Spartans turn up heat on defense

Once it became clear that Collegiate wasn’t going to reach triple digits on Friday, coach Mitch Fiegel offered the Spartans a backup plan.

“We scored 105 points one night already this year,” Fiegel said. “At halftime (on Friday), I don’t know what we had, but we weren’t on a 105-point pace. I said, ‘Where’s that 105, boys? If we’re not going to score 105, we better go guard somebody.’ ”

The follow-through on Fiegel’s suggestion was delayed, but when Collegiate took his advice, the results were immediate. Clewarwater managed 11 second-half points as Collegiate rallied for a 59-40 road win.

Clearwater has challenged the Spartans twice in less than a week, as Collegiate won a close tournament game in Cheney last Saturday. In the return contest, Clearwater’s defense made Collegiate (5-0) just as uncomfortable as the Spartans often make opponents — at least for a half.

In the second half, Collegiate’s defense spurred more controlled possessions, and an 11-0 run to start the half wiped away a deficit the Spartans didn’t revisit.

“(Defense) totally turned into offense in the second half,” Fiegel said. “I’m just trying to figure out different ways to show them that. Tonight, when they see that themselves, then it’s a lot easier to sell it.”

Clearwater’s biggest first-half lead was eight points, which it held before a Collegiate basket in the final seconds made it 29-23 at halftime. Clearwater didn’t score again until the midway point of the third quarter.

In that time, Clearwater missed its first six shots of the second half, committed two turnovers, and couldn’t keep up with a fast-paced Collegiate offense that produced six baskets in its first seven attempts.

The Spartans, who most often substitute five at a time, scaled back that philosophy in the second half. Fiegel kept Cody McNerney and Cameron Christian on the floor for extended time, and those two combined for 20 points in the second half – 14 in the fourth quarter.

“We got a flow, kept it going, so we were subbing people when they got tired,” McNerney said. “(It helped) getting in rhythm, and shots started falling for us.”

Those shots were from more desirable locations. After taking 11 three-pointers — and making one — in the first half, Collegiate made 2 of 5 after halftime. The Spartans used crisp, quick passes to get shots near the basket, and many of the 18 turnovers they helped create led to scoring chances.

“We settled in the first half,” Fiegel said. “We were setting out on that three-point line, very little ball movement, we were stagnant. It looked like last Saturday night when we played them. I thought, in the second half, we did a great job moving the basketball, and we finally decided to really get nasty defensively.”

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 11:06 PM with the headline "Spartans turn up heat on defense."