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

MoonlightGraham · 04-28-2023, 09:11 AM

February 3, 2018
#18 Lafayette 70, @Bucknell 65
The Bison have struggled this season, but they play with pride on their home floor today. We do enough to win, and little more.

Our perimeter defense has been excellent this year. Most of our opponents make less than 30% of their three-point attempts against us; today Bucknell goes 4-17. Oddly enough, our stats for PRD aren't very good. Richard Leak has 34 in that category, the best among our regular players. We're very good interior defenders, however, and that may cause opponents to take desperate long shots because that's all we allow them.

Speaking of long shots, Tim Hutchinson and Daniel Warnock make 6 of them between them. Hutchinson finishes with 19 points, Warnock with 17. And we get more good rebounding from Johnathan Blouin (9) and more scoresheet-filling from Leak (4 points, but 5 rebounds and 5 assists).

Our RPI is 29, so the Bubble Watch loves us. We're a Lock for the tournament right now.
Record: 22-2 (9-0).

February 7, 2018
@ #15 Lafayette 61, American 53
Samuel Davis's ability to mix it up down low without getting into foul trouble amazes me sometimes. Tonight, he blocks 5 shots and grabs 7 rebounds without committing a single foul. Johnathan Blouin takes only four shots all night, but he pulls in 11 rebounds.

We have two scorers right now, and everyone knows who they are. Daniel Warnock and Tim Hutchinson have to contend with a rugged American defense that is designed to slow them down. They combine to shoot 7-24 from the field, but they keep fouling Warnock and he finishes with 19 points, 7 coming from the charity stripe. Hutch ends up with 10.

Props to Otis Hall, who gave us 6 points, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

We're still at #2 in the Mid Major poll, behind a VCU team--also 22-2 going into today--that got all the first place votes this week.

Before the game, Todd DeHaven's status is upgraded to Day-to-Day, with 77% efficiency. I'm not letting him near the court until he's all better. Army is in second place in the league with a 6-3 conference record. We can afford to play it safe with our talented freshman.
Record: 23-2 (10-0).

February 10, 2018
Army 73, @ #15 Lafayette 68
The Army pulls off the upset at the Kirby Center today. We aren't efficient with the ball, committing 14 turnovers and shooting 34% from the field and 29% from three. Army plays pretty good D, but we also miss a lot of open looks.

Tim Hutchinson leads all scorers with 19 points and adds 7 rebounds. Daniel Warnock finishes with 14 points, and Johnathan Blouin gets another 11 rebounds.

Turn the page.
Record: 23-3 (10-1).

February 14, 2018
#15 Lafayette 61, @Brown 56
We play one more OOC game to let the rest of the Patriot League catch up, and we make a nice trip up to Providence to face a tough Brown team that is undefeated in the Ivy League. The Bears do to us what we usually do to our opponents, forcing us to take a lot of ill-advised shots, and it nearly works.

Fortunately Tim Hutchinson is largely immune to this tendency. He nets 23 points, making 5 of 7 three point tries. He turns the ball over 3 times, however, evidence of Brown's tenacious defensive play.

Daniel Warnock adds 15 points and Johnathan Blouin 13 with 9 rebounds. Blouin is making a solid claim for lots of playing time the rest of the way, even after Todd DeHaven's return.

That will happen on Saturday, against Holy Cross.
Record: 24-3 (10-1).

February 17, 2018
@ #15 Lafayette 79, Holy Cross 68
Todd DeHaven returns to action today, scoring 7 points and getting 6 rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench. That's the best thing about a solid victory over a Holy Cross team that's not up to their usual standard; the Crusaders enter the game with a 9-16 record and only three Patriot League wins.

Samuel Davis is the star: 15 points, 10 boards, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 3-5 from three. Tim Hutchinson (17 pts), Daniel Warnock (13) and Jack Senn (12) also score in double digits. It's good to have everyone back on board.

Justin Judkins starts on his Senior Night, and scores 5 points, all from the free throw line.

A win at Navy next week will sew up the Patriot League championship for us.
Record: 25-3 (11-1).

February 21, 2018
#15 Lafayette 86, @Navy 48
It's official: Graham Sims and the Lafayette Leopards are the regular season champions of the Patriot League again.

We open up a 45-34 halftime lead and pull away from there, with a 41-15 advantage over the following 20 minutes. The stars are familiar: Daniel Warnock (22 points), Samuel Davis (10 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks), Tim Hutchinson (11 points), and Todd DeHaven (12 points in 18 minutes).

The low point happens when Justin Judkins takes an accidental elbow to the nose. It's broken, and he'll be at less-than-full strength for a week or so.

It's not a great year for the conference. Unless someone other than us wins the tournament, we'll send only one team to the Big Dance. We're not a great tournament team, so there's a decent chance a second Patriot League team gets an invitation that way.

Our rankings remain the same as they were last week.
Record: 26-3 (12-1).

February 24, 2018
#15 Lafayette 85, @Colgate 78
We close out the regular season with an exciting overtime win up in New York State. Daniel Warnock and Colgate's Guy Aubin treat the fans to a shootout, which Warnock wins, 27-25.

Todd DeHaven, whose free throws with 0:09 on the clock sent the game into OT, scores 17 points in his return to the starting five. Samuel Davis scores only 7, but his 5 blocks are vintage Sazzy.

Tim Hutchinson and Jack Senn add 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Patriot League tourney begins on the final day of the month.
Record: 27-3 (13-1).

