Patriots advance in District Day 3

It was another good night for the USA Patriots, who advance to the Class C District finals for the third straight year after beating EPBP 59-48.

Despite what coach Mark Gainforth considers to be a relatively inexperienced team, the Patriots are playing like they've been there before.

The other night I talked about Taylor Cramer who had 20 points against Ubly, well he followed that with 12 more tonight , which included three more triples. That gives him nine in the last two games for anyone who is counting.

The thing that really impresses Gainforth about this kid is how he in recent weeks he has really began to understand the role he is needed to play on this team. One of which being to know when to shoot and when not too.

Speaking of shooting the lights out, that is exactly what Brandon Bitzer did against Lakers scoring 19 points, which included a 4-for-7 effort from the free throw line and a triple.

While his shooting was really on last night (well it will be last night by the time this is posted), I was most impressed with his poise.

During one sequence, EPBP hit a three to pull within 10 and then used a team out. They came out of that discussion using full court pressure and caused back-to-back turnovers and scores to cut the lead down to six with enough time remaining to make this interesting.

Just went it looked like USA was going to try and force a lay-up (giving Lakers the chance to cut it to four or three on a miss or block), Bitzer pulled it out, worked the ball around the outside and started to work away the clock.

That was a heck of a move; a veteran one.

No I'm not going to say it was a "Jordan-esque" move or compare Brandon's performance to anything his brother accomplished, because that's not fair to him.

Brandon is his own player and even though he is averaging just eight ppg, has shown the potential to be one of the better players around here for the next few years. He deserves to enjoy that being judged on his own merits for what he does.

To do otherwise would be like to compare the career of a first-year intern to a current "star" in the company. Could the intern be a star, maybe or maybe not? Maybe this will just be a solid hand or a very good one, but never great. Either way they deserve the chance to find out and that takes time.

I really believe Brandon needs to be afforded that to. I know tonight when talking to Gainforth, I stopped myself before I asked the "Jordan question". I'm trying to continue to do that in future game when Brandon shines as well.

As for the Lakers, this game was truly a microcosm of their season. They were up-and-down throughout different stretches of the season and they played that way at different times last night. It might be difficult for the team to develop much consistency next season as the Lakers are losing six players to graduation, including at least three that logged serious minutes.

True next year they should have at least six seniors, but they will also lose them as well. If there is one characteristic I'm starting to notice on successful programs is bringing kids up as sophomores. Now looking at a lot of these post-season rosters you don't see a lot of 10th graders, but how may players that you do so where on the team as sophomores?

Probably a lot. What I like about bringing a few talented guys up early is that despite taking some bumps and bruises that first year while adjusting to the difference in the level of play compared to JV, these athletes will be better prepared when the team is ready to make a post-season run a year or two down the line.

My point is, maybe the key to a successful season in 07-08 for EPBP is to bring one or two of those type players up next season and built for one or two years further in the future.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. But one thing that is known is that Anthony Goins should be a go-to player on next year's squad.

Now looking at his 4.5 ppg regular season average , you may say, "What you talking about Willis?" (The first one to post where the reference comes from may get a prize).

But seeing his 11 points and three triples should show someone that next year, I think as a senior, he could be the star.

But as Ubly coach Joel Leipprandt pointed out to his players after losing to USA, to be a star you have to train like a star. You can't pick up a basketball on the first day of practice and hope to have a great year.

Good advice for all the area athletes to follow, especially a potential break out player like Goins. (As cool as it would be, that is not a picture of Goins, but rather one of his teammate Mark Feger).

Look for more posts tomorrow and please feel to post your predictions for tomorrow night's Reese/Bad Axe game. I'll start a separate post for it and will chime in once there are a few responses.