Marietta, OH- Today in the second game in the Great Lakes Invitational, the Redhawks were able to come away with their first victory of the season.
La Roche took on the Wittenberg Tigers for their second game of the tournament. After playing a little timid yesterday, this was a big win for the Redhawks.
Coach Carmichael started Kadyn Hannah, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Pipio, Michael Brooks and Jalen Brown.
If you've been keeping up with LRU you'll notice that there are two starters in this game that we're not used to seeing. Michael Brook has started the past few games as Devon Darrell has been out for a few games. Desmond Ross sustained an injury during practice yesterday and Coach Carmichael and his team made the decision to rest Ross and start Jalen Brown.
Wittenberg started James Johnson, Landon Martin, Rashaad Ali-Shakir, Ridge young, and Brice Hill.
First Half
In the start of the first half La Roche and Wittenberg were neck and neck. Both teams were within a point of each other at almost all times.
It wasn't until a three point bucket from Joe Starzynski that the Redhawks got the break they needed (12-9, LRU).
Brooks added a three point jump shot of his own. Coach Carmichael made the decision to call a quick 30 second timeout to have a quick talk with his team.
Carmichael talked about in his post game interview that the team had some big offensive rebounds. Directly after the timeout the first one took place.
After a missed layup from Starzynski, Hannah had a big offensive rebound, and then an even bigger put back for a tip-in layup (17-12, LRU).
Conor Mislan added a made three-point field goal of his own (20-12, LRU). This had the Tigers calling their first timeout.
Unfortunately for Wittenberg, the timeout did not have the desired effect and after a missed three-point shot from Johnson.
Mislan grabbed the rebound, passed it off, just for Isaiah Thomas to give it right back. Mislan took a three point shot, and sank it (23-12,LRU).
Mislan showed his thanks to Thomas by assisting him with a three-point shot of his own (26-15). The Redhawks now had just over a 10 point lead.
LRU kept this lead with Joe Pipilo also joining the three point shot club (31-21). La Roche went to the locker room at halftime with 45-31 on the board. A 13 point lead.
Second Half
Out of the gate Wittenberg was the first one to make it back to the stats books. Young did it for the Tiger with two made free throws. (45-34).
Jalen Brown was the first one to add points for the Redhawks'. Brown had a made three point shot, assisted by Pipilo (48-34).
Pipilo continued the momentum with a steal, which he then passed down the court to Hannah, adding to points for the Redhawks and an assist for Pipilo.
After a quick run for the Tigers (54-46,LRU) Coach Carmichael called a quick timeout.
This worked in the favor of the Redhawks, and after the timeout another one of those big offensive rebounds coach Carmichael was talking about happened again.
After an offensive rebound from Thomas, Pipilo was able to put another jumpshot in the book, and increase the score for his team by two points (56-46).
In a repeat performance of the big offensive rebound Jalen Brown was able to snag one of his own after a miss from Elliot. Brown was able to put the rebound right back up, and contributed another two points to the score (62-54, LRU).
The Redhawks' lead they had fought so hard for was disappearing. After a three-point field goal made by Hill for the Tigers. This put Wittenberg within reach of tying the score that the Redhawks worked so hard to get (66-64, LRU).
LRU called a timeout after this to take a minute to collect themselves (6:33).
Pipilo came out of the timeout and hit a jumpshot, giving La Roche to let go of some of their tension.
This didn't last long however, and Ridge hit a two-point field goal, bringing the Tigers once again within two points of the Redhawks (68-66).
One of those big plays happened again, and this one in the form of a block from Starzynski. Pipilo grabbed it and hit a three-point shot at the other end of the court (71-66).
After another quick timeout from LRU, Starzynski grabbed an offensive rebound and then made the put-in layup, extending the Redhawks lead (73-68, LRU).
Hannah went and added two baskets in back to back possessions (a layup and a three point bucket) making the score 78-72, La Roche.
After a hard fought battle Michael Brooks made the last shot of the game, a free throw, making the final score 89-83, in favor of La Roche University.
With this, the Redhawks secured their first victory of the season.
When Coach Carmichael was asked what went differently for this game versus the other four games the team had competed in, he had this to say. "Toughness. They're not the best players on the court like they were in high school any more. The game is also not as easy as it was in high school. It's hard to win a college basketball game. We've gotta be tough," said Carmichael.
Joe Pipilo was also interviewed in the post game. It's no surprise why. In this game Pipilo racked up 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
"We are doing the right things, we just need to mix gel it up and put it all together," said Pipilo.
When he was asked about yesterday's tough loss to Wilmington, he said this: "That's just a life thing, you wake up and it's a new day.Yesterday, what are you going to do? We're moving on. We knew there was going to be some road bumps in this; it's a marathon not a sprint."
Pipilo was also named to the tournaments' All-Conference team.
Kadyn Hannah was shortly behind Pipilo points wise (16), but he was the number one rebounder for the Redhawks with nine total rebounds. He also added one block and one assist.
Hannah was asked what he thought went differently today then in the past.
"We went into this game and we weren't scared. We came into this game thinking we could win this game. Most teams if they go into this game 0-4 like we did, they'd be thinking this is just another game. We went into this game saying we want one. We know our talent, we know how hard we work, we fought for one," said Hannah.
Stats for the Redhawks
Michael Brooks tied Joe Pipilo also with 19 points. Brooks also had four rebounds.
Connor Mislan was the next in line with 10 points, two rebounds and one assists.
Joe Starzynski had eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
Jalen Brown and Isaiah Thomas both contributed seven points. Brown also had eight rebounds. Thomas had three rebounds and two assists.
Dominic Elliot added three points and three rebounds to the statbook.
Stats for the Tigers
Ridge Young was the number one scorer with 22 points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
Landon Martin was shortly behind him with 20 points, five rebounds and two steals.
Next was James Johnson with 17 points. Johnson also contributed three rebounds, two blocks and one assist.
What's Next
The Redhawks will take to the court again on Saturday, November 27, against Franciscan at Franciscan. The game will take place at 2:00 PM.