When The Discovery Channel shows, Planet Earth, it often features a pack of lions tracking down a wildebeest or gazelle. Each one instinctually knows where to be and how to react. Fans enjoy watching and learning that instincts can overcome any obstacle. Or provide you a potential meal.
The lions “just know” how to hunt in packs. They seem to communicate through telepathy. Every individual working together toward the greater good. Hunting together is in their DNA. It’s second nature. Like breathing or sleeping. But it’s still thrilling to audiences.
In the small town of Gaston, instincts are thriving. And a group is working together toward a greater good. Wins. For the Gaston Lady Greyhounds, defense is in their basketball DNA. They close on the opposition sharply. Steals are second nature. To the crowd, it’s thrilling. A reason to get up and cheer.
And the crowd did during Gaston’s 52-26 win over Faith Bible last week. The roars came from the fans every time Gaston forced an errant shot or tipped a pass. The Greyhounds tallied 19 steals and 27 defensive rebounds. Chelsea Felker led the way with eight rebounds and six blocks.
Head coach Jamie Medley spent the post-game shaking hands and accepting compliments. The only thing heard on the court after the game was, “Great game, coach.”
The Greyhounds followed that game with another dominating defensive performance on Saturday night, beating Nestucca 36-25. Hannah Vandyke snared 10 of the teams 28 defensive rebounds, Felker again rejected six shots and Samantha Turner accounted for 10 of the teams 20 steals. Gaston won again, this time 36-25.
The team has won seven of their last 10 and two in a row after dropping back-to-back games against Corbett and Riverdale.
“I look at the games that we lost,” Medley said. “I feel like if you have a couple of rough games back-to-back, it will affect your confidence. And they were games we should have won, and it bothers me and it bothers the girls because we’re right there. But they bounced back. ”
Coaches always say defense is part of the glue that holds any winning team together. In Gaston, though, it seems to hold a deeper significance. The girls relish every rebound and savor every steal. The team feeds on big defensive plays.
Said Medley: “Do we pick up some fouls 20-feet form the basket? Yeah. But they are trying and I cant get upset every time. Because if I get upset every time theyll back off and I don’t want that, I want them to stay aggressive. Its a Catch-22, because our defense creates offense for us.”
The Greyhounds have 392 steals and 591 defensive rebounds as a team this season. Jessica Garner (78) and Cassie Vandyke (62) lead the team in steals. Felker leads the team with 111 defensive boards and accounts for one-third of the teams blocked shots with 62. But nipping at her rebounding heels are H. Vandyke (97) and Garner (92).
“You know, I want to say we work hard in practice but I think it’s them,” Medley said. “They are hounds on the defensive side. When they want it, they go get it. It’s not about X’s and O’s. It’s about their determination.”
Sports broadcaster Al Michaels was once said, “If [you] say ‘defense wins championships’ the cliché police will come and arrest [you].”
Consider Medley in the back of a squad car. In cuffs.
“I always tell the girls that offense sells tickets and defense wins games,” she said. “Our defense always creates things on our offense. If we are having a poor defensive night, it affects our offense.”
Without defense it’s a track meet. The last team to score wins. Gaston isn’t built for that. When Gaston has more than 16 steals and 25 defensive rebounds they’ve won all but one game – a 2-point loss to Corbett. And when the Greyhounds only mustered 11 steals and 13 defensive rebounds – the lowest total of the season for both categories – the team lost by 60 points to Portland Christian.
The Greyhounds seem to be tied to their instincts. Tied to defense.
Says Medley: “That is just how they roll. I can teach basics of defense, but you can teach them how to have determination, desire, heart and persistence. Thats how they are. And when they bring it, they can win big.”
Medley knows the team will need to lean on it’s defense to win the next three games. They face Portland Christian Friday at home. Followed by Knappa and then finish the season against Corbett.
“Knappa and Corbett are both scrappy teams,” Medley said. “I think we can push the tempo on both teams. I tell my girls to play good defense and the offense will come.
“With these games, they know we are right there. We just need to focus on finishing.”
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