Feb. 16, 2008
Box Score
By Adam Raeder, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
If Alaska head coach Clemon Johnson hasn't been praying for another big man this season, he must have been close at times.
But if Saturday's game is any indication, any prayers he did send out have been answered.
There have been few bright spots for the first-year coach during a the Nanooks' current 10-game losing streak. But Alaska's newest addition, Nashorn Maynard provided some during Alaska's 82-71 loss at Western Washington.
"We finally found a big guy," Johnson said.
That big guy was Maynard, the Saint Kitts product who recorded 10 points and three rebounds -- all on the offensive end -- in his third game in Blue and Gold.
"Ooooh yeah, that was Mr. Nash. I saw things from him that we're going to love to see in the future," Johnson said. "It's just his natural instincts for the ball. That amazed me. That's something we've been trying to get through to our individuals since September.
"Our guys get the rebound when it comes to them. Nash chases it down."
What makes Maynard's 10 points more impressive than, say Kevin Atkins' team-high 14?
Since Maynard's been with the team for so little time, he has yet to understand the offense. So, instead of getting his points on plays designed for him, he just let those instincts take over.
"That's what impressed me. I'm sitting here thinking what I taught him about the offense, and that's the thing -- he wasn't getting it off offense," Johnson said. "It was just natural instinct. It was like, let's just go play basketball and he did."
And with the kid called Nash giving Johnson the widest smile, the Nanooks turned in a performance that left their coach a lot happier than he was two days prior in a blowout at Central Washington.
"We were playing a little harder tonight. We were still having problems in the usual areas -- putting the ball in the basket and rebounding," Johnson said. "(But) the effort was good. I'm much happier than I was the last game. The team we played before, they're a very good team. They just beat Anchorage."
The Nanooks, who have been plagued by slow starts all season, came out strong onto the Carver Gym court, building up an early 11-4 lead.
But after trailing for the first 11 1/2 minutes, the Vikings made their move, finishing the half with a 38-27 lead.
"Tonight, we started out much better. We were able to put the ball in the hole, hit a few shots," Johnson said. "After that, we went stone cold."
The Vikings built their lead to a game-high 23 points on a David Brittinen dunk with 7:17 left to play.
Brittinen finished with a career high 22 points.
"He wasn't even anyone we were looking to scout. We overlooked him," Johnson said. "He didn't play that well against us (the first time). He wasn't someone we expected to put up 20-some points against us."
Freshman guard Keven Campbell had 12 points for Alaska and Mladen Begojevic provided 12, though the sharp-shooter had a rare off night, going 3-of-12 from the field.
Atkins' 14 points were a strong rebound from a two-point performance at Central Washington.
"To be honest with you, I can't tell you what was going on in that young man's mind," Johnson said. "I used to not have anyone who was good enough to push him, now, he's got competition (in Maynard)."
And after Saturday, Johnson's determined to make sure he has Maynard around for three more years.
"I told him, if I have to go to Saint Kitts and find him myself, he'll be back," Johnson said.
