It wasn't a great start, and it was a worse finish, but Helias coach Joe Rothweiler was pleased overall with his team's play Thursday in the Helias Jamboree at Rackers Fieldhouse.
"It's the dog days of high school basketball in Week 3," Rothweiler said after the Crusaders posted a 2-1 record in the Jamboree. "It was nice to get out and play somebody else."
Helias opened with a 22-20 win against the Blair Oaks Falcons in the first of six two-quarter scrimmages.
The Crusaders began the scrimmage with nine consecutive shots from 3-point range. Rothweiler said that was not the original game plan.
"We have some shooters," he said. "We don't want to shoot the 3 that much, but we want to get to the rim and take those inside-out 3s."
Helias shot 5-of-18 from 3 against the Falcons. Malcolm Davis led the Crusaders with nine points, shooting 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
"We definitely have the weapons to shoot the 3," Rothweiler said.
Marcus Anthony missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury, but the senior was strong in his return to the court Thursday. Anthony totaled 12 rebounds in the three scrimmages for the Crusaders, and he scored 13 points in Helias' 28-22 win against the Jefferson City Jays.
"We challenged him to go after the boards, because he's so athletic," Rothweiler said. "He could average six offensive rebounds a game if he put his mind to it, and hopefully we'll get him to that point."
After chucking 3s against Blair Oaks, Helias switched it up and attacked the basket much more often against the Jays.
"I thought we played fast," Rothweiler said.
The Crusaders' best six-minute session of the night came in the first half against the Jays, when they held a 16-6 lead.
"We played with tons of energy," Rothweiler said. "I think we're going to play that way this year. We've got 10 guys that can play, and we've got some athleticism."
In the final scrimmage, Father Tolton blitzed Helias for a 29-10 victory. The Crusaders scored just one point in the final six minutes after falling behind 14-9 after one quarter.
"I could sense our lack of focus a little bit before that scrimmage," Rothweiler said. "And when Tolton comes out and shoots the ball like that, no matter how much focus you have, you're going to have trouble with them."
Damon Johanns had a team-high four points against Tolton.
Helias will have to wait another two weeks before it faces another opponent. The Crusaders begin the season Dec. 5 in the Arvest Classic at Springfield.
"And we have Fayetteville, Ark., first," Rothweiler said. "They are going to be a load. But we're looking forward to it. I think we'll be back, ready and focused to go in practice."