Four games into the new season, pressure defense has emerged as an Achilles' Heel for the Douglas High boys basketball team.
It was the difference on Saturday night when the Tigers lost for the third time in four games at the Buchanan/Clovis West Invitational in Fresno, Calif., this time a 75-51 loss at the hands of Tulare Western.
The Tulare Western Mustangs (2-2) used an effective fullcourt press to turn a 16-15 first-quarter deficit into a 44-24 halftime advantage. It's no secret what the Tigers (1-3) will be working on in practice this coming week, according to 6-foot-9 junior center Keith Olson.
"We've got a lot of learning to do and a lot of hard work to do these next few weeks," Olson said. "We have to cut down on our turnovers against the press. We're not running our pressbreaker right and these other teams are going to keep pressing us until we do get it right."
Tulare Western scored numerous transition baskets during its 29 point second quarter run.
"Their press ate us up and we weren't getting back fast enough on defense," Olson said.
Olson scored 21 points and Jeff Nady added 10 to lead Douglas offensively.
Douglas faces Fallon Thursday on the opening night of its own Carson Valley Classic in Minden.