4th Grade-Week 4

As we finished yet another positive week, I can say that the boys are being more and more challenged, and that won’t change for tonight’s Monday trainings either!  We will have a tough training session tonight and a very focused Wednesday practice as well.  We will focus on new wrinkles in the offense, defensive rotation, shooting, passing and rebounding drills.  There will also be a real focus on intensity this week!

This weekend featured two games against older, bigger and stronger AAU teams.  The first game was against EDH gold.  We started the game cold and could not buy a bucket.  Twice we were able to pull ahead with 10 point leads, but could not keep the other teams at bay.  Finally, thanks to Spencer’s defensive intensity and Julian’s aggressive drives to the hoop, we were lead to a victory.  Our intensity level was high at times, but we could not sustain it.  We did not live up to our motto of 100% effort 100% of the time. This is definitely something that we will continue to focus on.

Our late afternoon Sunday game was against the Delta Runnin Rebels.  This team consisted primarily of 5^th and 6^th graders.  The team obviously had a size advantage on us and we only had 5 players….no subs!  Opening the game, we were thoroughly outworked in the first half.  Our boys looked like they were worn out and not interested in the game.  We walked the ball up the floor, did not get into our offense, played without intensity and failed to find the kind of defense we were capable of putting out; the score reflected that.  At the half we were down 33-12.

Most of our halftime was spent talking to the boys about pride.  They all had solemn looks on their faces.  By the time we finished our chat about pride I challenged the team to win the second half.  I wrote the score down on my clipboard and told the kids we were starting over.  Finally, I saw the fire ignite in their eyes.  They boys came out and played like I knew they could.  They all played an intense, physical style of ball.  With 36 seconds left we called a time out with the second half tied at 17 all.  I drew up a play that would distract the Rebels and leave Josh open in the right corner.  The boys ran the play to perfection leaving Josh wide open to knock down his 5^th three pointer of the game and gave us the lead.  The boys held on to win the second half 20-17!

I have to say, these boys could have packed it in early in the first half and nobody would have thought less of them.  They were playing a very skilled, larger and older team that was doing what they were supposed to do.  To my delight and pride, THEY DID NOT GIVE UP!!!  These kids were gassed, but they somehow reached down and played with pride, intensity and most of all, for each other, in the second half.  I am very proud of how these 5 kids reacted to this challenge.  Way to go Julian, Sava , Josh, Noah and Zeki!  Please take a moment this week to sit down and speak to your boys about this.  They all learned a valuable lesson that can be carried on in all of their future endeavors on and off the court.  If these boys remember this lesson I have no doubt that they will succeed is whatever they choose to do. Way to go; keep up the hard work and dedication to our team and to yourselves!

Coach Bob Mack