No vacation for the Tigers during holiday break

Nevada boys basketball coach John McNeley (right) watches as Seth Owings tries to guard Adam Gullett in practice Wednesday. McNeley and the Tigers practice three times this week and then get back at it next week as they prepare for upcoming conference play.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

While the holiday break has most students in the Nevada school district relaxing and counting their blessings, the Nevada boys basketball team was at it in full force Wednesday, working on a couple different areas that coach John McNeley would like to shore up.

The Tigers stressed two things that McNeley believes can make or break the team as conference play creeps closer -- defense and conditioning.

"We've got to get better defensively," McNeley said. "I'm convinced at this time that we are going to be a better zone defensive team than man-to-man."

The Tigers worked on zone defenses and in particular boxing out and rebounding out of the zones. It is something the Tigers have had trouble with in the early part of their season.

Often with Nevada in a zone the opposing teams have been able to crash the offensive glass, getting second and third chances on each possession. It likely cost the Tigers in their last game against Harrisonville, a 45-35 loss that featured many second chances for the Wildcats because of rebounding.

Nevada also worked on getting in better shape. Running was incorporated into each facet of practice Wednesday, with sprints included throughout.

"We also need to get in better basketball shape," McNeley said. "Those are two things we can control (defense and condition). We need to make sure and take advantage of what we can control."

Improved defense would have helped Nevada in two of their three losses. When a team is able to play consistent defense, sometimes it can overcome a poor shooting night like Nevada's 24 percent effort from the field against Harrisonville.

McNeley said the break will also be used to work a little on individual fundamentals.

"We'll use some of the time to get some reps with our post and perimeter players," he said.

The Tigers will have had three practices this week (with tomorrow being the last) then get at it again Tuesday as they prepare for Jan. 3, when they resume play against Butler.

The Tigers start conference play Jan. 11, when they play Webb City. With McDonald County beating both Webb City and Carthage this season, they have served notice to the other teams that there isn't a weak team in the Southwest Conference.