4A-II boys: Collegiate rolls past Pratt in opener
If Collegiate’s first wave doesn’t get you, the second one will.
The Spartans’ rotation of five players in, five players out hounded Pratt throughout in the Spartans’ 83-55 Class 4A-II boys quarterfinal victory Thursday night.
With the constant rotation, one might wonder if the Spartans could stay out long enough to break a sweat.
“We broke a serious sweat,” Collegiate coach Mitch Fiegel said. “We came out very focused and determined and when we bring out that kind of intensity, we’re tough to handle.”
Fiegel’s first five-player substitution, 88 seconds into the game, helped Collegiate to a 16-0 run for a 21-5 lead.
Then the first group came back in when the Greenbacks (15-8) called time out with 3:09 left in the quarter. The second wave returned at the 1:54 mark and maintained a 25-11 lead.
“What we always communicate to the kids is we don’t give anyone free dribbles,” Fiegel said. “No free dribbles. No passing lanes. Once you do that, you begin to disturb and disrupt, and that’s our goal.”
Collegiate (20-3) managed to disturb and disrupt Pratt into 21 turnovers, 15 in the first half. Senior Xzavaier Adams led the way with four steals.
The Spartans hit 57.1 percent of their shots.
Being upset by Campus in the January El Dorado tournament was a wakeup call for Collegiate.
“That told us that we’re going to have to share the basketball if we’re going to succeed,” Fiegel said.
Collegiate outscored Pratt in every quarter but the fourth, when both teams scored 21 points.
“We just came out ready to hit them in the mouth from the start,” Adams said, “and we just got on a run.”
Fresh legs are important, as the Spartans face top-seeded and undefeated Girard in Friday’s semifinals.
Cade McNerney had 22 points to lead Collegiate.
“Coach Fiegel begins rotating us in after two minutes of pressing,” senior Austin Waddell said. “You’re pretty tired.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 11:30 PM with the headline "4A-II boys: Collegiate rolls past Pratt in opener."