Veteran trio leads No. 6 Cavs in 86-52 rout of Bulldawgs
Posted On: Tuesday, Dec. 22 2009 05:27 AM
By Nick Talbot
Killeen Daily HeraldLAKEWAY – Copperas Cove played right into the hands of the 4A No. 6 Lake Travis Cavaliers on Monday.
And just like that the game was over in a matter of minutes.
The Lake Travis Cavaliers used a 17-0 run in the opening 5½ minutes of the game to defeat the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs 86-52 at Lake Travis High on Monday.
"We really don't have any post people right now," said Lake Travis coach Jan Jernberg. "What we have is three returning lettermen and it does not bother them to see perimeter pressure. For us the key is just not getting worn out going up and down the floor.
"(Copperas Cove coach Billy White Jr.) is doing what he needs to have the kids do, but it plays into our hands this year because we have very experienced guards."
The experienced Cav guards anticipated the passing lanes of the Bulldawgs throughout the game. Lake Travis (14-3) jumped in front of nearly every pass in the first half, stealing the ball and then converting the fast break on the other end.
"We did not pass the ball well at all and with a team like that, that is very aggressive, they are going to be up in the passing lanes trying to deflect the ball," White said. "That is what happened to us a lot. We were lobbing our passes up, and not meeting them."
Copperas Cove (7-10) did not score its first bucket until Derwin Graham hit a 3-pointer with 2:34 left in the first quarter. Graham scored all six of the Bulldawgs points in the quarter.
More than anything, though, it was the Bulldawg defense that struggled, surrendering points inside and out.
"The thing we were upset about was the defensive end," White said. "We have to get stops and play tough defense. The baskets are going to come eventually. We just have to make sure we are playing defense when it does."
Zach Karcezewski scored 31 points, most underneath the goal from either penetrating drives or on putbacks. He was one of four Cavs in double figures.
Cole Vucurevich and Billy Sherakas each had 13 points and Chris Dash had 11.
"Zach is a bona fide college prospect," Jernburg said. "He is an undersized power forward … but he is a great student and has the best bounce of anyone I have ever coached."
Copperas Cove, meanwhile, could not hit a shot from anywhere. The Bulldawgs were only 4-of-26 in the first half, before slightly picking it up in the third and fourth quarters going 9-of-24 from the field.
Antonio Clemons was the lone Bulldawg in double figures. He had 18 points, but shot just 4-of-13 from the field.
Copperas Cove's 26 percent shooting left White flabbergasted after the game and he said he was looking forward to his team having a week off before playing in the Gatesville Tournament on Dec. 28.
"I think (the large lead) may have (affected us mentally), but even moreso on defense," White said. "We were fine on offense. We just did not knock the shots down.
"That has been our situation the past two games. We are taking and getting good shots. We just can't knock them down."
Contact Nick Talbot at
ntalbot@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7569.