Improvement

I really don't know what else to entitle this post. Our team is getting better. We played one of our best games of the season, beating Harrisonburg 78-42. We beat them by only 4 last time we played them. The end that we've improved on the most is our defense. We are a lock-down defensive team right now. We've got a tough week coming up. We travel over an hour Monday night to Rockbridge (a game that was rescheduled due to snow) and then play the #1 team in the state on Tuesday night (we're ranked #3). Then we have Broadway AT BHS on Friday night for a clinching District title win. So it should be a very interesting week. Hopefully we can focus in and continue improving as the regular season winds down. I want our team to be playing its best as we head into the tournament.
-Jimmy

Puking, Passing Out= 15-1

In the strangest game that I've ever been a part of (as a player and coach), our boys held on despite miserable shooting (after the events mentioned subsequently) for a 44-36 win over another division rival, Turner Ashby, to improve to 15-1, 3-0 in District play. We jumped out to a 19-6 lead, with two dunks (one a thundering two-hander by our starting center and another one by our starting point guard on a fast break). It was after the second dunk when I guess a player from TA thought he'd had enough, and vomited all over the floor. Needless to say, they had to clean it up. However, it took them nearly 30 minutes before we could actually resume play.
We got playing again and then about a minute into game action, play was stopped again. This time for a message: "If there is a doctor, they are needed immediately in the Spotswood fan section." I guess one of our fans passed out. So play was halted again for about 5 minutes. When play finally resumed we had lost all our momentum and never really got it back. However, we made JUST enough shots to win the game.
It's nice because we are now 3-0 in our District with 2 of the first three being on the road. If we can simply hold home court, we should win the District title and receive an automatic bid and a bye to the Regional playoffs. Now, we just have to remain focused and finish down the stretch. I knew we would have a good team, I just never thought our record would be what it is at this point. Good teams finish strong, and we'll try to continue proving we are worthy of a "good team" title.
-Jimmy

Pink Puppy Paws

How about something non-basketball related? We like to tell our fun or crazy Gus stories, so here is one for today... we have had to leave Gus in the garage, without outside access because he has taken to jumping the fence. We are now moving to tracing the fence with electric fence, but that will take another paycheck and some time. So until then, he is in the garage during the day. Well, we have been really worried about him in there all by himself with no potty breaks so I have been rushing home to let him out. Two good days so far! No mess! We have been thrilled with this and praising him up a storm. So today after work I was petting his cute little face and telling him what a good boy he was...of course, he rolls over to get his belly scratched. When he does this I notice his feet are a different color....pink to deep red. For about one second I thought it was blood and about had my heart and stomach in my mouth...then I looked closely and realized it was pen. I quickly ran through the house looking for my red pen stain. I was not disappointed in my quest....there was a chewed up red pen on the basement carpet. Well, Gus got a lecture the whole time I scrubbed which I am pretty sure he didn't understand, but it made me feel better. And thanks to Oxyclean it did come out amazingly easily....I dare Jimmy to try to find it when he gets home! All stories aside, we do have a really good dog....he is no Marley. I just wouldn't have as much fun telling you about the times where he is good. Not quite as funny.
-Kari

Big Win

The game last night was close for a half, 29-23 at halftime. The second half we blew it open with a huge offensive explosion and lock-down defense. We outscored Broadway 25-8 in the third quarter on our way to an impressive 77-45 victory. Our record improved to 14-1. More importantly, we are 2-0 in our District and in sole possession of 1st place. We've got a week to get ready for TA, another District game, next Friday night. It's another road game so it should be tough. We'll see what happens. I'll keep everyone posted. I'm really proud of the way our kids are playing and even prouder of how they are handling success.
-Jimmy

State Ranked

The AP State polls came out yesterday and we are ranked #2 in the state of Virginia for AA boys basketball. I saw another poll that ranked ALL VA schools (private, prep, and all divisions) and we were ranked #22 in that one. So our team is garnishing a lot of praise. Our challenge as coaches is to keep our team humble and help them realize that these polls don't put banners (district, regional and state champs) on the wall. However, it is nice for us as coaches and for our players to be recognized for hard work, dedication and commitment. I'm very proud of our team.
-Jimmy

Been Awhile

Well, since my last post, we have gone 3-0. We beat Harrisonburg at HHS 61-57. It was a district game and so winning a district game on the road was very rewarding. All district games are extremely important (our next one is this Friday against Broadway). We then had back to back games against Waynesboro. We won at WHS without our starting point guard by 24 and then last night, beat them badly at home (74-22). It was almost uncomfortable winning by that margin. So our record has improved to 13-1, 1-0 in District play.
Mom and dad were down from Friday night until this morning. They're heading to my Aunt Millie's for a couple of days then back to Ohio. It was so nice having them here (the one negative of living in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley is that we are distanced from our Ohio friends and family). Rudy and Gus had one minor "incident" then after that, did terrific together. I know that Gus will miss his buddy.
-Jimmy

Close Win

Well, it was close! We beat Stuarts Draft, 59-58, to improve to 10-1. They were a good team on an impressive win streak of their own. But we managed to make JUST enough plays and free throws down the stretch to hold them off. Their kid just missed a half court shot that would have won it for them (rimmed out). So we'll take 10-1 at the halfway point. Friday, we open up District play with Harrisonburg at Harrisonburg. Should be a TOUGH contest.
-Jimmy

Score

Fort: 54, SHS: 52. Sorry- forgot to post that.

First Loss

It was bound to happen sometime. We are now 9-1. We lost our first game to Fort Defiance at Fort. A tough loss suffered by our team to a team that clearly wanted to win the game more than we did. I guess all of us (players and coaches) could use a dose of what Coach E is calling "humble pie." It's good to remember just how fragile the game of basketball can be. We've got Draft on Monday and that should be an interesting game. We won by 6 down there earlier but they are playing really good right now. Should be a good test for us. 9-1 after 10 is still really good, we just have to remain focused and continue getting better.
-Jimmy