According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of recidivism is a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior. Such was the case for the Chandler high school boys basketball team over the past two games which resulted in two losses that could have just as easily been in the win column.
Last year, the team was plagued with intra-team strife and an overall lack of chemistry amongst the players. Today, the squad has an entirely different look although a few players from last year's team are still in the mix.
After winning the first three games of the Salpointe tournament, the wolves have dropped their last two games in frustrating fashion. Against last year's tournament winner, Salpointe Catholic, the wolves showed early that their array of talented players were not going to be denied the win. But denied they were as the team quickly disintegrated to a one-on-one style of play that we warned about in our very first JuniorHoops.com article on the wolves.
We still stand positive on the team, however, Senior Omar Lee, whom we feel is an extremely talented player, must be a team player first and foremost. As the leader on the team, the wolves' starting point guard must decide whether he will balance his ball distributon duties with his shooting or will he be a one-man team. Against Salpointe, he took it upon himself to play one-on-one basketball while the rest of his teammates stood and watched. Not good for team chemistry and final results.
In the final game of the tournament against Mesa, Red Mountain, the wolves took a commanding 15 point lead at half-time led by the shooting clinic that was put on by Sophomore, Marco Morales, who hit 5 3-pointers in a row before the first half even ended.
Junior Daquise Gaines also delivered 15 points in the game showing that his inside and outside game will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2011-12 season. However, the second-half of the game was a completely different story as Omar Lee decided to take the game solely on his shoulders and deployed a one-on-one style of play that was not conducive to team work and good chemistry.
Eventually, Omar would be benched througout the fourth quarter due to a lack of defense, but unfortunately, he added more salt to the wound by cussing out the coaches while on the bench in front of all eyes present. Not good.
Ultimately, the team would lose this final game by 4 points.
Tonight, the Chandler Wolves begin their conference league games by facing Dobson high school. Basha and Corona will be faced later in the week. All of these teams are rated by the Arizona Tribune as being top ten teams in the state. Chandler has the opportunity to make a statement early on with these games if they play as a team, share the ball, deploy quick ball movement, stay away from one-on-one street ball and all players deploy consistent defense. All depends on Senior guard Omar Lee's approach to the game and Coach Ellsworth's adjustments. At the end of the day, expect exciting basketball from the Chandler high Wolves.
Hopefully, the word recidivism will stay in the dictionary and not on the Chandler high school hardwood.
Marco Morales: 15 points (Five 3-pointers) Daquise Gaines: 15 points (Three 3-pointers)
