CRESTLINE — Shooting the basketball has been a priority for new Crestline boys’ basketball coach Tyler Sanders.
Shooting, however, hurt the Bulldogs Friday night.
Crestline managed just seven points in the middle two periods and fell to Mapleton, 54-41, in the season opener for both teams.
Crestline (0-1) hit just two of 17 shots in the second and third periods and went without a field goal for more than 12 minutes as the Mounties pulled away.
“We struggled shooting the ball, which is crazy because all week I didn’t see Kaden Ronk miss a shot,” Sanders said. “I know he isn’t going to shoot like that all the time, but I think he was too excited to play. I love the kid to death. He’s a great kid.
“It’s just that, judging by some of the scrimmages we had, we had a little bit of success and I think the kids got a little ahead of themselves.”
The two teams battled to a 22-22 deadlock after one period, but the Mounties outscored the Bulldogs, 26-7, in the second and third periods.
Mapleton coach Steven Rowe felt that his defense was the difference in the game.
“I was pleased with the effort,” Rowe said. “We talk about that all the time that defense will get us where we want to be. And that’s exactly what we did.
“We were communicating, we were in the places we need to be and that really helped us out tonight.”
The Bulldogs managed to cut the Mapleton lead to 43-37 on a Ronk layup with 4:07 left in the game. But the Mounties hit four of five shots the rest of the way.
Mapleton made 12 of 24 shots in the final two periods.
“We’re still building confidence,” Rowe said. “We try and get as many shots as we can when were in game situations. We’re starting to get our confidence and that was evident in the second half.”
Sanders felt that his team played hard and well defensively.
“What I was happy about is that, not for one second did I think the kids didn’t play hard,” Sanders said. “The effort was there for the whole game.
“The scrimmage film that I saw, that was a different team. Hats off to them, their coach did a good job,” he added.
Ty Clark led the Bulldogs with 10 points and Ronk added nine. Trevor Phillips scored eight, all in the first period.
Senior guard Logan Pharmer led the Mounties with 19 points and 6-foot-8 wing Austin Sanders added 14.
Crestline won the junior varsity game, 52-40. Ethan Clark led the Bulldogs with 18 points and Calvin Reed added 12. Carter Miller led Mapleton with six.
Box score
Mapleton 14 12 14 14 — 54
Crestline 19 4 3 15 — 41
Mapleton: (1-0): Shots 22-48; 3-pt. shots 5 (Logan Pharmer 4, Calvin Verailya); Free throws 5-8; Rebounds 36; Turnovers 18. Scoring: Cameron Sloter 1 0 2, Adam Shaad 5 0 10, Logan Pharmer 7 1 19, Calvin Verailya 1 0 3, Mason Hickey 1 0 2, Austin Sanders 5 4 14, Travis DuBois 2 0 4.
Crestline: (0-1): Shots 14-46; 3-pt. shots 3 (Trevor Phillips 2, Kaden Ronk); Free throws 8-18; Rebounds 28; Turnovers 17. Scoring: Kaden Ronk 4 0 9, Max Anatra 1 4 6, Trevor Phillips 3 0 8, Ty Clark 4 2 10, Spencer Harley 3 1 7, Caleb Hoskins 0 1 1.