HERSHEY - Sometimes you get so caught up in Donegal's fancy offensive numbers and won-loss record to realize how much good work the Indians' do at the other end of the court.
That would be the defensive end.
That's where senior guard Dylan Houseal stood out Friday night in a District 3-AAA quarterfinal game against L-L League foe Lancaster Catholic in the Giant Center.
Shadowing Crusaders' senior sniper Erik Goldbach, Houseal hounded Lancaster Catholic's second-leading scorer silly, holding him to a season-low 2 points in the Indians' 51-32 victory.
Every time Goldbach turned around, Houseal was in his mug.
Right wing. Left wing. Top of the circle. You name it.
Goldbach barely got an open look, and he was held to just one second-quarter field goal. That's it.
A double-digit scorer himself, Houseal spent pretty much all of his energy on thee defensive end Friday night. He only scored 4 points, and those came on a pair of buckets in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided.
Houseal's D effort against Goldbach was no fluke; when Donegal topped Lancaster Catholic 64-41 in a crossover game on December 14 in Mount Joy, Goldbach - with Houseal glued to him - was held to 6 points.
Caught up with Houseal after Donegal's win in the district quarterfinals and we chatted about his defensive effort, about chasing Goldbach around for four quarters, and about where the Indians go next, namely to the district semifinals, Monday at 6:30 p.m. against Berks Catholic back in the Giant Center. Take a look.