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

MoonlightGraham · 05-21-2023, 10:40 AM

I'll return to my "old style" reports for the post-season.

March 3, 2021
Patriot League Tournament, First Round
(1) #17 Lafayette 66, (8) American 54
We make it three straight over the Eagles with a "vintage" Lafayette performance. Our opponent shoots 4-for-26 from behind the arc and turn the ball over 18 times, while we do enough offensively to win.

Tim Hutchinson leads us with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Matthew Ackerman nets 13, Matt Robles 12, and sixth man Ben Miele 11.
Record: 26-5.

March 7, 2021
Patriot League Tournament Semifinal
(4) Navy 64, (1) #17 Lafayette 57
If you want to criticize Graham Sims, you could point out his struggles in the conference tournament. This year, we play terribly against Navy and out we go.

We launch 35 threes and make only 10. Matthew Ackerman misfires on 8 of his 10 treys. Thomas Lucy hits only 1 of his 11 attempts from the floor, and misses all four of his threes.

Holy Cross goes on to win the tourney, so they'll earn the league's automatic bid. We'll join them with an at-large invitation.
Record: 26-6.

March 19, 2021
NCAA East Region, First Round
(5) #25 Lafayette 76, (12) Winthrop 75
Our opponents, champions of the Big South conference, enter the game with a 25-8 record. They know how to win basketball games. They nearly win this one, too.

The Eagles lead after 20 minutes, but we settle down and open up an 8-point lead with 7 minutes to play. Then we allow them to claw their way back into the game and nearly lose it when a shot clock violation allows them one last shot that won't fall.

Matt Robles (16 points) and Jamie Kelso (15) lead a group of five in double figures that also includes Asdrubal Cruz (10).
Record: 26-7.

March 21, 2021
NCAA East Region, Second Round
(5) #25 Lafayette 78, (13) Hofstra 70
Do we catch a break when Hofstra routs 4 seed Saint Louis? Perhaps we do. Still, the Pride are tough opponents, led by All-American center Joseph Rosemond.

They hold us under 40% shooting, which has happened to us with alarming regularity this season. Rosemond plays like the star he is, scoring 21 points with 16 rebounds. However, we have a senior star, too. Tim Hutchinson puts his team on his back and carries it into the Sweet Sixteen, matching Rosemond's points total and grabbing 17 rebounds of his own.
Record: 27-7.

March 25, 2021
NCAA East Region Semifinal...the Sweet Sixteen
(1) #4 Boston College 84, (5) #25 Lafayette 66
Our season ends at the hands (talons?) of a clearly superior Eagles team. We display the flaws that have plagued us nearly every time we play badly: lousy shot selection (24-for-66) and crappy three-point shooting (an ugly 6-for-28).

Matt Robles plays well with 12 points and 12 rebounds. So does Asdrubal Cruz (8p/5r), who has been a key contributor as a reserve big.
Record: 27-8.

April 5, 2021
Three #1 seeds make the Final Four, and USC wins their second national championship with a thrilling 99-97 victory over Kansas in the final.

05-21-2023, 10:40 AM	#259
MoonlightGraham High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2022	I'll return to my "old style" reports for the post-season. March 3, 2021 Patriot League Tournament, First Round (1) #17 Lafayette 66, (8) American 54 We make it three straight over the Eagles with a "vintage" Lafayette performance. Our opponent shoots 4-for-26 from behind the arc and turn the ball over 18 times, while we do enough offensively to win. Tim Hutchinson leads us with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Matthew Ackerman nets 13, Matt Robles 12, and sixth man Ben Miele 11. Record: 26-5. March 7, 2021 Patriot League Tournament Semifinal (4) Navy 64, (1) #17 Lafayette 57 If you want to criticize Graham Sims, you could point out his struggles in the conference tournament. This year, we play terribly against Navy and out we go. We launch 35 threes and make only 10. Matthew Ackerman misfires on 8 of his 10 treys. Thomas Lucy hits only 1 of his 11 attempts from the floor, and misses all four of his threes. Holy Cross goes on to win the tourney, so they'll earn the league's automatic bid. We'll join them with an at-large invitation. Record: 26-6. March 19, 2021 NCAA East Region, First Round (5) #25 Lafayette 76, (12) Winthrop 75 Our opponents, champions of the Big South conference, enter the game with a 25-8 record. They know how to win basketball games. They nearly win this one, too. The Eagles lead after 20 minutes, but we settle down and open up an 8-point lead with 7 minutes to play. Then we allow them to claw their way back into the game and nearly lose it when a shot clock violation allows them one last shot that won't fall. Matt Robles (16 points) and Jamie Kelso (15) lead a group of five in double figures that also includes Asdrubal Cruz (10). Record: 26-7. March 21, 2021 NCAA East Region, Second Round (5) #25 Lafayette 78, (13) Hofstra 70 Do we catch a break when Hofstra routs 4 seed Saint Louis? Perhaps we do. Still, the Pride are tough opponents, led by All-American center Joseph Rosemond. They hold us under 40% shooting, which has happened to us with alarming regularity this season. Rosemond plays like the star he is, scoring 21 points with 16 rebounds. However, we have a senior star, too. Tim Hutchinson puts his team on his back and carries it into the Sweet Sixteen, matching Rosemond's points total and grabbing 17 rebounds of his own. Record: 27-7. March 25, 2021 NCAA East Region Semifinal...the Sweet Sixteen (1) #4 Boston College 84, (5) #25 Lafayette 66 Our season ends at the hands (talons?) of a clearly superior Eagles team. We display the flaws that have plagued us nearly every time we play badly: lousy shot selection (24-for-66) and crappy three-point shooting (an ugly 6-for-28). Matt Robles plays well with 12 points and 12 rebounds. So does Asdrubal Cruz (8p/5r), who has been a key contributor as a reserve big. Record: 27-8. April 5, 2021 Three #1 seeds make the Final Four, and USC wins their second national championship with a thrilling 99-97 victory over Kansas in the final.