Lahn mows over Spartans
Josh Lahn is a double threat for the E.L. Crossley Cyclone.
At 6-foot-5 and solidly built, the 17-year-old, Grade 12 student looks like a post player, but also has a nice touch from the outside.
Lahn displayed both of those traits Wednesday, pouring in a game high 18 points as the Cyclone defeated the Westlane Spartans 67-31 in one of eight opening round games at the 64th Annual Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament.
“I was coached to shoot the three most of my life, but I’ve always been good down low,” Lahn said. “I think down low I’m more of a threat. If I go to the rim, I can create space for the others.”
Lahn is well aware how much hitting a few early bombs opens things up in the key.
“They come right at me and that opens up back doors,” he said.
Crossley coach Aaron Belding would like to see Lahn drive the net more.
“At this level, we need to have an inside game and an outside game,” he said. “Right now, I want him to get his inside game going because he doesn’t use it very often and nobody defends him on it. On the outside, everyone is ready to defend him.
“We’re working on him passing the ball and driving to the net. We haven’t played any teams that can stop him when he puts his head down and go. They really play close to him and that gives him and even better attack lane to drive to the net.”
The Cyclone were coming off a tough loss to Fort Erie in league play Tuesday.
“It was all about having energy and working as a team and making sure that the rust of the December break wasn’t there,” Lahn said, when asked about the game plan versus Westlane. “We came in here hoping to do a little better and we were able to execute.”
The Cyclone raced out to a 20-8 lead after one quarter and led 37-11 at the half.
That cushion gave Belding a chance to use his bench and concentrate on some other aspects of the game.
“We worked on small things, things like boxing out and switching from man to zone and on communication,” he said.
The Cyclone now take on the Denis Morris Reds and Belding is looking forward to the challenge.
“We don’t usually see DM or Notre Dame. When we got the draw and saw who we were playing, we wanted to play the big boys and go at them and see what we can do,” he said.
Westlane coach Jamie Coull chalked up the loss to inexperience.
“I keep thinking we’re a better team than we showed. It’s strange. We have these game where we make young mistakes but we’re a young team,” he said.
Cyclone 67 Spartans 31
Mountainview Homes Stars of the Game: Crossley’s Josh Lahn with 18 points and Westlane’s Jacob Marshall with 13 points.
E.L. Crossley Cyclone: Lahn 18; Carter Teal 12; Jason Carter 12; Owen Dobbie 8; Aiden Belding 6; Elijah Taylor 4; Hunter Roszell 4; Hye-Jung Song 2; Durieal Bell 1.
Westlane Spartans: Marshall 13; Enrico Gibson 6; Ravjot Gill 5; Adam Adam 4; Abdulkadir Sheikh-Ali 2; Tiankai Zhang 1.
Mustangs 80 Flyers 46
Steven Cabrara netted 23 while Michael Sieber chipped in with 21 as the Saint Michael Mustangs defeated the Eden Flyers 80-46.
Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were: Andy Xu (10); Hayden Spelier (8); Jomer Mateo (5); Ben Lockhart (4); Thomas Pruyn (2); Nick Melone (2); Josh Duncombe (2).
Scoring for Eden were: Charlie Edgar (21); Ashton Nieuwets (9); Carter McMaster (5); Kyle Mulder (4); Kersey Robinson (2); Charlie Jeffries (2).
SUPPORT US
On the right side of our web site, you will notice a yellow SUPPORT US button.
We are asking anyone who finds value in our work and is able to financially help us to click on the button and contribute whatever amount you feel is appropriate and can afford. There is no set amount. Any amount is appreciated.
The funds collected will be used to enhance and offset the expenses of running the web site.
