The ADM boys basketball team has now dropped three games in a row and the Tigers sit at 2-4 on the season following last Friday’s close loss to Ballard.

ADM fought hard to pull within six points with two minutes remaining against the Bombers, but some missed free throws late proved costly, and that was the most disappointing part of the loss for head coach Aaron Mager.

“The opportunities were there.  I thought all night we played well in some capacities but not well enough to beat a team that’s decent.  Unfortunately that’s kind of what ended up happening–we didn’t take advantage of the free throws and that kind of epitomized some other opportunities that I thought we missed along the way too.”

Despite the rough stretch his Tigers are currently in, Mager says he’s happy with the effort his players continue to put forth.  During the loss to Ballard, ADM was playing its first game without starting forward Grant Goeden, and Coach Mager was proud of how his guys responded, especially Jackson VerWoert.

“He prepares 200% everyday and that kind of came to fruition I think during the game.  He had 17 points, I think going in he was averaging about four a game.  So he was pretty opportunistic, hit some huge perimeter threes for us in the second half that to be honest got us back to within striking distance.”

Mager says VerWoert will need to continue to show an added scoring punch throughout the remainder of the season if the Tigers are going to stay competitive with Goeden out.  He also noted the three Sloss brothers are players he needs to get more offensive production from moving forward.