Chaney uses pressure to cook Red Dragons

The Cowboys hit 12 of their first 15 shots and forced the Dragons into 11 first-quarter turnovers.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Chaney High boys basketball coach Don D'Alesio wasn't thrilled about losing two of his first three games, but he knew the Cowboys were better than their record showed.
He made sure they knew it, too.
"We played three good games, but we had two disappointing losses," he said. "And if there's any good that comes out of losses, it's that they make you hungry.
"I think it made the kids come out and work harder."
Chaney evidently wanted to share its work ethic, because on Friday night, the Cowboys made Niles work for everything.
Chaney forced 11 first-quarter turnovers, held the Red Dragons to 1 of 11 shooting from the field and hit 12 of 15 shots to take a 25-4 lead.
Not a bad start.
The finish wasn't too bad, either, as Chaney trounced the visiting Red Dragons 70-42.
"We came together as a team," senior Chris Childers, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists in three quarters, said. "We've been emphasizing playing together and it's paying off big time."
Dragons had no chance
Niles, which lost starter Tim Rupert to injury in the opening minute and was already without starter Vince Gatta, had no answers for Chaney's press. The Red Dragons shot just 21 percent in the first half (5 of 24) and trailed 46-14 at halftime.
"They took us out of the game with their ball pressure, and the turnovers just mounted," Niles coach Ron Price said. "They're a quick team -- one of the quickest I've seen in a few years -- and they did a real nice job speeding up the game."
Chaney doesn't have great size, so D'Alesio tries to push the tempo. His team motto is "32 minutes of hell," (made famous by Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson), which pretty much sums up Niles' night.
"It kinda snowballed, but I'm glad we didn't quit," Price said. "They battled and that's all I can ask when things get ugly. And this was definitely ugly."
Senior guard Chance Peay scored 11 points and added seven assists and four steals for the Cowboys, who lost close games to Salem and Boardman. Adrian Richards scored 16 points -- including Chaney's first eight -- and added five steals.
Idris ElAmin had 14 points and Ed McElroy added nine points and five assists.
"We had a couple of disappointing losses and we wanted to redeem ourselves," McElroy said. "All week we practiced hard and we're playing better team ball. There's an emphasis on team rather than just individuals."
Stressed family element
The Cowboys had a promising start last season, but watched it unravel and finished with a 7-13 record. D'Alesio was hired in the offseason -- Chaney's third coach in four years -- and has stressed the family element ever since.
"There's only one ball out there, so we want everyone to put their focus on the team," D'Alesio said. "Every game we try to get seven or eight players in the scoring column and I try to play 10 or 11."
Junior guard Dan Jones was one of the lone bright spots for Niles (3-2), scoring 16 points and adding four rebounds, four steals and four assists.
Friday's game was a blemish on an otherwise promising start for the Red Dragons. Needless to say, Price isn't going to dwell on it.
"I'm disappointed with some things we did, and those will get rectified," Price said. "But this is just one game. We'll move on. We'll move on."
scalzo@vindy.com