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

MoonlightGraham · 10-31-2023, 12:08 PM

February 3, 2024
#11 Lafayette 74, @Lehigh 62
We win the latest installment of this rivalry at the free throw line. The Mountain Hawks make 24 field goals to our 22, and sink only one fewer three-ball (8 to 7). We do a lot of damage at the line, however; five Leopards make at least four foul shots.

Jeffrey Hampton plays a very good game, with 14 points and 8 boards. Byron Shores (17) and Kenton Lashley (17) are our high scorers, with Micah Rodriguez (10) joining them in double digits. Kurt Ritchie dominates the paint again, with 15 rebounds and three more blocks.

Freshman forward Carl McGriff plays well, scoring 7 points (5-6 from the line) and grabbing three rebounds in 13 minutes.

It's not a beautiful win, but there's no such thing as a bad victory over Lehigh.
Record: 22-2 (7-1).

February 7, 2024
#11 Lafayette 68, @Navy 44
The Middies keep it close for 20 minutes; we lead 28-26 at the half. Then, we roar out of the gates after intermission, scoring two points per minute the rest of the way while thoroughly shutting the Navy down.

Byron Shores finishes with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kamari Stone (10) joins him in double figures with an even 10 and adds 6 rebounds and 3 assists of his own. I'm reminded of the fact we don't really have one dedicated playmaker. Stone (2.7 APG), Kenton Lashley (2.5 APG), Shores (2.2 APG) and even Kurt Ritchie (1.7 APG) divide the distribution duties fairly evenly.
Record: 23-2 (8-1).

February 10, 2024
@Holy Cross 77, #11 Lafayette 72
Pro scouts don't think highly of Rico Peterson. He's not listed among the top 50 prospects in college ball. However, Rico is one hell of a college player, and he proves it again tonight.

Peterson scores 41 points, the highest total an opponent has ever accumulated against one of Graham Sims' teams. He did so while taking "only" 28 shots, and he sinks 7-10 from three-point distance. Harold Williams supports him with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Byron Shores nets 24 in a losing effort, Kenton Lashley 15, and Jeffrey Hammond 10. Kurt Ritchie, the Patriot League's leading rebounder (10.7 RPG), grabs 13 tonight.

We don't play badly, but Rico Peterson put his team on his back tonight and would not let them lose.

Bucknell upsets Colgate, 82-63, so we retain the top spot in the league standings. The Red Raiders visit the Kirby Center next; it should be a good one.
Record: 23-3 (8-2).

February 14, 2024
#15 Lafayette 80, Colgate 63
We spoil Valentine's Day for our visitors, overcoming 19 turnovers by drawing lots of fouls and making our free throws. Colgate coach DeAngelo Wille complains loudly--during and after the game--because we attempt 34 foul shots to the Red Raiders' 6.

Byron Shores, an 80% free throw shooter this year, makes 9 of 11 tonight and finishes with 26 points. Kenton Lashley (76%) hits all 8 of his foul shots en route to a 17-point night. Kamari Stone only attempts two, making both, surprising nobody; his season percentage is .860.

The Leopards are now two full games ahead in the Patriot League race, and we can clinch Coach Sims' 11th conference championship on Senior Night against American.
Record: 24-3 (9-2).

February 17, 2024
#15 Lafayette 80, American 59
Graham Sims inserts the team's two seniors, Carlton McFadden and Woody Carrasquillo, into the starting lineup for their final home game. Neither player has ever started a collegiate game, and they both end up playing a lot in a very satisfying victory that clinches the Patriot League title. It's the fourth of the seniors' careers.

McFadden scores 7 points and hands out 7 assists in 35 minutes. Carrasquillo, a walk-on, scores 9 with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 minutes.

Jeffrey Hampton posts a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Byron Shores leads all scorers with 33, but Carlton and Woody are the men of the hour. When Coach Sims substitutes for them in the game's final minute, they are sent off with warm ovations.
Record: 25-3 (10-2).

February 20, 2024
#11 Lafayette 85, @Bucknell 44
We win easily against a struggling Bucknell team, forcing them to shoot 18-64 from the field. No Bison scores as many as 10 points, while three Leopards do so (Byron Shores 24, Jeffrey Hampton 13, Micah Rodriguez 12) and another comes close (Charles Allen 9).

Kurt Ritchie pulls in 13 rebounds, as per usual.
Record: 26-3 (11-2).

February 24, 2024
#11 Lafayette 65, @Army 57
We close out our regular season on the banks of the Hudson, where we do just enough to beat a feisty Army team who didn't want to send their seniors off with a defeat.

Again, we don't shoot particularly well. We're not terrible from behind the arc (8-21), but we usually hit about 40 percent of our threes. Byron Shores drops in 25 points in what is likely the last regular season game of his Lafayette career. And Kurt Ritchie blocks 3 shots and grabs another 13 rebounds.
Record: 27-3 (12-2).

February 28, 2024

Code:

2023 Patriot League Standings

 TEAM             CW  CL   Pct   W   L   Pct  RPI  Prestige
------------------------------------------------------------
 #8 Lafayette     12   2  .857  27   3  .900   10        76
 Colgate           9   5  .643  17  12  .586   81        35
 Holy Cross        8   6  .571  18  11  .621  126        53
 Bucknell          7   7  .500  12  17  .414  145        40
 American          5   9  .357  10  18  .357  260        42
 Army              5   9  .357   9  20  .310  176        40
 Navy              5   9  .357  15  15  .500  206        32
 Lehigh            5   9  .357  13  16  .448  138        35

We return to the Top Ten on the eve of the Patriot League tournament. With a decent run, Colgate could easily secure a spot in a national tourney. Holy Cross is also a popular pick for a lesser tournament each year, and they could be tapped again this season, too. The other Patriot League teams will only keep dancing if they win out.

