Student tops teacher as Avonworth takes care of Washington
Avonworth head coach Dan Bradley talks to Washington coach Ron Faust before the start of Monday night’s game. Bradley was a 1988 graduate of Wash High and played under Faust.
Wash High’s Markel Pulliam shoots in between Avonworth defenders Michael Noethiger and Zach Chandler Monday during the first half.
Wash High’s Matt Popeck wrestles for the ball with Avonworth’s Garrett Day and Cole Jenkins Monday during the first half.
Washington’s Markel Pulliam passes the ball to a teammate through the legs of Avonworth’s Michael Noethiger Monday during the second half.
Wash High’s Nate Swart is swarmed by Avonworth defenders as he tries to shoot late in Monday’s game.
As the junior varsity players fought for a loose ball in Washington High School’s gymnasium, two coaches sat next to one another, sharing laughs and memories.
They were less than 30 minutes away from facing each other for the first time, so they shook hands and parted ways. It was a unique moment for Dan Bradley.
Bradley, a 1988 Wash High graduate who is now Avonworth’s boys basketball coach, could not help but feel nostalgic walking into the brightly lit gym and sharing a conversation with a man who helped mold his coaching career.
For the first time, he would have the opportunity to face Wash High head coach Ron Faust, who helped shape Bradley’s coaching philosophies of structure, discipline and focus. Even during the non-section game between the Antelopes and Prexies, Faust cracked a few jokes at his former player and showed intensity that the teacher did not want to fall to his former student.
“It was a weird feeling (Sunday), looking forward to it,” Bradley said. “I was able to come back a couple times, but this was different coaching against him. It was special to see the old faces. It was rewarding. There are definitely a lot of memories in this gym.”
There was not one lead change after the opening minute, but the competitiveness between the two coaches translated to the court. Avonworth was strong in the lane, defended well and showed an attention to detail. It was a performance reminiscent of Faust’s Wash High teams of the past, but Monday night, the student might have given the teacher and his alma mater a lesson or two.
The Antelopes held off Wash High’s second-half rally and took advantage of defensive miscues in a 64-53 win.
Wash High (0-3) trailed by 17 points late in the third quarter and fought back to within six, but trouble rebounding and defending helped Avonworth (3-0) hold on.
The Prexies only grabbed one offensive rebound in the first half and the problems continued late in the game.
“I didn’t pay much attention to it,” Faust said, tongue-in-cheek, about coaching against Bradley. “Dan does a great job and always has a quality program. We’re real proud of him that he’s a Wash High product. It was nice to see him back here. His people perform well. They know where the ball is supposed to go and their players know their roles.
“We need to watch what these teams are doing and maybe steal some of their ideas.”
Those ideas would likely include aggressive play in the lane and how to shore up missed assignments on defense. Avonworth forward Zach Chandler, who finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds, gave the Antelopes a 48-31 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter when Faust called a timeout.
The Prexies weren’t standing tall when the Antelopes drove to the basket and weren’t playing well on offense. Senior guard Markel Pulliam, who scored a game-high 25 points, sparked an 11-0 run to end the quarter.
Avonworth slowed the pace of play and used pressure to force Wash High into mistakes, building an 8-1 run to secure the win.
Antelopes freshman guard Tyreek Davis had a team-high 23 points, including six in Avonworth’s 16-point fourth quarter.
“They were getting down in transition and they were doing a good job,” Bradley said. “We missed some layups and they were defending well. We had to slow it down and we were able to get a bucket after that. We really had a chance to stretch the lead, but they come back like they always do.”
As was the case in their first two games, a slow start hurt Wash High. Avonworth started the game on a 12-4 run and added a 10-0 run in a 22-point second quarter by imposing its will in the lane. The result was a nine-point lead at the half.
Nate Swart, who was held to eight points, paired with Pulliam to narrow the deficit to five points early in the third, but the Antelopes’ 12-0 run, which included two three-pointers by Davis, put the Prexies in a hole.
“I’m pleased with the effort in making comebacks, but I’m not pleased with getting down by 17,” Faust said. “We do that much too frequently. It’s become a pattern. We know the reason for it because by nature, we’re not a very aggressive group. By the time we wake up and decide we need to be aggressive, it’s somewhat too late to exert that kind of effort.”
Eleven players scored for Wash High, but Pulliam was the lone double-digit scorer. Matt Popeck added nine points, but the Prexies had to rely on Pulliam for rebounding. The 5-10 point guard had nine rebounds.
“You always want to win,” Bradley said. “He’s more of a father figure and a coach, but anytime you go against family, you always coach a little harder, play a little harder and it means a lot.”