Boys basketball: Callaghan seeking more consistency

Consistency.

One week after bemoaning his team’s offensive performance, South Kitsap coach John Callaghan expressed his displeasure with the Wolves’ defensive effort in their 65-47 win Wednesday night against Shelton in Class 4A Narrows League play.

“It just starts with our defensive intensity,” he said. “It didn’t seem like we played with any intensity all game.”

That was difficult for Callaghan to comprehend after his team lost their league opener, 56-43, Friday against Olympia.

“Maybe we were a little overconfident,” he said. “I don’t think you can be overconfident when you’ve lost two in a row.”

South (3-2 overall, 1-1 league) seemed stagnant on both ends of the court before senior guard Nars Martinez re-entered the game about three minutes into the second quarter. Martinez then took a pass from sophomore guard Ryley Callaghan and hit a 5-footer to give the Wolves their first points of the period — and a 17-14 lead — with 4:51 left in the first half.

That started a 14-0 run to finish the second quarter as South took a 29-14 lead into halftime. The Highclimbers (1-5, 0-2) converted just 4 of 24 shots during the first half. Callaghan said the Wolves switched to a zone defense during the second period.

“We played better when we went zone,” he said. “These guys like to play zone defense. Whether that’s because it’s a lazier way to play, I don’t know.”

Callaghan mostly was satisfied with South’s offensive execution as it maintained a double-digit lead for the duration of the contest. Martinez, who scored a game-high 24 points despite not playing most of the final 10 minutes, hit a one-handed shot from 8 feet on the right baseline while being fouled. He converted the three-point play. Martinez made all 10 of his free throws.

But Callaghan felt his team, which shot 48 percent from the field, missed too many routine shots. He estimated the Wolves missed 10 shots from within 5 feet of the basket.

“We’re really attacking and getting to the hoop, but we’ve got to work on finishing,” Callaghan said.

There also was the matter of giving up 33 points in the second half. Shelton shot 55 percent from the field in the final 16 minutes.

“If you watch us close out or play defense on the ball — guys just drive by us,” Callaghan said. “You would think we never practiced that before.”

Despite that, Callaghan said his team played well in “spurts.” Now he would like to see them sustain that as they play tonight at Stadium before a 12-day layoff.

“Most of the time they play with intensity and play hard,” If we’re doing that, we’re going to be tough to beat.”

WednesdayAt South Kitsap 65, Shelton 47Shelton 12 2 18 15 — 47South Kitsap 15 14 22 14 — 65Shelton-Mookie Schirato 10, Thomas Cook 4, Curtis Wuestner 6, Colton Hubble 4, Jordan Harvell 7, Dakota Andrews 9, Nicholas Gove 0, Kasey Thompson 0, Devon Gilman 0, Sean Gorman 5, Patrick Fabrizio 2.South Kitsap-Aaron La Deaux 0, Ryley Callaghan 4, Caulin Bakalarski 4, Tom Simpson 6, Devon Newquist 14, Nic Stoner 0, Kellen Traxel 2, Angelo Hazely 6, Nars Martinez 24, James Hyson 0, Josh Osinski 2, Jordan Kimball 3.

FridayOlympia 56, at South Kitsap 43Olympia 11 12 18 15 — 56South Kitsap 14 9 8 12 — 43Olympia-Naipo 8, Trevor Houser 9, David Carlson 6, Alex Johnson 2, Dominick Francks 10, Sanderland 2, Brendan Leonard 9, Michael Champlin 10.South Kitsap-Aaron La Deaux 9, Ryley Callaghan 3, Tom Simpson 3, Devon Newquist 8, Angelo Hazely 4, Nars Martinez 10, James Hyson 2, Josh Osinski 4.

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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