GLOBE COURTREPORT

The boys’ basketball team finished third overall at the MICDS tournament over this winter break. Ranked the number one seed going into the tournament for the second consecutive year, the Hounds went 3-1 over the break to finish third.

After beating Jennings 78-49, the one-seeded Greyhounds faced a rematch with MICDS. Despite seeming to pull away several times, MICDS kept the game close as the Hounds won by 10. Senior Ahmad Smith, senior Christian Thomas and junior Clayton Buchanan each scored at least 20 points in the victory.

In the semifinal match, the Hounds faced Miller Career Academy, who knocked Clayton out of the MICDS tournament in 2009. The Hounds lost 73-70 in a game that went down to the final seconds. Junior Charlie Harned led the team in points, with 21, and assists, with five, in a losing effort.

“Losing to them was tough because we had opportunities to put them away and couldn’t take advantage of them,” Thomas said.

However, the team didn’t dwell on the loss as they beat SLUH in 69-61 the following day for third place. The Hounds overcame a slow start and a significant height disadvantage to earn the victory.

“I think everyone bounced back and played well to get third,” Thomas said.

Though the team was shooting for first place, it has been a good start to the basketball season.

“I am glad we’re 11-2,” Thomas said. “It’s a good record overall.”

The team plans to learn from these losses (both in tournaments) to reach goals which are very much in sight.

“I think we all see how much improvement can be made and these two loses make us hungrier to get better,” Thomas said. “Our first goal is to win conference outright as last year we shared it with Berkeley. This year I want us to be greedy and not share with anyone. After that, the district championship.”