The Barrie boys basketball team was unable to secure a win in its lone game last week but Mustangs coach Jack Mitchell learned two important things about his squad that could produce future positive results.
The first is that sophomore point guard Eric White looks is on his way to becoming the team's go-to player in clutch situations, something the Mustangs haven't had since the departure of Brandon Johnson last spring. He poured in 18 points in the team's 45-40 loss to Field last Friday night, including a flurry of 3-point shots that trimmed Field's lead from 12 points to one with 1:12 left in the game.
But a 3-point play by Field on its next possession, helped it pull out the victory.
"I don't care if it's the WCAC or the PVAC or the Montgomery County league, any time you have a 10th-grader starting at point guard, that's a huge challenge," Mitchell said. "Eric has stepped up in a big way. He's leading the team and now he's scoring. We go to Eric for clutch baskets. He's developing into a sound guard for us."
Second, for the second time in a couple of weeks, Barrie's full-court press has helped trim large second-half deficits. That success has given Mitchell cause to rethink his use of the press from situational to more prolonged periods of time.
"We picked up man-to-man after made baskets and got a lot of turnovers," Mitchell said. "Our defense turned into offense for us.
"I'd like to [use it more] but I'm concerned with our lack of depth. We'd like to pressure a little more. If the kids suck it up and play that hard with it, [maybe Barrie should] give it a go early. It's something we'll look at."
The Mustangs, who play Potomac valley Athletic Conference North Division leader Hebrew Academy Thursday, dropped to 3-13 overall and 3-5 in the PVAC.
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