If intensity will be the difference between victory and defeat
for the Live Oak High boys basketball team this season, as head
coach Brett Paolucci says, then the Acorns should try and bottle
Friday night
’s season-opening win.
If intensity will be the difference between victory and defeat for the Live Oak High boys basketball team this season, as head coach Brett Paolucci says, then the Acorns should try and bottle Friday night’s season-opening win.
Because Live Oak wasted little time coming out fired up, riding a wave of intensity on both ends of the floor en route to an impressive 61-37 win over host Monta Vista last week.
“We set the tempo right from the start,” Paolucci said. “That was the major thing we talked about before the game — setting the tempo offensively and defensively.”
Paolucci pointed out that, in the absence of last season’s towering post players, this year’s team will have to rely on speed and aggressiveness.
“We’re quicker this year and we’ll use that to our advantage,” Paolucci said.
And, Friday’s win was a case study in the Acorns’ new style of play.
Live Oak (1-0) won because it clogged tghe passing lanes (picking up 15 steals) and rebounded well (37 total rebounds, including 18 on the offensive end).
“I told the team we’re going to have to block out on every shot on defense.”
No one exemplified that dedication to the fund-amentals as much as 6-foot-2 senior power forward Steve Conner, who grabbed 13 rebounds and added five steals to go with four points.
And, Paolucci said his team remained patient in its zone offense, working the ball around for a good shot. In fact, Paolucci said his team’s offense can actually get better.
“We’re a good shooting team and we took a lot of open 3s,” Paolucci said. “But we were 4-for-16 from the 3-point line and those are going to fall for us.”
Live Oak sprinted to a 7-0 lead against Monta Vista (1-1), then expanded its lad to 27-16 by halftime.
Paolucci said Monta Vista does have a relatively young and inexperienced team, but had already picked up a victory this season and was expected to give the Acorns a tougher battle.
“I didn’t expect a 24-point win,” Paolucci said.
Live Oak was led in scoring by senior guard Jeff Yeung, who had 12 points, and junior forward Matt Van Kuelan, who scored 11 filling in for injured Acorns starter Brandon Powell.
Van Kuelan added five rebounds, three assists and three steals during his extended playing time.
Powell twisted his ankle during practice last week and is expected to return some time next week.
Senior point guard Joel Wright added nine points on three 3-pointers, and senior forward Braden Goodere also chipped in nine points for the Acorns.
Live Oak is scheduled to play at Santa Teresa at 7 p.m. today, then begin competing at the Overfelt tournament on Wednesday.
The Live Oak High girls basketball team is also scheduled to play today, at 7 p.m. against visiting Gunderson at the Live Oak High gym.
