As the ADM boys basketball team tries to make some adjustments over winter break, head coach Aaron Mager believes one of the most essential changes his team has to make is in playing better defense without fouling.

In the Tigers’ last two contests against Creston and Ballard, they’ve allowed their opponents to travel to the free throw line 81 times.  In those two games, ADM has only attempted 31 foul shots.  That is a disproportionate statistic that Coach Mager feels could be altered if his Tigers’ get to their spots quicker defensively.

“We’re not sprinting back as well as we need to (in our press), and most of your steals in press situations aren’t actually in the trap but it’s the guys that are hustling in the passing lanes and intercepting (passes) when they’re melting back into passing lanes that look open until a kid strides into it… you know we’re about one step away when I watch on film from getting two or three more of those (steals) per half and that’s the difference in a couple games for us so far.”

ADM has also been offensively challenged at different times throughout their current three-game losing streak, and Coach Mager says the Tigers biggest problem has simply been shooting the basketball.

“We do have to do some things to shoot better.  Our percentages–40% or about 41% from the field, (we’re) in the 20s from three, we’re in the 50s from the free throw line, and all those are below where you want to be to be a winning team.  So those are some things we definitely have to do better and some of that’s on the guys.”

One thing Mager was pleased with in the Tigers’ last performance was in their improved shot selection.  When ADM gets back in game action, the Tigers will have to take good shots and make them next Friday against DC-G.  The Mustangs are now ranked number five in Class 3-A.