The Van-Far boys are looking better on the floor.
Head coach Pat Connaway said that after the Indians won 55-11 against Community R-6 at home on Dec. 19. Pacey Reading led Van-Far (3-3) with 21 …
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The Van-Far boys are looking better on the floor.
Head coach Pat Connaway said that after the Indians won 55-11 against Community R-6 at home on Dec. 19. Pacey Reading led Van-Far (3-3) with 21 points and four 3-pointers, Gaven Gaston followed with nine points and four steals, and seven other players scored. Caden Thomas led Community (3-6) with seven points and six rebounds.
Connaway said Van-Far has been working on conditioning in practice after the season started later because of the longer football season. He said they would like to play faster than they’ve been able to so far this season, and Friday’s win had positive signs.
“We were able to force tempo a little bit,” Connaway said. “It looked like we had a little more legs and didn’t appear to be nearly as tired.”
Prior to the Community win, Van-Far had lost three straight, including a 62-43 loss at home to Eastern Missouri Conference foe North Callaway. The Thunderbirds shot the ball well, finishing 70 percent from the floor with three players scoring in double figures, but Connaway said Van-Far still looked tired in that game.
“In practice, we’re scoring and we’re trying to get down the court and get a shot off in four seconds,” Connaway said. “It’s hopefully going to build the legs up and build the conditioning. This is the first time we’ve been able to do it in a game.”
Speaking of legs, Van-Far’s starting point guard Gaston looked the best physically against Community, according to Connaway, after the senior ended his football season with a hamstring injury. Connaway said Gaston was able to pressure the ball better against Community and hopes more time off before the Indians play Fayette at 1 p.m. Monday in the Moberly Holiday Shootout will help.
“I don't know if he'll be 100 percent (by the first of the year), but 90 percent of Gaven is quicker than 100 percent of most kids,” Connaway said.
Van-Far will continue to focus on conditioning and rebounding heading into the new calendar year, Connaway said. The Indians want to push the pace and need to be able to do that.
“That’s going to help us defensively because we have a tendency, when we get tired, to start fouling and start doing bad things,” Connaway said. “These kids, when the body gets tired, the mind starts to go. We’re trying to tell them that’s when your mind needs to be sharper.”
