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Spartans 'Martinize' Roosevelt 59-45 in 'AA' tourney opener
By Padraic Duffy
Journal Sports Writer
Sometimes in a basketball game one player can wreak so much havoc on a defense that strategy and effort simply aren't enough.
That was the case in Spearfish's 59-45 victory over Sioux Falls Roosevelt in Thursday's State AA first-round game at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
Spearfish senior guard Matt Martin was basically unstoppable as he racked up 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field. Martin also hit six of his 10 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
"The last three or four games we've played them we've been able to do a better job (on Martin)," Roosevelt head coach Bob Wilber said after the game. "He's always been good, but tonight he was just exceptional."
Coming out to start the game it was obvious that Roosevelt was worried about one player beating them. Every time down the floor at least two Rough Rider coaches were up trying to help their defenders locate No. 22. While it made Martin's job more difficult, it hardly slowed him down.
"It was just one guy that came out and completely took the game over," Wilber said of the University of Montana-bound Martin. "I don't fault our kids, I thought we defended the heck out of him, he just went up and knocked some shots in and that's to his credit."
He didn't just knock some shots down. If points were awarded in basketball like they are in figure skating, factoring in style and degree of difficulty, Martin would probably have scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 on Thursday afternoon. As it was, he simply had the Spearfish fans in the building witnessing something they've seen many times over the past four years and the Roosevelt fans shaking their heads and cursing in disbelief.
He came out of the gates in the first quarter and immediately asserted control over the game. He scored 11 quick points - including three bombs - in the first stanza and assisted on another bucket to give the Spartans a 15-11 edge after one quarter of play.
With Martin it isn't simply the points that bother you as an opposing player or coach. It's the way he gets them. Players are supposed to make lay-ups and open jump shots. They're not supposed to play H-O-R-S-E with five guys doing all they can to stop them. When a player pulls up off balance, 25-feet away from the basket under duress and hits absolutely nothing but the bottom of the net, it tends to rattle even the most mentally tough competitor.
After the big first quarter Roosevelt got Martin under control but still trailed by nine at the half. Most of that was due to the spirited play of Josh Stadler under the basket. The strong 6-foot-3 forward kept numerous balls alive on the offensive glass on his way to a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with his eight points.
Martin scored another 15 points in the second half and none were bigger than the five he scored during an 8-0 run in the middle of the third quarter.
The Spartans struggled out of the gate in the second half and it looked like Roosevelt had momentum on their side after a Chris Jerred turnaround in the lane made it 28-23.
"It took us about three or four minutes to get going," Spearfish head coach Dan Martin said. "But our kids work hard, and work as a team and we got things together."
With the score 28-23 and Martin seemingly cool - he had missed all of two shots in a row - Roosevelt looked to be ready to make a run. Instead Spearfish rattled off eight straight points as Martin scored on a beautiful runner before finding an open Jeremy Delahoyde (11 points) in the corner for a 3. Martin then drilled a long 3 of his own to push the lead back up to 13 and take the wind out of Roosevelt's sails.
"That right there (the 8-0 run) was probably the difference in the game," Wilber said. "After that we were stuck trying to catch up and that's awfully tough to do against a senior team that's been here before."
The young Rough Riders - they have only two seniors on the roster- will very nearly be guaranteed a spot in this field again next season when All-Stater Joe Krabbenhoft rejoins the team. The 6-7 jack of all trades re-injured his foot during the playoffs and was unavailable to play. He will be a welcome focal point for a deep, athletic team that lacked a go-to guy on Thursday.
Roosevelt had 11 players score, but none cracked double digits. Brian Case led them with seven points.
"We knew coming in that it would be quite an upset if we beat them," Wilber said of Spearfish. "But I was pleased with how our kids came out and competed."
Spearfish, now 19-3, will take on Huron (18-3) at 6 p.m., tonight. Roosevelt, 9-13, will take on Aberdeen Central (12-9) at noon.
