Players and stats support SCAL defense ...

Russia senior Trevor Monnin (#5) has quick 

hands on defense and a quick step to the basket

Earlier this week on our high school sports talk show, Fish Report LIVE!, we mentioned some recent rumblings we've heard about a lack of offense in Shelby County Athletic League boys basketball this season and debated whether it was legit. Our opinions were split on whether it was truly a lack of offense or perhaps just better defense. It was easy for our sports talk crew to state our opinions because we don't play in the games. We only witness the performances from the stands and tell our viewers what we think we know. That hardly makes us qualified, but we enjoy it regardless.

One person that is qualified to state an opinion was our guest that night, Fairlawn star Nathan Lessing. Through seven games this season Nathan is averaging a league best 25.4 points per game. During our interview we questioned him on the subject and he stated his belief was the league is playing better defense. After the interview I did some post-show research and it turns out Nathan's belief is valid. In Fairlawn's three non-league games Nathan has tallied 33 points twice and 41 points once for a whopping average of 35.6 points per game. In Fairlawn's four SCAL games he's scored 16, 24, 17 and 14 for an average of 17.7. While everyone is having problems stopping Nathan, his league opponents are obviously doing a better job on defense.

Disgruntled fans pointed to last Friday's game scores: Russia 35 - Ft. Loramie 32, Fairlawn 45 - Houston 38, and Jackson Center 47 - Botkins 43. Even Lima News sports writer Jim Naveau chimed in on Twitter:

However, take a look at the SCAL scores from the next night against non-league opponenets: Ft. Loramie 62 - New Bremen 41, Russia 55 - Arcanum 31, Botkins 59 - Ridgemont 54, Anna 61 - New Knoxville 50, and Fairlawn 69 - Newton 56. All wins by the SCAL with an average score of 61.2 points. Proof that SCAL offense wasn't a problem against conferences like the MAC, CCC and NWCC. Furthermore, the SCAL defense that night only gave up an average of 46.4 points. 

There's no doubt that overall scoring totals this year are down compared to last year. Take a look at the SCAL scores from last Friday compared to those same teams one year ago:

It's not just in Shelby County either. Our friend Jim Naveau emailed me before the show on Wednesday night and commented that on Tuesday while Lima Senior's Xavier Simpson was scoring 59 points in a game against Fremont Ross, Jim was watching Continental score 25 points as a team in a game against Delphos St. John's. He also forwarded me these Putnam County League boys basketball statistics compiled by a retired coach from Miller City: 

• In the 2014-15 season, PCL boys basketball teams scored fewer than 50 points in 49.7 percent of their games (92 of 185 games).
• Twenty years earlier in the 1994-95 season, PCL teams scored fewer than 50 points in 22 percent of their games (39 of 173 games).
• Forty years earlier in the 1974-75 season, PCL teams scored fewer than 50 points in 2 percent of their games (4 of 168).

So, from Putnam County to Shelby County, fans are seeing less basketballs go through the hoop. No arguing with that. But for anyone under the misconception that there were bigger stars years ago, you would be wrong. Take a look at the top five scorers in the SCAL from 10 years ago, 20 years ago and 30 years ago:

Our Fairlawn guest from Wednesday night is well ahead of all those former stars and I'm predicting he will be at the end of the season too. You can even go back just nine months to last season and look at two of the SCAL's best. Player of the Year Gavin Hoying from Russia averaged 16.5 points per game and sharp shooter Devin Braun from Ft. Loramie averaged 20.1. Great players from last year just like the great players from 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015.

Why is the defense better then? It's been getting better over the decades for a variety of reasons. Most of all, kids are stronger and quicker than they used to be. Many of them condition and practice year round, which definitely wasn't the case in the 70's and 80's. Officials allowing more physical play over the years is certainly another reason. Why is the defense better this season than last season? It's just simply one of those years. I get to watch a lot of Russia boys basketball and I can tell you senior Trevor Monnin has been a nightmare for every opponent he's guarded. Trevor didn't play varsity last year because of an abundance of seniors, but he's led the Raiders to a phenomenal defensive average of 37.4 points over five games. Not far behind are the Jackson Center Tigers who are only allowing 44.7 points over four games. There's a popular saying in basketball that claims Defense Wins Championships. If Russia and Jackson Center continue those stingy numbers they'll be in line for a few championships this season

As I said earlier, it's easy for sports talk guys like me and fans in the stands to blurt out what we think we know. "The offense stinks and the players used to be better!" However, talking to the kids that actually play the game and checking on statistics will tell you all you need to know. The next time I'm behind the microphone or sitting in the stands it's time to admit it. The defense this season is great and so are the players.