By Brandon Grubbs
Typically when you think about Indiana high school basketball, you think about all the kids who put up big numbers and stats on offense. Everyone talks about the amazing shot or the flashy pass.
But when you look at the teams putting up big wins in big moments when it matters, it’s the elite defensive teams that often win championships. The art of intensity, toughness, awareness and grit has taken Delta basketball to the next level over the years.
The Eagles (15-10) limited the Yorktown Tigers to 48 points in the championship game of the New Castle Sectional. Delta advances to face Blackhawk Christian in the New Castle Regional, where they will be trying to win their fourth straight regional title.
They are led by Coach Mark Detweiler in his ninth year at Delta. His knowledge and experience has gotten him to 403 career wins, 168 of those being at Delta. At Delta, he has compiled a 72% win percentage. Something that Delta basketball and Coach Detweiler’s past teams have been known for is their outstanding defense.
This season’s team is giving up 47.2 points per game on average. All nine of Detweiler’s Delta teams have limited opponents to less than 50 points per game.
On offense you can run different setups, plays and styles. It’s the same concept with defense. Detweiler says it’s important to have a good backup plan to win. Having multiple different options to choose in situations can make a defense stronger and more diverse.
”My career kind of went from probably 90% man-to-man defense to probably midway through my career to about 60-40%,” Detweiler said.
This means that while his teams still play man-to-man about 60% of the time, they use zone defenses the other 40%. This allows Delta’s defense to adjust to different teams, players and in-game scenarios.
But just setting up a good plan on defense is only a part of the big picture. The execution part is up to the players with their practice, focus and awareness. Coach Detweiler explains that the knowledge piece is important.
“Some guys just don’t watch the game enough,” he said. “And when you watch it you develop an understanding of things.”
He adds that one thing that he has learned through his coaching years is how important offense is to defense.
Coach Detweiler says that when shot selection is poor or the ball isn’t going through the bucket, players must constantly scramble to get back on defense. That’s when the defense can break down.
He says when the offense is clicking with good shot selection, the team is taking care of the ball and the ball’s going through the net, it gives the defense the time it needs to set up.
It works both ways because when you can have an active defense, the offense will start clicking as well.
But playing efficiently on both sides of the floor all game is not anywhere near easy. Power forward Chase Phillips says the toughest aspect of being a good defensive player is staying active all game.
“Game slippage can be a big thing,” he says. “With being a good defender you can’t get tired and you have to stay active all game.”
Basketball is a game of momentum, and once you let up and the other team starts getting looks, it opens the door for the opposing team’s offense.
Guard Ryan Lynch says that his activeness on the ball is his best defensive trait. “And making the offense feel uncomfortable,” he adds.
Now these are all individual defensive traits. Having good defensive players doesn’t automatically make a good defensive team.
Connection and communication is important.
“I think coming in this year with having a sophomore, two juniors and a freshman, communication has to be a big part,” Phillips says. “And it’s starting to get better, especially in our zone.”
