Close 39-36 loss to TNT in PAA 15U League play tonight at Kilauea Gym. TNT wasn't as big physically as Kahuku, but they've been together for awhile (Kaiser) and they played well together. Our boys continue to hustle, but the lack of practice time the past week really showed, so my job as a coach is to make sure we get everyone there.
Next game, though, is on Saturday, 3:00 p.m. We don't have a practice scheduled before then; the 13U play Friday afternoon, and the 12U plays in the Aiea League playoffs on Saturday. So no practice time, but I think we'll be all right.
1. We're still getting used to each other, players and players, players and coaches.
2. Most of the team hasn't shown up for practices — not learning and mastering plays — so the lack of chemistry against a 2-3 zone all night was almost predictable.
3. We didn't push the ball up the court with the pass enough. Too much dribbling.
4. We didn't execute the 41 press. Hardly at all tonight.
Good news is things will get better. We're 2-2 with three games left, easily could've been 3-1 even though we've been together as a team for barely three weeks.
After PAA ends on March 15, there's NJB All-Net League. Then summer will be here and maybe a mainland tournament trip? We'll see. I hope we can do it, but we need to become one team first. I think 15U can become a really good team. The 13U and 12U are really close to being at that level because they really like to practice together. There is trust.
Timing, trust and teamwork requires spending time together. Practicing together. There's no substitute. Never forget that.
It's true, we did miss the guys who are more familiar with the plays and their teammates. Brent. Jimark. Bubu definitely would've helped.
Saturday, 15U plays Kalakaua. They'll be a smart, hustling team with good fundamentals. We just have to be smarter, hustle more than them and play with heart. Until we get in tune with each other, that's what it's going to take to beat good teams. 100% heart.
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