Providence Grove blitzing opponents with 3-point shooting

CLIMAX — There’s a saying in basketball that a team that lives by the three-point shot dies by the three-point shot. But that’s only true when the team that loves to take the three-point shot doesn’t realize when it should switch philosophies.

It’s a delicate balance that could play into a team’s ego, but when you’re like the Providence Grove boys varsity basketball team, there was never an ego problem to begin with.

“I tell them night after night, if they are falling, then shoot,” second-year PG coach Shane Worth said. “If they are not falling, penetrate. We’ve done a really good job of recognizing that, especially in the last week. We’ve been doing a good job of penetrating, kicking out and getting the open look.”

The open look resulted in 14 3-point shots made last Friday night as the Patriots remained undefeated in Central Carolina Conference play with a 74-54 win over Thomasville. Earlier that week, the Patriots canned seven 3-pointers in a 75-59 win over Wheatmore. They also hit 12 long-distance shots in a 80-45 win over East Davidson on Jan. 16. 

But, as Worth proudly states, the Patriots are mature enough to realize when the 3-point shots aren’t falling. They had just three in a 70-62 win over West Davidson on Jan. 6 and just one in a 63-47 win over Trinity.

“They understand the gameplan and trust each other,” Worth said. “They don’t force bad shots, not to say we don’t take some on occasion. We’re doing a good job of not taking bad shots and getting everyone involved. 

“Everyone in the game is rooting for each other, they really don’t care who scores,” Worth added. “And it’s the guys on the bench, too. You talk about family. That’s our school-wide philosophy or mission statement. You play together, play as a family and be victorious together. They take care of each other.”

It took a little time for that to come to fruition. Saddled with a brutal non-league schedule, the Patriots started the season 0-4. PG lost to Randleman twice, Chatham Charter and Williams. A four-game winning streak was followed by losses to Williams and Southern Guilford prior to Christmas before the Patriots have regrouped to win six of their last seven with the only loss coming to CCC foe West Davidson in a holiday tournament overtime setback.

The Patriots are a perfect 5-0 in CCC play as they begin the second half of their league season Friday at West Davidson.

As Worth said, the Patriots are well-balanced and there are a number of players who can take games over when needed. Senior Will Dabbs is averaging 18.8 points per game (including 43 3-pointers), senior Andrew Thomas is averaging 16.1 points per game (28 3-pointers), senior Cam Jones is scoring at a 12.8 points-per-game clip (42 3-pointers) and senior Gabe McCoy is scoring 10.4 points per game, including nine 3-pointers.

That’s four players averaging in double figures on one high school team. That is sharing the basketball.

The rest of the team has added 10 3-pointers to give PG 132 3-pointers on the season as the team is shooting 31 percent from long distance with Landon Hudson, Kolton Cain, Holden Swift and others providing valuable minutes on the floor.

Dabbs is one of the leaders. He averaged 19.4 points per game as a junior.

“I think he thought he had to be the main guy last year,” Worth said of his high-scoring senior. “He understands this year we have other scorers who can get the ball in the hole. He’s doing a great job of finding open guys and getting himself open.”

Last year, the Patriots were without Jones and McCoy, who played at other schools.

“Last year coming in, I was the third new coach in three years,” Worth said. “We had to get that continuity, trust each other. The thing I am enjoying this year is they are starting to jell and find each other. They know they don’t have to do it themselves and other guys can do it. 

“There is no selfishness with this group. We battled some tough teams in our conference and we need to keep our eyes on what we need to do to keep improving.”