-time fashion.
The game was never a question as Pembroke jumped out to a 19-7 lead in the first quarter with Ken Babcock dominating inside the paint. He owned the boards and scored two baskets, and got help from Andrew Gabbey, who dropped in two 3-pointers in the opening frame.
The Trojans went blow-for-blow in the second quarter, with both teams scoring 14 points., but it was still 33-21 Pembroke at the half.
Babcock had six points in the third quarter and Andrew Wright started taking over the game. Wright had just four points in the frame, but was big on the boards and was getting steals. The Dragons had a 20-7 advantage in the third.
Wright scored seven points in the fourth quarter and Pembroke had a 22-9 advantage in the fourth quarter for the huge victory.
This is a team that got off to a really ugly start and is now playing some solid basketball. Oakfield-Alabama wrapped up the Genesee Region League Division II title with a win tonight, so Pembroke is now focusing on the sectional playoffs.
The addition of Moser was huge. Wright was out of position and had to bring the ball up the floor. That took his inside presence out of the mix.
Moser is a solid point guard, scoring nine points with six assists in the game.
Wright scored a game-high 19 points with 11 rebounds and seven steals and Babcock pitched in 13 points and 10 boards.
Eric Leffel also had nine points for Pembroke.
Alexander (6-9) was led by Zach Burke, who scored 10 points.
It was a good game. Would
It was a good game. Would have been a bit better if Pembroke didn't go Steve Spurrier and start blowing up the scoreboard well after the game was over. When you're winning by thirty points with four minutes left, usually you don't go up there just jacking three-pointers. Hey, if you're gonna penetrate and get the layup or field goal, fine. But just popping three pointers when it was a blowout was a bit low class in my opinion.
Good thing I go to UB now, and can see a dominant, yet classy basketball and football team play.
I agree on this : if opposing
I agree on this : if opposing team is losing by 20 points you end the game. Better yet dont bother keeping a score or stats and play for fun. That way everyone is a winner.
I do not agree Gabor. High
I do not agree Gabor. High school sports are competitive and Pembroke did play guys that don't get a lot of playing time. They have a very small roster and couldn't play without some starters in the game.
Sometimes basketball scores get out of hand. Just look at the roundup from last night. Not a single GR game was within 10 points. It happens. Alexander is a good team and will bounce back.
Gabor; If the kids just
Gabor;
If the kids just want to play for fun they can get a bunch of their friends together and play at the town park or in somebody's driveway.
This "everyone is a winner" stuff is utter nonsense and has no place outside of tee-ball and little kids soccer leagues. Everyone is not a winner. Chances are pretty good there is always someone better than you at everything in life. That's just how it is. The sooner kids learn that, the better. All this self-esteem baloney has done nothing but contributed in large part to create many of the problems we have today. I've actually had the mothers of 20 something year-old employees call me up to ask why I reprimanded their son/daughter for some gross violation of company policy, "you hurt his/her feelings and need to apologize". Needless to say, that individual didn't work for me very long.
Back to athletics, just to be clear on the matter, I played sparingly on two varsity teams in high school many years ago. I wasn't very good and knew it but enjoyed the comradery and the thrill of being on the field on those rare occasions I was. Our soccer team was really bad and we lost almost all the time so I know what that's like too. If these kids don't like losing by lots of points there's a solution - get better.
Maybe its just me, but it
Maybe its just me, but it seems pretty obvious Gabor was being facetious.
I wasn't trying to say that
I wasn't trying to say that Pembroke should lay down and die...quite the opposite.
It's analogous to football...if I am winning a football game by three touchdowns with only a few minutes left and have possession, I shouldn't be having my quarterback rocketing a hail mary pass to the endzone looking to inflate the score.
Like I said before, if they want to drive to the net and score, more power to them; it's the defense's job to stop them.
They are clearly within their right to keep bombing three-pointers when the game is out of hand, but most people would correctly frown upon that.
Brett, I would agree if it
Brett, I would agree if it was Andrew Gabbey chucking up 3-pointers because he is their 3-point shooter. But the kids that were shooting 3s were the kids that don't get much playing time.
Pembroke wasn't pressing and was just a way better team on that night.
I respect your opinions, but
I respect your opinions, but I guess I'm just different than the rest of you all, haha.