That ... was ... promising! We always, always have close games with Kapolei/Holy Family. The first time, in CAL League three years ago, we beat them. Later in the next season, we lost on a last-second shot by Dayson Watanabe. We had more battles with them, including one game in 14U (NJB All-Net where we led 44-34 at halftime, but we lost 79-72.
Tonight, it was the other way around. We were down 10 or 12 points and made a supremely awesome comeback. It was beautiful. Then the overtime period and that weird rule, losing after their wing hit a 3 with :30 left.
In the end, we showed a lot of great heart. That's the most important thing. Micah T shot the ball so well and was active on the press. Kyle toughed it out despite getting almost no rest, facing constant pressure by their defense. Jared played great on both ends after picking up those three early fouls. Ryan hit a clutch 3 during our rally. Jerry played strong and physical inside and is really picking up the press and the offenses nicely. Kalai is getting used to our system. Sierra hit a good 3 in transition (the best kind!). Josh got us a bucket on a fastbreak. Javan and Felcris? Javan got a few minutes against the older boys. Felcris - still learning the plays at practice, almost ready for the older (13U) competition.
The loss? You have to blame the coach (me) for not knowing that rule. Most losses are because a coach didn't make the right technical adjustment(s). This was a weird one because it was about something that had nothing to do with the teams and players. I should've checked with the refs before the OT started just to be sure.
I know we're ALL in this together, win or lose, but the basic rule is PLAYERS WIN GAMES, COACHES LOSE GAMES.
But I don't feel bitter. I feel a little guilty. But I feel more proud of our team for hanging in there. That team, if I'm not mistaken, won the CYL championship recently. Coach Ed is a longtime coach there (at Holy Family) and they have a superb program.
Considering that it wasn't our best game, some of us are out of shape, rusty, sloppy, playing with some new teammates, we actually did fantastic. Now we just get better and better. And we know how to play in OT next time.
I haven't gotten home yet, just finished work (I went back after the game). I'll load the game video overnight. We'll have a lot to feel good about. We'll have mistakes that are fixable. We'll learn, grow and advance higher. That's life. Win or lose, keep moving forward and striving to improve.
Losing doesn't feel good, but facing great competition is awesome. Always awesome. It strips down our game to the basics, and there's no hiding the things we do well and not so well. It gives us a chance to be real and go to work on our weaknesses, and EVERY team has weaknesses. I hope we get to play them again. By then, we will have worked out our kinks, more of us can get on the floor and play more minutes and we can run more, score more and play THUNDER BASKETBALL. Until we're scoring 60 points a game, we're not quite there yet.
Note: I know you guys were looking forward to playing with Tanielu and Chris again. I was looking forward to it, too. But apparently, it's not going to happen, at least not for the current time. I don't know the actual reason why. They worked their butts off during the summer. The fall. Even in October through December when we didn't have any leagues or games. Drill after drill, shot after shot, day after day, sometimes seven days a week. They wanted it! They asked for it. They were so hungry. Love for the game.
For them to not be able to show the result of all that hard work, day after day, it hurts. As a coach, I feel bad for them.
But that's something I have no control over. None of us do. So we keep working, keep improving, do far more than anyone would ever expect and have fun doing it! That's what we can control.
No rest for the weary - three games this weekend!
Saturday, Feb. 9
9:40 am - 12U warmups, Aiea Gym outside court
10:40 am - 12U vs. Aiea Blazers II, Aiea Gym
12:30 pm - Lunch
4:45 pm - 13U warmups, McCully Gym outside court
5:45 pm - 13U vs. Tar Heels, McCully Gym (PAA)
Sunday, Feb. 10
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym
1:00 pm - Lunch, McDonald's McCully
2:00 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside courts
3:00 pm - Thunder vs. Crush 1, Kilauea Gym (CAL)
Monday, Feb. 11
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym
Tuesday, Feb. 12
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym
Wednesday, Feb. 13
5:15 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside court
6:15 pm - 13U vs. LBC, Kilauea Gym
Thursday, Feb. 14
6:00 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside court
7:00 pm - 15U vs. LBC, Kilauea Gym
Saturday, Feb. 16
9:40 am - Warmups, Aiea Gym outside court
10:40 am - 12U vs. Makakilo, Aiea Gym
More schedule information will be posted when we receive it. Stay tuned.
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