Troy High School Boys Basketball Focusing on Fundamentals

The first varsity boys basketball practice after a 62-61 loss on Friday to rival wasn’t an easy one.

Monday, Colts head coach Gary Fralick let his team know he wasn’t happy with its performance in its first loss to Athens and told the squad they needed some “tough love." He also extended practice to include a film session.

“They were a good team, I give Athens credit, but we still should’ve beat ’em,” Fralick said.

He was particularly upset that his team gave up more than 60 points on defense, including 28 points to Athens senior Marcarius Coakley. Coakley hit a key 3-pointer late in the game to tie it 60-60.

“Can’t give up 62 points every game and expect to win,” Fralick said. “It’s early, but we have to work on that.”

As expected, the team’s offense isn’t lacking scorers, but Fralick knows his team is going to need to improve its defense to bring Troy (1-1) a second consecutive Oakland Activities Association White championship title.

“We need to work on the things that, fundamentally, I thought we had taken care off,” Fralick said. “Our defense was slow to help, we didn’t box out, we didn’t run the ball like we needed to and we thought were the better athletic team.”

Fralick expects the Colts leaders on the court like junior forward James Young and senior point guard Evan Mahone will help put the team back on course.

Young is the top-ranked junior basketball player in the state of Michigan who can do a little bit of everything.

He can play all five positions on the court and is coming off a sophomore season where he nearly averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. He earned All-OAA honors and was named to the Class A All-State third team.

Fralick will move Young around the court this season to try and maximize his production. Young has already spent time running the point for Troy and on the wing.

“He’s more comfortable (at the wing),” Fralick said. “He’ll come off screens, run the floor a little more and spot up.”

In the Colts first two games, Young is averaging 21 points.

With defenses focused on stopping the dynamic forward, there will be plenty of opportunities for his teammates, like Mahone and sophomore Maceo Baston.

Baston led Troy with 20 points against Athens and had 18 points in the season-opener against Utica Ford.

As for where the Colts chances for a back-to-back title stand in the OAA White, Fralick isn’t sure.

“No idea,” Fralick said, smiling. “I know it’s a cliché, but I’m just taking one game at a time.”

The recipe for winning is simple, he added.

“It all comes down to hard work and dedication. We haven’t quite lived up to that yet.”