Colgan ended Eagles' undefeated season in last year's first round
By C.J. Moore
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Colgan ended Eagles’ undefeated season in last year’s first round
Not that the Olpe boys need any motivation on Thursday — after all, they’re playing in the State tournament — but they also get the chance to play for revenge against Pittsburg-Colgan, the team that ended their season in the first round last season.
“I think the kids look at it that way, and we’re kind of approaching it that way,” Olpe coach Chris Schmidt said. “We know it’s a good challenge and we know they’re going to make you play well, and that’s what you have to do this time of the season.”
Olpe (21-2) is entering the State tournament playing its best ball, Schmidt believes. The Eagles beat Herington by 24 in the substate championship, and Herington, which entered the game with an identical 20-2 record and the top seed, was viewed as a viable challenger.
Of course, Olpe has taken to calling its boys the “Green Machine” the last couple years, and their success has warranted such a moniker.
Last school year, after going undefeated during the football regular season and losing in the State championship game, the Eagles entered the basketball State tournament undefeated and as the top seed before losing to Colgan, 44-35.
This year the Eagles have been grounded some by two late-season losses, against Osage City and Word of Life, and the losses might not be such a bad thing.
“I think in the long run, nobody wants to lose, but I do think we learned a lot from the two losses we’ve had,” Schmidt said. “... You don’t like losing, but I think the kids have learned some things and responded really well from that.”
Both Osage City and Word of Life played pressure defense similar to what Olpe will see from Colgan, which Schmidt said has helped prepare his team.
Schmidt also broke out the tape from last season’s game to show his team how Colgan won. Colgan (20-3), the fifth seed, plays a similar style every season, which took them to the State championship game last year and has led to a lot of success in the past. The Panthers won State in 2008 and 2005 and beat Olpe for the State title in double overtime in 2002. They’ve built their tradition using a full-court, man-to-man press, which they are able to do throughout because they play 10 to 12 players.
“It’s basically the same stuff, just some different kids,” Schmidt said. “The big thing on that, again, the mental part of it. They are so mentally strong, they take advantage if you break down. We had a few just little breakdowns.”
Olpe led Colgan by six in the second quarter last year when point guard Bradley Argabright picked up his third foul with about three minutes left in the half. Colgan took advantage and took a one-point lead by halftime and pushed its lead to five by the end of the third quarter.
The Eagles were able to rally and tie the game in the fourth quarter, but they gambled defensively and allowed Colgan to score, then a bad shot led to an easy layup and Colgan pulled away.
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