Shelby boys basketball struggles on offense, takes tough loss to Manistee

Echo community correspondent Amanda Dodge contributed to this story.

Shelby coach Rick Zoulek sees the improvement in his team week to week - but concedes it's frustrating for his team that the improvement isn't manifesting on the scoreboard.

The Tigers fell to Manistee Saturday, 45-31, marking the team's lowest point total of the season. However, Zoulek said the effort was there on defense throughout the game.

"Sometimes it feels like there's a lid on the basket," Zoulek said. "We had some good shots and some good takes to the basket, and I was pleased with the effort. The effort was fine. We just have to find a way to put the ball in the basket."

Leighton Belasco's six points led Shelby. Defensively, Zoulek was pleased with Isaac Garcia's work in particular. Garcia's start to the season was affected by a late-season broken hand during the Tigers' district championship football campaign, but he's worked his way back to health and his recent play has reflected that.

"He's scrappy," Zoulek said. "He's a tough kid. Maybe his football background helps that. I think he's back to 100 percent now. We can feel his presence back in practice and in games. We just need the other guys around him to make more good choices with the basketball."

The Tigers battled back a couple of times during the second half, getting as close as seven points, but couldn't find enough baskets to really make the Mariners sweat. Zoulek credited Manistee with playing well on offense against his own team's high-effort defense.

While Shelby dropped to 1-4 with the defeat, Zoulek said he can tell the team is communicating better defensively and putting itself in better positions. However, he also has been around the block enough to know such things can ring hollow with young players who want to see results.

"That's the frustrating part for them and for me is, they're doing a lot of things right, but it's hard to feel like you're doing things right when you don't make a basket," Zoulek said. "I can see how much better we're getting, but they don't feel it because we're losing by eight or 10 or whatever. If those things start going in and we can stay close or go ahead, that confidence level is going to change."

Eli Kelley paced Shelby on the boards, grabbing six rebounds.

The winter break will enable the Tigers to hone their skills further, and perhaps when the team returns to action in January - battles await with Oakridge and North Muskegon, both on the road - the team will have more luck finding the points it needs to win.

"I'm pleased with the progress, and I just want the kids to see it in the score more," Zoulek said. "We just have to keep working at it."