Free throws make the difference for Mather

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:42AM

Mather coach Glen Heffernan decided to change up his squad's practice routine two weeks ago with an emphasis on free throws.

The results certainly showed Wednesday as Mather defeated host Von Steuben 76-65 in a Red-North clash.

With the score tied at 48 to start the fourth quarter, Mather (15-4, 5-2) went on a 13-2 run to build a 61-50 lead. During that run the Rangers went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.

"My assistant coach has been telling me, ‘Let's shoot extra free throws.' So now at the end of every practice we spend an extra 15 to 20 minutes shooting free throws," Heffeman said. "I credit that for the last couple wins we have because now we're making free throws in clutch time."

It was during that clutch time that Kyle Gordon made a steal in Mather's full-court press and made a lay up to give the Rangers a 51-50 lead -- their first lead since the end of the first quarter when they led 19-17.

Mather would never trail again.

Gordon's steal was also a sign of how far the effectiveness of Mather's press came along throughout the game. In the first quarter, Von Steuben's Jalen Delaney scored the Panthers' first eight points after dissecting Mather's press with ease.

"They were breaking the press easy because we were pressing wrong," Heffeman said. "A couple guys on my team can't follow directions and when players do follow directions, they press works. But too many guys were just standing and watching early on."

Ken Murphy had 19 points to lead the Rangers. Brandon Roby chipped in 16 more.

"They are our seniors," Heffeman said of the tandem. "They always come ready to play."

Arinze Okeke led Von Steuben (4-11, 2-4) with 18 points.

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