04-28-2023, 09:11 AM	#180
MoonlightGraham High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2022	February 3, 2018 #18 Lafayette 70, @Bucknell 65 The Bison have struggled this season, but they play with pride on their home floor today. We do enough to win, and little more. Our perimeter defense has been excellent this year. Most of our opponents make less than 30% of their three-point attempts against us; today Bucknell goes 4-17. Oddly enough, our stats for PRD aren't very good. Richard Leak has 34 in that category, the best among our regular players. We're very good interior defenders, however, and that may cause opponents to take desperate long shots because that's all we allow them. Speaking of long shots, Tim Hutchinson and Daniel Warnock make 6 of them between them. Hutchinson finishes with 19 points, Warnock with 17. And we get more good rebounding from Johnathan Blouin (9) and more scoresheet-filling from Leak (4 points, but 5 rebounds and 5 assists). Our RPI is 29, so the Bubble Watch loves us. We're a Lock for the tournament right now. Record: 22-2 (9-0). February 7, 2018 @ #15 Lafayette 61, American 53 Samuel Davis's ability to mix it up down low without getting into foul trouble amazes me sometimes. Tonight, he blocks 5 shots and grabs 7 rebounds without committing a single foul. Johnathan Blouin takes only four shots all night, but he pulls in 11 rebounds. We have two scorers right now, and everyone knows who they are. Daniel Warnock and Tim Hutchinson have to contend with a rugged American defense that is designed to slow them down. They combine to shoot 7-24 from the field, but they keep fouling Warnock and he finishes with 19 points, 7 coming from the charity stripe. Hutch ends up with 10. Props to Otis Hall, who gave us 6 points, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. We're still at #2 in the Mid Major poll, behind a VCU team--also 22-2 going into today--that got all the first place votes this week. Before the game, Todd DeHaven's status is upgraded to Day-to-Day, with 77% efficiency. I'm not letting him near the court until he's all better. Army is in second place in the league with a 6-3 conference record. We can afford to play it safe with our talented freshman. Record: 23-2 (10-0). February 10, 2018 Army 73, @ #15 Lafayette 68 The Army pulls off the upset at the Kirby Center today. We aren't efficient with the ball, committing 14 turnovers and shooting 34% from the field and 29% from three. Army plays pretty good D, but we also miss a lot of open looks. Tim Hutchinson leads all scorers with 19 points and adds 7 rebounds. Daniel Warnock finishes with 14 points, and Johnathan Blouin gets another 11 rebounds. Turn the page. Record: 23-3 (10-1). February 14, 2018 #15 Lafayette 61, @Brown 56 We play one more OOC game to let the rest of the Patriot League catch up, and we make a nice trip up to Providence to face a tough Brown team that is undefeated in the Ivy League. The Bears do to us what we usually do to our opponents, forcing us to take a lot of ill-advised shots, and it nearly works. Fortunately Tim Hutchinson is largely immune to this tendency. He nets 23 points, making 5 of 7 three point tries. He turns the ball over 3 times, however, evidence of Brown's tenacious defensive play. Daniel Warnock adds 15 points and Johnathan Blouin 13 with 9 rebounds. Blouin is making a solid claim for lots of playing time the rest of the way, even after Todd DeHaven's return. That will happen on Saturday, against Holy Cross. Record: 24-3 (10-1). February 17, 2018 @ #15 Lafayette 79, Holy Cross 68 Todd DeHaven returns to action today, scoring 7 points and getting 6 rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench. That's the best thing about a solid victory over a Holy Cross team that's not up to their usual standard; the Crusaders enter the game with a 9-16 record and only three Patriot League wins. Samuel Davis is the star: 15 points, 10 boards, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 3-5 from three. Tim Hutchinson (17 pts), Daniel Warnock (13) and Jack Senn (12) also score in double digits. It's good to have everyone back on board. Justin Judkins starts on his Senior Night, and scores 5 points, all from the free throw line. A win at Navy next week will sew up the Patriot League championship for us. Record: 25-3 (11-1). February 21, 2018 #15 Lafayette 86, @Navy 48 It's official: Graham Sims and the Lafayette Leopards are the regular season champions of the Patriot League again. We open up a 45-34 halftime lead and pull away from there, with a 41-15 advantage over the following 20 minutes. The stars are familiar: Daniel Warnock (22 points), Samuel Davis (10 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks), Tim Hutchinson (11 points), and Todd DeHaven (12 points in 18 minutes). The low point happens when Justin Judkins takes an accidental elbow to the nose. It's broken, and he'll be at less-than-full strength for a week or so. It's not a great year for the conference. Unless someone other than us wins the tournament, we'll send only one team to the Big Dance. We're not a great tournament team, so there's a decent chance a second Patriot League team gets an invitation that way. Our rankings remain the same as they were last week. Record: 26-3 (12-1). February 24, 2018 #15 Lafayette 85, @Colgate 78 We close out the regular season with an exciting overtime win up in New York State. Daniel Warnock and Colgate's Guy Aubin treat the fans to a shootout, which Warnock wins, 27-25. Todd DeHaven, whose free throws with 0:09 on the clock sent the game into OT, scores 17 points in his return to the starting five. Samuel Davis scores only 7, but his 5 blocks are vintage Sazzy. Tim Hutchinson and Jack Senn add 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Patriot League tourney begins on the final day of the month. Record: 27-3 (13-1).