Cleveland Advocate - Sports
Indians have no chance with one-sided officials
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| The Cleveland Indians Basketball Team holds up the second place trophy of the Gulf Coast Classic Tournament. |
By WAYNE RHYMES
The Cleveland Indians Boys Basketball Team recently played in the Gulf Coast Classic tournament, which proved to be very competitive as they faced 5A school Baytown Sterling first and won in overtime 72-64.
Jaraud Ross led the way with 25 points and six assists while Cedric Reed added 20 points and seven rebounds.
Their next opponent was Silsbee, a team that couldn’t touch the Indians and fell short, 71-60.
Reed led with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Trey Richardson added 16 points and Ross added 15 points. Despite the competition, the Indians emerged to the championship game after defeating Nederland in a overtime game, 57-53, behind Ross’ 20 points and seven steals and Kris Ross’ seven points and six rebounds.
Coming back the following day, the Indians were prepared to get one-sided calls from the officials as they faced the host of the tournament Barbers Hill.
“We expected the officials to call the game in their favor because it happens every year that we have participated in this tournament,” said Indian Coach Roderick Broussard. Although the Indians are a talented young team with all the right tools to win, they lost 58-50.
The game began with great plays by both teams and it was evident why they were the two remaining teams, but with the officials’ one-sided foul calls made in the first half, it drained and frustrated the Indians early, especially the Indians’ big man and All-Tournament selection Cedric Reed who had three fouls called on him in a row to cause him to have to go to the bench.
The Indians still continued to stay in it as they trailed Barbers Hill at the half 25-23.
The Indians found themselves in a battle as Barbers Hill never let up, answering all the Indians’ runs with the help of the officials. But despite playing against seven people, including the officials, the Indians’ five players on the court, they managed to tie the game up from a three-point play made by Chazz Carrington with two minutes left in the third.
Every time it seemed like the Indians would gain momentum, the officials would again and again make a call sending Barbers Hill to the line. On the receiving end, Reed was the player to pick up the foul in the third quarter, sending him to the bench with four fouls and the Indians down 35-33.
The fourth quarter belonged to Barbers Hill’s Ian Hamlin as he found success penetrating through the Indians’ defense at will, only being answered by Indians’ guard Ross with big baskets made.
As Barbers Hill has the momentum behind Hamlin threading in and making plays, Coach Broussard only had one choice — to bring in Reed. He quickly made an impact by scoring immediately with a left-hand lay-up cutting the score down to 40-37 with Barbers Hill still on top at the end of the fourth quarter.
The Indians then begin to apply more pressure defensively as they forced turnovers and allowed Ross to steal and finish with a two-hand dunk. Ross’ points at the minute mark of the came had the crowd rocking. These points brought the game within four points. The last seconds went back and forth as the Indians couldn’t get past Barbers Hill. Hamlin was fouled and sank two free-throws to win 56-50.
The Indians took second place as Ross and Reed make the All-Tournament Team for their individual playing.
Reed commented after the game, saying, “We came into this tournament knowing that bad calls would be made, but I feel the first half calls made by the officials affected us throughout the rest of the game.”
Coach Broussard added, “We were not helping out when it was needed defensively, but we got frustrated with the officials as it was expected.”
The Indians began district play against Liberty at home Tuesday. They will tip it off against Huffman on Friday. The results will be in next week’s paper.
Jaraud Ross led the way with 25 points and six assists while Cedric Reed added 20 points and seven rebounds.
Their next opponent was Silsbee, a team that couldn’t touch the Indians and fell short, 71-60.
Reed led with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Trey Richardson added 16 points and Ross added 15 points. Despite the competition, the Indians emerged to the championship game after defeating Nederland in a overtime game, 57-53, behind Ross’ 20 points and seven steals and Kris Ross’ seven points and six rebounds.
Coming back the following day, the Indians were prepared to get one-sided calls from the officials as they faced the host of the tournament Barbers Hill.
“We expected the officials to call the game in their favor because it happens every year that we have participated in this tournament,” said Indian Coach Roderick Broussard. Although the Indians are a talented young team with all the right tools to win, they lost 58-50.
The game began with great plays by both teams and it was evident why they were the two remaining teams, but with the officials’ one-sided foul calls made in the first half, it drained and frustrated the Indians early, especially the Indians’ big man and All-Tournament selection Cedric Reed who had three fouls called on him in a row to cause him to have to go to the bench.
The Indians still continued to stay in it as they trailed Barbers Hill at the half 25-23.
The Indians found themselves in a battle as Barbers Hill never let up, answering all the Indians’ runs with the help of the officials. But despite playing against seven people, including the officials, the Indians’ five players on the court, they managed to tie the game up from a three-point play made by Chazz Carrington with two minutes left in the third.
Every time it seemed like the Indians would gain momentum, the officials would again and again make a call sending Barbers Hill to the line. On the receiving end, Reed was the player to pick up the foul in the third quarter, sending him to the bench with four fouls and the Indians down 35-33.
The fourth quarter belonged to Barbers Hill’s Ian Hamlin as he found success penetrating through the Indians’ defense at will, only being answered by Indians’ guard Ross with big baskets made.
As Barbers Hill has the momentum behind Hamlin threading in and making plays, Coach Broussard only had one choice — to bring in Reed. He quickly made an impact by scoring immediately with a left-hand lay-up cutting the score down to 40-37 with Barbers Hill still on top at the end of the fourth quarter.
The Indians then begin to apply more pressure defensively as they forced turnovers and allowed Ross to steal and finish with a two-hand dunk. Ross’ points at the minute mark of the came had the crowd rocking. These points brought the game within four points. The last seconds went back and forth as the Indians couldn’t get past Barbers Hill. Hamlin was fouled and sank two free-throws to win 56-50.
The Indians took second place as Ross and Reed make the All-Tournament Team for their individual playing.
Reed commented after the game, saying, “We came into this tournament knowing that bad calls would be made, but I feel the first half calls made by the officials affected us throughout the rest of the game.”
Coach Broussard added, “We were not helping out when it was needed defensively, but we got frustrated with the officials as it was expected.”
The Indians began district play against Liberty at home Tuesday. They will tip it off against Huffman on Friday. The results will be in next week’s paper.
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