Headlines

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Hounding D probably the key for Cats, Pirates

Lewiston Tribune

  • By BYRON EDELMAN of the Tribune
    February 15, 2018

Prairie and Lapwai both employ pressure defenses, though how they do so differs: The Pirate girls' basketball team relies heavily upon a half-court trapping system. The Wildcats like to get in an opponent's face more than 80 feet from the rim.

Both typically produce the same end result. That would be a slew of turnovers from opponents - regardless of who they may be.

But it's been tougher on some foes than others.

In that vein, Lapwai coach Eric Spencer offered a story. He re-enacted a conversation he had last winter with a coach from a southern Idaho team.

"He comes up to me and goes, 'Coach, we can't even simulate what you guys do pressure-wise. ... The Whitepine (League) defenses play at a faster, harder, more physical pace than we're used to seeing.'"

And what are Prairie coach Lori Mader's thoughts on the matter?

"The press seems to throw a lot of havoc on the teams from the south," she agreed.