Spartans 'Martinize' Roosevelt 59-45 in 'AA' tourney opener
By Padraic Duffy
Journal Sports Writer
Sometimes in a basketball game one player can wreak so much havoc on a defense that strategy and effort simply aren't enough.
That was the case in Spearfish's 59-45 victory over Sioux Falls Roosevelt in Thursday's State AA first-round game at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
Spearfish senior guard Matt Martin was basically unstoppable as he racked up 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field. Martin also hit six of his 10 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
"The last three or four games we've played them we've been able to do a better job (on Martin)," Roosevelt head coach Bob Wilber said after the game. "He's always been good, but tonight he was just exceptional."
Coming out to start the game it was obvious that Roosevelt was worried about one player beating them. Every time down the floor at least two Rough Rider coaches were up trying to help their defenders locate No. 22. While it made Martin's job more difficult, it hardly slowed him down.
"It was just one guy that came out and completely took the game over," Wilber said of the University of Montana-bound Martin. "I don't fault our kids, I thought we defended the heck out of him, he just went up and knocked some shots in and that's to his credit."
He didn't just knock some shots down. If points were awarded in basketball like they are in figure skating, factoring in style and degree of difficulty, Martin would probably have scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 on Thursday afternoon. As it was, he simply had the Spearfish fans in the building witnessing something they've seen many times over the past four years and the Roosevelt fans shaking their heads and cursing in disbelief.
He came out of the gates in the first quarter and immediately asserted control over the game. He scored 11 quick points - including three bombs - in the first stanza and assisted on another bucket to give the Spartans a 15-11 edge after one quarter of play.
With Martin it isn't simply the points that bother you as an opposing player or coach. It's the way he gets them. Players are supposed to make lay-ups and open jump shots. They're not supposed to play H-O-R-S-E with five guys doing all they can to stop them. When a player pulls up off balance, 25-feet away from the basket under duress and hits absolutely nothing but the bottom of the net, it tends to rattle even the most mentally tough competitor.
After the big first quarter Roosevelt got Martin under control but still trailed by nine at the half. Most of that was due to the spirited play of Josh Stadler under the basket. The strong 6-foot-3 forward kept numerous balls alive on the offensive glass on his way to a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with his eight points.
Martin scored another 15 points in the second half and none were bigger than the five he scored during an 8-0 run in the middle of the third quarter.
The Spartans struggled out of the gate in the second half and it looked like Roosevelt had momentum on their side after a Chris Jerred turnaround in the lane made it 28-23.
"It took us about three or four minutes to get going," Spearfish head coach Dan Martin said. "But our kids work hard, and work as a team and we got things together."
With the score 28-23 and Martin seemingly cool - he had missed all of two shots in a row - Roosevelt looked to be ready to make a run. Instead Spearfish rattled off eight straight points as Martin scored on a beautiful runner before finding an open Jeremy Delahoyde (11 points) in the corner for a 3. Martin then drilled a long 3 of his own to push the lead back up to 13 and take the wind out of Roosevelt's sails.
"That right there (the 8-0 run) was probably the difference in the game," Wilber said. "After that we were stuck trying to catch up and that's awfully tough to do against a senior team that's been here before."
The young Rough Riders - they have only two seniors on the roster- will very nearly be guaranteed a spot in this field again next season when All-Stater Joe Krabbenhoft rejoins the team. The 6-7 jack of all trades re-injured his foot during the playoffs and was unavailable to play. He will be a welcome focal point for a deep, athletic team that lacked a go-to guy on Thursday.
Roosevelt had 11 players score, but none cracked double digits. Brian Case led them with seven points.
"We knew coming in that it would be quite an upset if we beat them," Wilber said of Spearfish. "But I was pleased with how our kids came out and competed."
Spearfish, now 19-3, will take on Huron (18-3) at 6 p.m., tonight. Roosevelt, 9-13, will take on Aberdeen Central (12-9) at noon.
