Looking ahead to the start of the 2020-21 boys high school basketball season, Seymour coach Kirk Manns knew the Owls would likely face some growing pains.
Well, last Saturday night was more about the pains, although Manns is optimistic a harsh lesson will be a lesson that sticks and improves the club’s growth over the long run.
On its combined varsity-junior varsity roster, Seymour lists six juniors, six sophomores and three freshmen. Zero seniors. No seniors. Seniors are usually the guys who lead by example because they have been around the block.
After opening the season with a victory on the road over Corydon Central, Seymour hoped to make a good impression in the home opener against Columbus North.
There was hope it would be a good-vibes night. There was plenty of purple worn on the home side of the stands at Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium, the biggest high school hoops arena in the known universe.
Scott is a venerable showplace to play in and even the brown wood of the bleachers gives off a “Hoosiers” feel for visitors, announcing that hoops have been played here for a long time and these seats have been used by witnesses on many memorable evenings.
Even the Bull Dogs (two words by choice, apparently, as opposed to the Butler Bulldogs and the breed itself) were well-represented in blue on the other side of the gym. Why not? Heck, it’s only 25 miles or so between schools.
Neither team has much size. North’s tallest player, Sam King, is 6-foot-5, and Seymour’s is 6-4 Casey Regruth. That means the teams are more designed to play offenses that don’t revolve around the low post.
Leading into the season, Manns said the young Owls would rely heavily on savvy shot selection. It was obvious from the opening tip that is one thing Seymour will stress.
Seymour is going to be playing deliberately, moving the ball around the perimeter in the half-court, always looking for a small opening to exploit, especially with cutters dashing down the lane.
The Owls were in no hurry. Their style was to attack the defense in front of them, to catch it over-shifted, not by being fancy or tricky with their passes, but by sticking to a disciplined approach. Make the other guys commit, make mistakes and leave openings.
Seymour lived by the game plan in the first quarter, staying with that patient approach as much as possible, and converting their buckets off what the Bull Dogs allowed.
The fans wanted to love their Owls and produced some serious noise whenever Seymour scored, most of the hoops coming on lay-ups or in-close rebounding follow-ups, reward-type baskets stemming from hustle.
Still, as a veteran team, Columbus North did not rattle, either on defense, or because it was on the road, and led 14-10 after the first eight-minute quarter.
One side aspect of how Seymour plays, holding the ball and holding it some more to find that very best shot, is that it shortens the game. That normally slows up teams that like to run.
North came up with then antidote. The full-court pressure as the Owls brought the ball up-court tampered with the well-laid plans. The press aggravated and disrupted, causing Seymour turnovers that led to swift, breakaway, lay-up baskets for Columbus.
The visitors’ lead mushroomed quickly in the second quarter when the press tactic worked oh-so well. It was a little bit like a boxer being stunned by repeated haymakers. When the Bull Dogs were able to successfully mix in three-point jumpers, it was lights out.
Once pace control got away from the Owls, Columbus North dominated and the final score blew up to 68-34.
Manns and his team were in the locker room for a long time after the game. There was much to talk about, much to consider. Over a long season there will be games like this sometimes, particularly if a young team is working to rush the growth in real-game experience that count on the record.
Lew Freedman is the Sports Editor for The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].