SPRINGFIELD ― Jayden Vellon had solely scored over 11 factors as soon as in his profession coming into Monday’s game.
A extra defensive-minded guard, Vellon felt he wanted to impose his will offensively on Monday evening.
“Before the game even happened, the other team was talking about smack on the internet,” Vellon stated. “It was really disrespectful. I can’t just let them talk to us like that.”
Vellon dealt with it fairly effectively on the court docket contemplating he exploded for 10 factors in the primary quarter alone, and completed with a tied career-high 17 as Sci-Tech blew out Springfield International, 65-38.
“I thought defensively at least, we played like dogs tonight and that’s what you need to do to come in here and win,” Cybercats head coach Shalka Rivera stated. “It’s always a tough place to play in here. The energy was great, the fans were great, and our kids worked hard.”
Emotions flying excessive to begin the competition have been anticipated for the in-town rivalry game, however a 15-0 run early on wasn’t. Sci-Tech blew the doorways off of SICS’ fitness center early, because the Cybercats scored seven layups, — most of which coming from steals, as they pressured a Bulldogs timeout up 17-3.
Vellon had seven throughout the 15-point unanswered run for the Cybercats, along with his last approaching a tricky and-one end. Vellon had 10 in the quarter, whereas Marcus Jones and Dawud Bey each had six, as Sci-Tech ended the quarter up 24-7.
Although Sci-Tech’s 24 factors have been the second-most it had all season, Rivera cherished the best way his group performed on the opposite facet of the court docket.
“If we focus on the defensive end, we see shots start to fall,” Rivera stated. “Some didn’t fall tonight, but if we continue to play defense the way that we do we’re going to get some deflections. We had 29 deflections tonight which led to a lot of turnovers and a lot of open basketball.”
The remainder of the game was all Cybercats, as Jones completed with 19, however but once more Rivera’s reward for his participant got here on the defensive finish and rightfully so, as Jones performs with an elite degree of depth.
“Marcus leads our defense,” Rivera stated. He’s our man on the rim, and you must get via him in order to get baskets. Tonight he confirmed why he’s in all probability probably the greatest defenders on the rim (in Western Mass.). He’s bought additional power, and we feed off that defensively.”
The true shiny spot for the Bulldogs tonight was none aside from Jaylen McIver. Just eight video games into his sophomore marketing campaign, McIver is nearing the tip of the journey on his street to 1,000 factors. McIver spent his seventh and eighth grade seasons with Renaissance earlier than coming to the Bulldogs last yr.
McIver was getting straightforward buckets on the rim and had a pair of 3s to attain 21 of the Bulldogs 35 factors, and he’s now 28 factors away from the massive milestone.
“(McIver) can score at all three levels,” SICS head coach Quinn McKenna stated. “Left handed, it’s tough to guard. It’s fun to watch when he’s going, and when we’re as a team too. We’re very, very excited for him to hit this milestone as a sophomore in high school. That’s pretty crazy.”
The Bulldogs drop to 1-7 and can play Minnechaug on Thursday.
Sci-Tech improves to 5-2 and get an incredible alternative at Springfield College on Thursday at 6:30, the place it performs Putnam Voc. in the Hoophall Classic, as each groups are presently prime 10 (No. 5 Sci-Tech, No. 9 Putnam) in MassLive’s Western Mass. boys basketball top-20 rankings.
“For us it’s no different,” Rivera stated about taking part in on a giant stage. “I know we got young guys. It’ll be their first opportunity playing there. They’ll be a little nervous, but if you’re not nervous, you shouldn’t be playing this game.
“If we stick to what we do best, and defend, we’ll be alright. They got a really good group over there at Putnam, but like I said, I’d go to a fight with these guys any day of the week and twice on Sunday.”