Conference Win @ RMA.

Hi Girls,

It was a tough game but with a lot of hard work, determination and good basketball in the second half. We managed to come back after trailing at halftime and get a hard fought 30 to 17 win over a much improved RMA team and those other guys on court.

Scoring by Qtr's; 1st- 4 to 6, 2nd- 7 to 6, 3rd-12-0, 4th 7-5, Final: 30 to 17.

HA Scoring: Jamie 12, Kelly 8, Alex 6, Mer 2, Em 2.

RMA Scoring: # 25 PG Carolyn Boddie 6pts, #10 Bissette (reserve) 4pts, #23 Anne Clair Roberson(3 pointer) 4 pts, # 20 Shelby Dunn 2 pts, #12 Jackson 1 pt.

FG%: Team 13/36 36.1%: Individual: Kelly 3/4***, Mer 1/2**, Alex 3/8*, Jamie 5/14*, Emily 1/6,
Lindsey 0/1, M&M 0/1. The minimum winning * percentage is 33.3.

FT %: 4/11 36.4%. Ind: Jamie 2/3***, Kelly 2/4 **, Mer 0/4. The minimum winning * FT% is 50%.

Rebounds: Team 8off/16Def.: Ind; Kelly 1/7****, Em 3/4****, Lindsey 2/1*, Mer 0/2*, Alex 1/1*,
Jamie 1/1*.

Assists: Team 6; Ind; Lindsey 3***, Jamie 2**, Em 1*.

Steals: Team 11; Ind: Lindsey 4****, Jamie 3***, Mer 2**, Em 1*, Alex 1*.

Blocks: Team 3; Ind; Em 2***, Lindsey 1*, Kelly 1*.

Layups team: 9 made/23 attempted 39.1%

Turnovers: Team 23: Ind: Jamie 7, Alex 7, Em 4, Lindsey 3, Mer 2.

Final thoughts: Our turnovers were slightly inflated due to extreme officiating. Except for 3 or 4 turnovers vs their 4th quarter press we did not turn the ball over very much in the second half. We also cut down on some needless fouling in the second half and by playing defense with our feet instead of reaching it helped keep them off the foul line.

On layups, we still left way too many points on the table. 28 to be exact but in general we made some progress and that number was pretty good for as physical as they let them play. In basketball some days you just have to make up your mind not to be out hustle and out toughed.

One of the fun things about coaching is seeing my players learn to think the game. We now have gotten to the point that we seldom have to run a play because the team has learned how to take what we try to create out of called plays and to reproduce those mismatches and numerical advantages in the halfcourt free lance read option passing game.

It is also rewarding knowing we can dig deep and get down and play tough defense working hard to move our feet so there are no uncontested dribbles , shot or passes. It saved us against Faith and again today.

Girls this is how you play winning basketball it is having Individual skills, team skills and the understanding of how to play winning basketball. I am proud to say you girls are learning what it takes and have the individual skills and team skills to do it on the court. Be proud of yourselves, your coach is.

I also liked how we were able to use the screen out we have been working on in practice lately to gain an advantage in the 3rd quarter and were able to create out of the spread. Thats good basketball and when you mix that with good execution, skill and hustle it becomes winning basketball. As your coach/basketball teacher that is the greatest reward from coaching, seeing your players learn to play the game.

All that nice stuff said we are a long way from making any 100's on our exams. Every game is another exam. We have to get better everyday because the opposition is working hard to get better everyday. Remember, Practice does not make Perfect, Perfect Practice makes Perfect. We have to not be satisfied until we can do it right everytime and anytime we decide. Make a commitment to be as good as you can be everyday, I promise you will never regret it.

I got a nice compliment on you girls that made me feel good tonight. One of the Rocky Mount Patrons said something about having been a coach told me after the Varsity Girls game how he could tell you had been instructed well because not only were you good at all the fundamentals but you all basically had beautiful shooting form and shot the ball with a real good rotation. He said he had never seen that before on a JV Girls team and he had seen many years of girls basketball. Nice man.

Big week next week. St. Davids in on Tuesday, Brunswick in on Wednesday and Friday we travel to defending champions Cary Christian. We need to be prepared to take care of business next week. I will see you on Monday after school, be on the court by 15 after ready to practice.

Play Hard, Play Smart and Play Together and Have Fun. Of course the best way to have fun is to play good and win isn't it.

BTW: You girls that have some free time this weekend go back and read the blog on shooting form again and the blog on things we know about winning basketball from the preseason. Little things make a difference.


Coach May