Story by recent MLS graduate, Isaiah Kablack.

For Coach Jon Kablack this season, the wheels have slowly come off.

The Martin Luther JV team started remarkably well, as the first-year head coach’s raw energy, loud voice, and overall ability to care for his players shined.

However, recently, the young group has fallen apart.

This past Monday, the JV boys played physical on the road but couldn’t take advantage against Avenues: The World School.

Mental mistakes, turnovers, foul trouble, and late injuries to forwards Freshman Wilson Chen (bloody nose), and Junior Daniel Rodriguez (Jammed Thumb) might have given any opposing team enough comfort to pull off the win, but on this night Martin Luther couldn’t get anything to fall from the charity stripe.

Yes, free throws, the fundamental asset Kablack demands perfection from, is the ability to make free throws.

Last night the Junior Cougars did their best impression of Deandre Jordan morphed with Shaquille O’Neal. The team shot an embarrassing 5 for 29, (17%) and everyone in attendance at the Central Manhattan gym saw the visiting team bury themselves.

Avenues defeated Martin Luther 50-36.

Coach Kablack didn’t have much to say after the game besides his in-depth details for the next practice; which will include “Conditioning, followed by free throws.”

Luther’s JV playoff hopes are still alive with 3 games left against Bay Ridge Prep (0-7), Our Savior New America (0-8), and Portledge (2-5). The team currently stands at third place in their division with a record of 3-8. The small team out of Maspeth has what it takes to make the final push, it just up to them to make it happen.