After opening its season with a 50-49 loss to Reed at home, the last thing the Douglas boys' basketball team wanted to do was end its season the same way.
So they went out and made a difference in every facet of the game, racing ahead to a 70-59 win over the Raiders in the first round of the Northern 4A Regional Playoffs in Minden Tuesday night.
"We had something to prove tonight," Douglas center Jeff Nady, who finished with a team-high 24 points, said. "We were looking to avenge that season-opener."
While the scoreboard was the most important difference from the first matchup, the Tigers took an entirely different approach from the opener by beefing up their perimeter defense.
"The gameplan was our defense," Nady said. "It's simple, they have great shooters, and they were raining down 3-pointers in that first game, and our goal was not to let that happen again."
Mission accomplished.
While Reed hit 12 3-pointers in the first match-up, the Raiders went 0-for-13 from behind the arc Tuesday.
"We knew we had to contest all their shots," Douglas coach Corey Thacker said. "We did a great job of that. That was a key, and the other was keeping the ball out of Omarri's hands."
Ah yes, Omarri. Reed's speedy point guard, Omarri Williams, was held to nine points, including none in the first quarter and just three in the second half after the Tigers broke out a double-team against him.
"We were just trying to get the ball out of his hands," Thacker said. "He's the type of guy who can get to the rim and when he does he'll either score or get the ball to someone who will score."
While Douglas shut the Raiders down on the perimeter, Reed was able to do some damage inside as center Nick Dixon scored 26 points and forward Travis Peterson added 15.
"They stepped it up inside and Dixon had a big night," Nady said. "But we knew the important thing was to stop their shooters. That's what we did and that how we got the win."
The Tigers were able to spread the ball around enough to get significant scoring from throughout their starting lineup.
Ross Bertolone had 15 points, Kevin Emm had 12 and James McLaughlin and David Laird each had eight. Tim Rudnick rounded out Douglas' scoring with two points.
"I thought it was the best we have shared the ball as a team this season," Thacker said. "That was a big thing for us."
Next up for Douglas is a semifinal matchup against Galena at Spanish Springs Thursday night. Tip-off will be at six. The Tigers were able to defeat the Grizzlies back in December, but Galena was a 71-32 victor over Damonte Ranch Tuesday night.
"Galena is a great team, a great program," Thacker said. "They've been in the playoffs since as long as I can remember. They do a great job so we have to step it up another level."
