Adkins’ defense key as Wood tops Ryan

WHAT'S THE POINT of playing basketball if you can't dent the scorebook?

For the answer, check with Kyle Adkins. A very happy and proud Kyle Adkins.

The box scores from Friday night's second batch of Catholic League openers can be found on Page 26. Just don't look for Adkins' name with Archbishop Wood's list of players. Goose-egg guys don't make an appearance.

Nevertheless, a strong case could be built that Adkins, a 5-10, 170-pound junior guard, was visiting Wood's most prominent contributor in a 45-40 success at Archbishop Ryan.

Weird, right?

"I knew I didn't score," said Adkins, who was 0-for-2 from the floor and never got to the foul line, "but I can't say I was thinking about it. Or that it was bothering me. In fact, that's the second time this season I didn't score. That's my job. And I'd always take not scoring as long as I know I helped us win the game."

On frisky drives followed by kick-out passes, often resulting in treys, Adkins collected five assists. But his major work was done at the other end.

Spending most of the night as the primary defender in Wood's man-to-man defense, Adkins held the highly productive Eric Fleming to nine points.

Even better, you could say Adkins blanked Fleming over the final three quarters. Though the senior swingman did hit two treys during those 24 minutes, one came off an inbound play, when the Vikings were scrambling on defense, not sure what orders had been given by coach Jack Walsh, and the other occurred when Wood, due to foul trouble, briefly switched to a zone.

Fleming drained that shot on the opposite side of the court from where Adkins was stationed.

"We knew Fleming was their scorer," Adkins said, simply. "My job was to deny him the ball the whole time. That was our game plan: Make someone else beat us.

"In practice, we had scout-team JV guys acting as Fleming in their sets. Trying to imitate him and do what he does. They did a nice job. We knew exactly how he would play."

More than once, Adkins was spotted inches from Fleming's nose both when the ball was in and out of play. If he was trying to be the all-time pain in the you-know-what, he succeeded in marvelous fashion. Fleming finished 3-for-12.

"It was pretty exciting. I like playing defense," Adkins said. "He had the one player-control foul against me and his coaches were yelling at him a few times to let the game come to him. That's when you know you're really doing the job and forcing the guy out of his rhythm. That is very satisfying."

Adkins has needed some defensive happiness in his sporting life.

Though a very talented defensive back, he was among the victims Dec. 10 when Wood fell to Allentown Central Catholic, 49-27, in a Class AAA semifinal. Central Catholic's quarterback, Brendan Nosovitch, accounted for all seven touchdowns and a still-hard-to-believe 602 yards of rushing and passing.

Yes, 602!!

"He's a great player, obviously," said Adkins, whose brother, Scott, is now a freshman at Penn State Altoona after also starring in football at Wood. "I had no choice but to get over it quick. I was at basketball the next day. We'll come back stronger next season and, hopefully, see them again in the semifinals."

He expanded: "I didn't think about it. Didn't watch the game film. Didn't pick up the paper the next day. I knew he'd played awesome. I blocked it out and said, 'Time for basketball season.'"

Jack Walsh, the coach's son, led Wood with 14 points; four treys were his highlight. Joe Getz (11), Shane Neher and Joe LoStracco (10 apiece) completed the scoring. LoStracco, a bulky freshman, added nine rebounds and three blocks.

Nick Augenbaugh, a sub, also scored nine points for Ryan while mixing in eight rebounds and two apiece of assists and steals. Christian Rivera used spirited drives to manage eight points (two field goals, 4-for-6 at line). Mike Rymal and Tyler Donnelly hit two treys apiece for 12 total markers.

Rivera's two free throws made it 43-40 with 1:17 left, but the Raiders could not connect on three treys down the stretch as Getz converted a one-and-one.

Fleming got to attempt none of Ryan's late misses. It's hard to shoot when a guy's attached to your chest.

"I wouldn't say I'm a 'defensive specialist,' but I always take pride in it," Adkins said.

No point in disputing that.