Boys BB: Defense keys Tiger win over Raiders

Johnny Dittman 16 points (photo by Jim Lindquist)

After three consecutive losses, two of them by two points, Tiger coach Shane Wyandt resorted to a vocabulary word he doesn't like to use in addressing his team prior to Tuesday night's 68-52 Missota Conference win over Northfield at Tiger Gym.

"I told our guys this was a 'must' win for us," he said. "I really don't like to use that term especially at this time of the season. It can come back to bite you.

"I thought we responded well. Our defensive focus and effort, especially in the first half, were great and we dominated the boards. When we do those things we are usually successful."

The Tigers couldn't have gotten off to a much better start, hitting seven of their first 10 shots on the way to a 16-5 lead. Point guard Johnny Dittman led the opening spurt with seven points.

The pesky Raiders cut the lead to seven points at 27-20 late in the half before Farmington closed on a 9-0 run on baskets by Zach Speikers, Nick Varner, Mac Bassett and Darren Beenken to make it 36-20 at intermission.

Dittman keyed another fast start to the second half, this one an 8-0 run, with a pair of three-pointers as the Tigers enjoyed their biggest lead of the night at 44-20.

From there until the final horn the teams jockeyed back and forth but the outcome was never in doubt as the visitors never got their deficit below double digits.

"I liked our energy and effort tonight," Wyandt said. "I thought Darren (Beenken) provided quality senior leadership and Eli (Rockett) had another great game.

"The things we need to concentrate on the rest of the way are taking care of the defensive glass and cutting down our turnovers in crucial situations. We do those two things and we are going to be fine."

Eli Rockett 2nd straight double-double (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers got a balanced scoring attack with Beenken leading the way with 17 points and four assists. Dittman netted 16 points, including a trio of three-pointers, and Rockett registered his second straight double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Bassett also cracked double digits for the Tigers with 12 points on five of-nine shooting and Speikers chipped in with eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

As a team Farmington shot 49 percent from the floor and broke a thee-point shooting slump by nailing seven of 18 from long range. The Tigers also controlled the boards by a solid 29-18 margin.

Friday Farmington (12-11) heads to Chanhassen for another Missota Conference game. They return home next Tuesday to face Chaska and then close the regular season Friday night at Shakopee.