There was a lid on the basket for Fremd. They were getting high-percentage shots at the basket that teams strive to get. They couldn’t buy a basket for the game’s first two minutes, and only two players scored in that first quarter.
The lack of offense was the main culprit for Fremd’s 49-38 loss to Lake Central (IN.)
“We need to make a layup,” Vikings coach Dave Yates said. “This wasn’t a matter of us not getting the shots we wanted. You have to put the ball in the basket, and they’re too good of a team to miss great looks. It’s it’s that simple.”
The Vikings defended well, grabbed 25 rebounds and showed the effort needed to beat an Indians team that is 10-1. Open three-point shots clanked off the rim and they couldn’t convert layup opportunities at the rim.
Events like the In The Park Showcase serve as a litmus test for teams to evaluate where they are early in the season.
“You come to these tournaments to get tested and learn something about ourselves,” Yates said. “That’s a team that played well together and we can learn from that.”
The Vikings only scored seven points in the second quarter and went scoreless through the first four minutes of the third quarter. The Vikings’ scoring drought allowed the Indians to extend the lead to 29-19 and grab control of the game. That was when the game lost.
“I think a lot of focus coming out of halftime was on the offense,” said junior guard Ella Todd, who scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds for Fremd (9-2, 2-0 Mid-Suburban West) . “We got kind of sloppy, turned it over and didn’t come together as a team.”
But the Vikings made a push at the start of the fourth quarter. They found senior forward Brynn Eshoo, a versatile forward and a Portland commit. Eshoo scored 11 of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter. She also grabbed seven rebounds.
Her scorching eruption started with a pull-up jumper from the right elbow. Through the first three quarters of the game, Eshoo didn’t impact the game from a scoring standpoint — she only scored once — but a minor adjustment allowed her to put an imprint on the game.
“We got her the ball,” Yates said. “We’ve got to figure out who needs to get the ball when, and we’re still a work in progress along those lines.”
Quick shots — and bad nine turnovers — plagued the Vikings. Once they simplified the offense and started playing through Eshoo more, the offense started flowing.
She put the Vikings on her back: They were bereft of offense, and she provided it, but it was too late.
“Once we started to move the ball, that’s when we got good shots,” Eshoo said. “That needs to be our focus right now and not as much one-on-one basketball.”
The Vikings have lost just twice this season, the other defeat coming in a one-point loss to Cardinal Ritter (M0.).
“Games like this are good because we needed to play a really good team, but they’re also a very beatable team,” Todd said.
Todd dealt with foul trouble throughout the game, eventually fouling out in the waning minutes. Lake Central played physical defense, allowing few easy shots. The Vikings made just two three-point shots in the game,
Eshoo said the team couldn’t get into a rhythm because of the quick shots they were taking.
“We need to be tougher,” Eshoo said. “Games like this show that we must come out strong and play together.”
Yates was fine with his team’s defense but was dismayed by the offensive performance.
“We can’t be in the 30s,” Yates said. “We have too many talented kids to be in the 30s.”