Coaches Corner: Gregory and Etzler

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

Crestview’s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams seem to be picking up steam at the midway point of the 2019-2020 regular season. Lady Knights head coach Mark Gregory and Knights coach Doug Etzler shared their thoughts on what’s transpired so far and what’s ahead for their respective teams.

Mark Gregory

Despite last night’s 39-38 overtime loss to Coldwater, Crestview head coach Mark Gregory likes the direction his team is headed.

“We do have some momentum right now,” Gregory said. “I think we are getting healthy, shooting the ball better, and coming together as a team.”

Lexi Gregory is averaging 15.7 points per game, and the senior team leader is just 17 points away from reaching a rare 1,000/1,000 club – 1,000 career points and 1,000 career kills, which she did during volleyball season. Olivia Cunningham averages 9.7 points per game and Bailey Gregory adds 9.0 points per game for the Lady Knights.

Gregory also noted that he likes how his team has gelled at this point of the season.

“Playing together as a group is extremely important,” Gregory said of team chemistry. “We have played very unselfishly the last couple of weeks. That is what it takes to be really good.”

“I really like this group a lot. They know when to have fun and they know when to compete. Lots of great kids up and down our roster. Excited to see what this second half of the season brings to us,” Gregory added.

The Lady Knights will return to action tomorrow at Delphos Jefferson, then will host Van Wert on Monday.

“We have to continue to communicate on the floor, rebound, shoot the ball well, and keep being unselfish,” Gregory said. “If we do that, we could be really special.”

Doug Etzler

The Crestview Knights have won two of their last three games and are 4-8 (1-2 NWC) just past the halfway point of the regular season.

“I think the area that I have seen the most improvement has come at the offensive end of the floor,” head coach Doug Etzler said. ”We have been doing a much better job of moving both physically and moving the basketball. This has allowed us to get much better shots.”

“Our guys have a better grasp of our offensive principles and because of this we have scored the basketball a little better the last three games,” the coach added.

During the first nine games, Crestview averaged 44 points per game, but during the last three games, the Knights averaged 60 points per contest.

In addition, Etzler is seeing more balanced scoring among the players, something that’s a big key to future success.

“It is very important for us to be as balanced as possible scoring wise,” Etzler explained. “If we can get three players into double figures, we usually have a pretty good chance to win. In our last three games we have had great balance and we have played some of our best basketball offensively. Different guys are stepping up each night which has been good to see.”

Nine of Crestview’s first 12 opponents currently have winning records. The next four opponents – Delphos Jefferson, Pandora-Gilboa, Ada and Celina are at or below .500. However, Etzler isn’t looking past anyone.

“To be honest with you we are trying to focus on one game at a time,” Etzler said. “We have played some really good opponents so far. We try to approach each game individually and focus on what we need to do to be successful in that game.”

“Each opponent brings something different to the table and we do our best to make sure we are prepared for what we will be facing. Obviously with our current record being below .500 we are working hard to improve that. We are trying to put a solid 32 minutes together. We have played several games this year against really good teams where we were able to put a good half or a good three quarters together. We are working on putting it all together and trying to play a complete game.”

Friday night’s game against Delphos Jefferson will be at home, followed by Saturday’s game at Pandora-Gilboa.