10-31-2023, 12:08 PM	#319
MoonlightGraham High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2022	February 3, 2024 #11 Lafayette 74, @Lehigh 62 We win the latest installment of this rivalry at the free throw line. The Mountain Hawks make 24 field goals to our 22, and sink only one fewer three-ball (8 to 7). We do a lot of damage at the line, however; five Leopards make at least four foul shots. Jeffrey Hampton plays a very good game, with 14 points and 8 boards. Byron Shores (17) and Kenton Lashley (17) are our high scorers, with Micah Rodriguez (10) joining them in double digits. Kurt Ritchie dominates the paint again, with 15 rebounds and three more blocks. Freshman forward Carl McGriff plays well, scoring 7 points (5-6 from the line) and grabbing three rebounds in 13 minutes. It's not a beautiful win, but there's no such thing as a bad victory over Lehigh. Record: 22-2 (7-1). February 7, 2024 #11 Lafayette 68, @Navy 44 The Middies keep it close for 20 minutes; we lead 28-26 at the half. Then, we roar out of the gates after intermission, scoring two points per minute the rest of the way while thoroughly shutting the Navy down. Byron Shores finishes with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kamari Stone (10) joins him in double figures with an even 10 and adds 6 rebounds and 3 assists of his own. I'm reminded of the fact we don't really have one dedicated playmaker. Stone (2.7 APG), Kenton Lashley (2.5 APG), Shores (2.2 APG) and even Kurt Ritchie (1.7 APG) divide the distribution duties fairly evenly. Record: 23-2 (8-1). February 10, 2024 @Holy Cross 77, #11 Lafayette 72 Pro scouts don't think highly of Rico Peterson. He's not listed among the top 50 prospects in college ball. However, Rico is one hell of a college player, and he proves it again tonight. Peterson scores 41 points, the highest total an opponent has ever accumulated against one of Graham Sims' teams. He did so while taking "only" 28 shots, and he sinks 7-10 from three-point distance. Harold Williams supports him with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Byron Shores nets 24 in a losing effort, Kenton Lashley 15, and Jeffrey Hammond 10. Kurt Ritchie, the Patriot League's leading rebounder (10.7 RPG), grabs 13 tonight. We don't play badly, but Rico Peterson put his team on his back tonight and would not let them lose. Bucknell upsets Colgate, 82-63, so we retain the top spot in the league standings. The Red Raiders visit the Kirby Center next; it should be a good one. Record: 23-3 (8-2). February 14, 2024 #15 Lafayette 80, Colgate 63 We spoil Valentine's Day for our visitors, overcoming 19 turnovers by drawing lots of fouls and making our free throws. Colgate coach DeAngelo Wille complains loudly--during and after the game--because we attempt 34 foul shots to the Red Raiders' 6. Byron Shores, an 80% free throw shooter this year, makes 9 of 11 tonight and finishes with 26 points. Kenton Lashley (76%) hits all 8 of his foul shots en route to a 17-point night. Kamari Stone only attempts two, making both, surprising nobody; his season percentage is .860. The Leopards are now two full games ahead in the Patriot League race, and we can clinch Coach Sims' 11th conference championship on Senior Night against American. Record: 24-3 (9-2). February 17, 2024 #15 Lafayette 80, American 59 Graham Sims inserts the team's two seniors, Carlton McFadden and Woody Carrasquillo, into the starting lineup for their final home game. Neither player has ever started a collegiate game, and they both end up playing a lot in a very satisfying victory that clinches the Patriot League title. It's the fourth of the seniors' careers. McFadden scores 7 points and hands out 7 assists in 35 minutes. Carrasquillo, a walk-on, scores 9 with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 minutes. Jeffrey Hampton posts a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Byron Shores leads all scorers with 33, but Carlton and Woody are the men of the hour. When Coach Sims substitutes for them in the game's final minute, they are sent off with warm ovations. Record: 25-3 (10-2). February 20, 2024 #11 Lafayette 85, @Bucknell 44 We win easily against a struggling Bucknell team, forcing them to shoot 18-64 from the field. No Bison scores as many as 10 points, while three Leopards do so (Byron Shores 24, Jeffrey Hampton 13, Micah Rodriguez 12) and another comes close (Charles Allen 9). Kurt Ritchie pulls in 13 rebounds, as per usual. Record: 26-3 (11-2). February 24, 2024 #11 Lafayette 65, @Army 57 We close out our regular season on the banks of the Hudson, where we do just enough to beat a feisty Army team who didn't want to send their seniors off with a defeat. Again, we don't shoot particularly well. We're not terrible from behind the arc (8-21), but we usually hit about 40 percent of our threes. Byron Shores drops in 25 points in what is likely the last regular season game of his Lafayette career. And Kurt Ritchie blocks 3 shots and grabs another 13 rebounds. Record: 27-3 (12-2). February 28, 2024 Code: 2023 Patriot League Standings TEAM CW CL Pct W L Pct RPI Prestige ------------------------------------------------------------ #8 Lafayette 12 2 .857 27 3 .900 10 76 Colgate 9 5 .643 17 12 .586 81 35 Holy Cross 8 6 .571 18 11 .621 126 53 Bucknell 7 7 .500 12 17 .414 145 40 American 5 9 .357 10 18 .357 260 42 Army 5 9 .357 9 20 .310 176 40 Navy 5 9 .357 15 15 .500 206 32 Lehigh 5 9 .357 13 16 .448 138 35 We return to the Top Ten on the eve of the Patriot League tournament. With a decent run, Colgate could easily secure a spot in a national tourney. Holy Cross is also a popular pick for a lesser tournament each year, and they could be tapped again this season, too. The other Patriot League teams will only keep dancing if they win out.