2-3 was our record today. Some tough losses to be sure, but some great growth I believe as well. I missed our 16U boys in their 10:10 game vs. Dallas HSAA as I stayed behind to allow my daughter to get some needed rest! From all reports our guys played hard as did the HSAA team. It was a game of runs and unfortunately, the final buzzer sounded at the end of an HSAA run. Our boys will now get a chance to play the Oklahoma City Storm in the 3rd place game of 6A. The boys have had a good week and I’m sure will enjoy the day off for rest tomorrow!
Our second game didn’t go any better. Our 12U girls ran into a buzz saw of a team in the FCA Nighthawks. These young women are a very talented team and they are deep. Unlike many teams at that age, they are not a one or two person team. We had little answer for several players. We found our selves down 30-8 at half time. Our girls were down and I know the double and triple teams that were coming her way frustrated my daughter. The others were frustrated as well. At the half, Coach Ken came by their side and became as much cheerleader as coach and he helped these young women keep their heads up and keep fighting. He urged the girls on and helped them win the second half 11-10, but I think we achieved much more than any win might have. You see, our 12U team is made up of the 6 youngest girls on our 14U team. All season they have had their older teammates to look to when times got tough. Today it was all on them and it took them a while to respond, but they did respond. These young women grew up a little as basketball players today and they have a bright future ahead of them.
The next two games went quite a bit better for us. Our 14U girls battled a tough THESA team to move into the final four against the MHEA Lady Eagles. This sets up a bit of a rubber match for the girls as we beat them in the 12U finals last year and their varsity beat ours last Tuesday night. Many of the girls on both teams played in both games. I dare say it may turn out to be one of the better 14U girl’s game you could watch.
The varsity girls stuck up for their 12U little “sisters” (in at one instance real sisters, in others…just good teammates) by beating the FCA Nighthawks varsity team. That lands them into the final four of the 5A division with a matchup vs. the SWMO Eagles tomorrow. This will be a rematch from the pre-season tip off held here in Springfield back in November. The Missouri Eagles beat the Ohio Eagles in that game. We’ll see how the teams have grown over the years and toss it up for the right to play in the 5A championship.
Our boys finished off the night with a tough opponent in the Nashville Warriors. It was not a night to struggle shooting the ball from the field, but credit must be given to the Warriors for part of our poor FG%. They played tough defense, but again, our guys battled till the last whistle and maintained poise and sportsmanship all through a tough loss.
As we look to the last two days of the tournament one of the things that is most exciting to me is to see the unsung player that steps up in a time of need for their team. Sometimes a role player gets an opportunity and shines. Last year my younger daughter had to fill in for her older sister when she got into foul trouble in the 12U Championship. Sometimes there is an injury; sometimes foul trouble; sometimes there is just a lot of fatigue. Today some of our girls that don’t always get as much playing time were asked to step up and contribute some significant minutes. Each one did with distinction. Five games in six days is a lot to ask anyone. For many of our kids, they are playing 10 games in six days as they play on two teams. You younger players, bench players, role players….each team here is made up of more than the starting five. Whether you play 100% of your game or 5%...you are an integral part of your team. Be ready because you never know when the 14 year old will be asked to guard a senior at the varsity level or the kid who just picked up a ball last year will be asked to match up with an opponent much deeper in experience. This is one of the great lessons of team sports; that each individual contributes to the team even though some get more accolades than others. Each is essential to the success of a team. The coach says we win as a team and lose as a team. I believe Paul had something to say similar in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
Posted on
Thursday, March 19, 2009
by Jeff Johnson