After leading at the end of the first quarter, the boys varsity basketball team lost to the visiting Buckingham Charter Knights 48-31 on Feb. 4.
The Cavs (1-16 overall, 1-10 Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League) led 11-6 after the first quarter but were outscored 20-7 in the second period.
Country Day trailed 38-29 after three quarters and scored only two points to Buckingham’s 10 in the fourth period.
Senior guard Jackson Crawford, who led the Cavs with 12 points, said the team played much better than in its 63-19 loss to the Knights on Jan. 13 in Vacaville but can still improve.
“Last time we played them, we played man-to-man defense, and they torched us,” Crawford. “This time, we switched to zone defense and played well the first half, getting rebounds and pushing the tempo. But our offense got stagnant in the second half, so we just have to be more aggressive offensively throughout the game.”
Freshman forward Jacob Chand (six rebounds) commented on the team’s play during the first half.
“We were strong at the beginning,” Chand said. “We did a good job breaking the press, but we just ended up getting tired. Overall, we hustled and played hard, but we need to shoot more and make our layups.”
Junior small forward Martin Cao agreed.
“The team is relying too much on Jackson’s shooting,” Cao said. “Some of us, including me, are sometimes scared of taking shots, leaving Jackson with a lot of work to do.”
Freshman forward Rod Azghadi, though, added 11 points for Country Day.
Despite the team’s mistakes, Crawford said the game was winnable.
“It wasn’t like (the Knights) were making 3-pointers that much, but a couple times we let them get by too easily and got fouls called on us,” he said. “If we made the right plays and avoided turnovers, then I think this would’ve been a closer game.”
The Cavs’ next game is Friday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Christian in Roseville.
—By Miles Morrow
