St. Francis basketball team puts puzzle together
St. Francis basketball team puts puzzle together
The only Division I player on the St. Francis boys basketball roster wasn’t on the floor the final quarter of the Lancers’ 47-40 Central Coast Section Open Division championship win over Bellarmine last week.
St. Francis coach Mike Motil said Hewitt “is probably the key player to our team.”
Hewitt wasn’t injured or in foul trouble and he certainly wasn’t out because of disciplinary problems.
Versatility, competitiveness and high basketball IQs are traits of these Lancers, who are 25-2, have won 16 straight and are one of four teams in history to go through the West Catholic Athletic League undefeated.
Modesto Christian — which hasn’t lost since dropping its first game of the season — features one of California’s top big men in 6-10 Robinson Idehen (16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds per game), a top point guard in burly 6-3 senior Christian Ellis (12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game), and a half dozen superb role players.
Motil said the versatility of his team and the willingness of his players to accept whatever role he gives them has been key this season.
Whoever is playing the best plays, and these guys know it and accept it.
Motil said the core seven average between 7 and 12 points per game and each has, at some point, led the team in scoring in a game.
Besides Hewitt, they are:
The 6-5 senior swingman is a tough matchup for opponents because of his shooting range and ability to drive and dish.
“He scored eight points in the first few minutes against Bellarmine, didn’t score again, but contributed mightily,” Motil said.
A 6-3 senior guard, Witt is the team’s most explosive scorer and best shooter.
The slight (6-2, 155) sophomore guard is the brother of Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson, who played on the 2010 St. Francis team that won a Northern California title.
The 6-2, 180-pound senior guard is the school’s best all-around athlete.
“He brings our competitive edge, athleticism and defense up a notch just by stepping on the court,” Motil said.
The 6-4 junior had 16 points in the title game against Bellarmine “and has made a bunch of big three-pointers for us all year,” Motil said.