Admirals Looking for Answers
Published on February 9, 2012 under Premier Basketball League (PBL)
Lake Michigan Admirals News Release
St. Joseph, MI.- Lake Michigan faces the Dayton Air Strikers, Saturday, still searching for their first conference win. Admiral coach Che' Eddie says "We're one stop and a rebound away every game. The players are committed, but we've got to get more defensive minded all four quarters."
In the last three outings, Lake Michigan's nemesis seems to be themselves. The Admirals have taken halftime leads into the locker room, only to squander it during the third quarter. It's as though someone puts a lid on the basket and the game shifts into high speed for their opponents. Leads are erased and deficits of 10 or more points have become the norm. In each contest Lake Michigan has fought back in the fourth quarter, getting close against Rochester and taking Scranton into overtime, but eventually falling.
As the Admirals continue to look for answers, leading scorer and rebounder Florentino Valencia says the team is young and likes to run. "We all want to win and now we're starting to gel."
The numbers seem to back up Valencia's assessment. Lake Michigan's scoring average of 106 is fifth in the nine-team Premier Basketball League. They've led Rochester and Scranton in key statistical categories, but still find themselves on the short end. The Admirals have one of the smallest teams in the league. Fourteen players in the Eastern division are taller than the 6-foot 6 Valencia. Yet, the Admirals' captain leads the team in double doubles, averaging 20.6 and 10.4 rebounds per game.
"It's difficult at times," Valencia says, about the height disadvantage, but talks about the Admirals' speed. "I'm pushing inside, using my speed to an advantage, playing as aggressively as I can under the basket."
Eddie says he'll be working on defense all week in practice. "We've got to position ourselves better, getting up on the boards for that second or third shot. The 240-pound Valencia agrees, especially on the offensive boards where the Admirals have a 17.5 to 8.5 rebound edge on Dayton. "We have to hit the glass and attack while we send the two guards back."
The Air Strikers are 2-4, dropping two at league-leading Rochester and splitting with Charleston and Scranton. Lake Michigan will need to operate on all cylinders against Dayton, despite having the offensive scoring edge, 106-101. The Air Strikers sport a 64.3% field goal average and 36.3% on three pointers. The Admirals are shooting 45.1% from the field and 27.5% from the three-point line in comparison.
Dayton's top field goal producer is 6-foot 11 Brandon Hassell, a perfect 27 for 27. Mark Gormilla is second at 79.4%, but he's perfect at the free throw line along with three other teammates. Eddie says the Admirals have to make it harder for him to score. "We've got to pick at his decision making."
Lake Michigan will be without second-leading scorer Rodney Alexander. The 6-foot 7 forward was picked up by an Iceland team in the European League. Alexander was averaging 16.3 a game and 7.5 rebounds.
Valencia and Eddie agree that Odgra Bobo and Pete Trammell will fill that void. "Both are great players and can shore that up," Valencia said. Bobo, at 6-foot 7, is the team's three-point leader, hitting 37.5% and averaging 11.6 points a game. Trammell is 6-foot 5 out of Grand Valley State. The Admirals will also be adding 6-foot 10, 240 pound Colby Batiste out of Louisiana-Lafayette. Batiste was picked up in the league's supplemental draft when the Charleston Gunner's franchise was terminated by the PBL.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 PM Saturday at Lake Michigan Catholic's "House of Noise". For more information on the Admirals go to www.lakemichiganadmirals.com
Premier Basketball League Stories from February 9, 2012
- Admirals Looking for Answers - Lake Michigan Admirals
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