Lions put teams in the ‘Twilight Zone’

JACKSON, Tenn. ? Among the reasons behind the success of the Vanguard University women’s basketball team is a unique defensive scheme that was introduced to Coach Russ Davis as the “Twilight Zone.”

It’s a pliable zone defense that, depending on an opponent’s offensive alignment, can resemble a 2-3, a 1-2-2 and a 1-3-1.

“We just call it 22,” said Davis, who borrowed the scheme from Oklahoma City and Oklahoma-based Southern Nazarene, who have combined to win nine of the last 12 NAIA Division I titles.

“The Oklahoma schools used to run it and they were winning all those national championships,” Davis said. “So I figured we might as well try it.”

The defense, Davis said, is a mix between a match-up zone and a half-court trap.

“It’s perfect for teams that are real big,” Davis said. “It’s just hard to throw over. It’s hard to pass [against].”

Texas College Coach Debra Alexander, whose team Vanguard defeated, 91-46, in Wednesday’s first round, was impressed by the scheme.

“It’s more or less a match-up zone, but [the Lions] are so tall and their arm spans are so long that even when they’re in a regular zone, it looks like a match-up zone, because they are so long, they can cover so much space. Whether we were looking at it as a 2-3 or a 1-3-1, it looks so big, because they’re so tall and it’s hard to get the ball inside.”

Coach John McCullough of Oklahoma Baptist, which the Lions defeated, 69-53, in Saturday’s quarterfinals, also praised the Vanguard zone.

“We don’t play a lot against the type of length they have in their zone,” McCullough said. What they lack in quickness, they make up in length. They’re active with their hands and they move well. If your offense is on its heels against it, you’re dead.”

Jessica Richter, who operates at one of the top spots in the zone, came into the tournament averaging four steals per game, which ranked second in Division I. Richter has 13 steals in three tournament games.

Rachel Besse, the Lions’ 6-foot-3 center, occupies the middle. Her exceptionally long arms give her the ability to cover virtually the entire 10-foot-wide lane. She has nine blocked shots and six steals in three tournament wins.

Vanguard opponents have averaged 23.8 turnovers per game heading into Monday.

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Lubbock Christian (22-11) completed its third straight upset by knocking off No. 4-seeded Trevecca Nazarene of Tennessee, 62-51, in the quarterfinals. The Lady Chaps, ranked No. 21 in the final coaches’ poll, are a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Other Sooner teams include Oklahoma City, Southern Nazarene and Wayland Baptist, which have combined to win 11 titles and post eight runner-up showings in NAIA Division I.

“Teams in that conference are battle-tested,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said. “Any time you can beat a Sooner team in nonconference or in postseason, that’s a real accomplishment.”

Lubbock Christian lost two of its three conference games against Oklahoma Baptist and the Lady Chaps also have a loss to Golden State Athletic Conference member Azusa Pacific (82-67 on Dec. 20).