Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Coach Graham Sims: A Pennsylvania Story (FBCB)

MoonlightGraham · 06-17-2023, 04:34 PM

March 2, 2022
Patriot League Tournament, First Round
(1) #19 Lafayette 75, (8) Colgate 73
We very nearly sleepwalk to an embarrassing first round loss. Our first lead comes at the 13:41 mark of the second half, and from there to the end, it's a sloppy, scrappy contest that we finally win on a pair of Ben Miele free throws with 1:04 remaining. The last 64 seconds feature more crappy basketball, as neither team manages to score.

Thomas Lucy (15 points) and Matthew Ackerman (14) are the only Leopards in double figures. Kurt Ritchie plays 37 minutes in his first collegiate start, and grabs 9 rebounds. Lucy is named Player of the Game, but I would have chosen Matt Robles: 9 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists.

After the game, we learn that iron man Ritchie was playing through a dislocated finger. He's Day to Day, at 89% efficiency. That means Asdrubal Cruz, who's at 90% right now, will have to return to the lineup.

#2 seed Holy Cross and #3 seed Bucknell held serve, and #5 Lehigh routed #4 Army. We'll face the Black Knights next.
Record: 26-4.

March 6, 2022
Patriot League Semifinal
(1) #19 Lafayette 72, (5) Lehigh 58
Marlon Smith reminds us why we wanted so much to sign him, scoring 27 points, but we ground the other Mountain Hawks and advance to the final.

None of our players take as many as 10 shots in a balanced, efficient offensive performance. Matthew Ackerman scores 19, shooting 6-for-9, and Thomas Lucy collects 14, sinking 5 of 6 shots, 4 from behind the arc.

Holy Cross easily eliminates Bucknell, 64-45, so we'll face the Crusaders in the tournament final. According to the Bubble Watch, Holy Cross (23-8) has to win to make the Big Dance, while we're considered a Lock no matter what happens.
Record: 27-4.

March 11, 2022
Patriot League Tournament Final
(1) #17 Lafayette 61, (2) Holy Cross 56
Both teams roll up their sleeves and play lunch-pail basketball, and we manage to out-grind the Crusaders and win the fourth Patriot League tourney of Graham Sims's career.

Holy Cross's starting five, featuring guys like 6'9", 253-pound center Chung Hills and 6'8", 249-pound "small" forward Will Davis, resembles the bruising teams Sims has often employed at Lafayette. Meanwhile, we're starting no player taller than 6'8" Matt Robles and using 6'4" Thomas Lucy as a forward, while Asdrubal Cruz, a relatively svelte 229 pounds, is the heftiest man in the lineup. Ben Miele is 5'11" and 166 pounds, six inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter than the man he's guarding.

The lithe Leopards don't let themselves get pushed around, however, losing the rebound battle by a respectable 37-34 margin. And, while we don't shoot well, we don't let the Crusaders get into their offensive rhythm, either.

Matt Robles leads all scorers with 18 points, and Asdrubal Cruz notches a double double (11 points, 12 rebounds).
Record: 28-4.

06-17-2023, 04:34 PM	#272
MoonlightGraham High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2022	March 2, 2022 Patriot League Tournament, First Round (1) #19 Lafayette 75, (8) Colgate 73 We very nearly sleepwalk to an embarrassing first round loss. Our first lead comes at the 13:41 mark of the second half, and from there to the end, it's a sloppy, scrappy contest that we finally win on a pair of Ben Miele free throws with 1:04 remaining. The last 64 seconds feature more crappy basketball, as neither team manages to score. Thomas Lucy (15 points) and Matthew Ackerman (14) are the only Leopards in double figures. Kurt Ritchie plays 37 minutes in his first collegiate start, and grabs 9 rebounds. Lucy is named Player of the Game, but I would have chosen Matt Robles: 9 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists. After the game, we learn that iron man Ritchie was playing through a dislocated finger. He's Day to Day, at 89% efficiency. That means Asdrubal Cruz, who's at 90% right now, will have to return to the lineup. #2 seed Holy Cross and #3 seed Bucknell held serve, and #5 Lehigh routed #4 Army. We'll face the Black Knights next. Record: 26-4. March 6, 2022 Patriot League Semifinal (1) #19 Lafayette 72, (5) Lehigh 58 Marlon Smith reminds us why we wanted so much to sign him, scoring 27 points, but we ground the other Mountain Hawks and advance to the final. None of our players take as many as 10 shots in a balanced, efficient offensive performance. Matthew Ackerman scores 19, shooting 6-for-9, and Thomas Lucy collects 14, sinking 5 of 6 shots, 4 from behind the arc. Holy Cross easily eliminates Bucknell, 64-45, so we'll face the Crusaders in the tournament final. According to the Bubble Watch, Holy Cross (23-8) has to win to make the Big Dance, while we're considered a Lock no matter what happens. Record: 27-4. March 11, 2022 Patriot League Tournament Final (1) #17 Lafayette 61, (2) Holy Cross 56 Both teams roll up their sleeves and play lunch-pail basketball, and we manage to out-grind the Crusaders and win the fourth Patriot League tourney of Graham Sims's career. Holy Cross's starting five, featuring guys like 6'9", 253-pound center Chung Hills and 6'8", 249-pound "small" forward Will Davis, resembles the bruising teams Sims has often employed at Lafayette. Meanwhile, we're starting no player taller than 6'8" Matt Robles and using 6'4" Thomas Lucy as a forward, while Asdrubal Cruz, a relatively svelte 229 pounds, is the heftiest man in the lineup. Ben Miele is 5'11" and 166 pounds, six inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter than the man he's guarding. The lithe Leopards don't let themselves get pushed around, however, losing the rebound battle by a respectable 37-34 margin. And, while we don't shoot well, we don't let the Crusaders get into their offensive rhythm, either. Matt Robles leads all scorers with 18 points, and Asdrubal Cruz notches a double double (11 points, 12 rebounds). Record: 28-4.