Game of extremes, falling behind 11-0, down 12 at the half, down 15 or 17 in the second half before a huge Thunder run from the 3-point arc. It went from 33-16 or so to 33-all with about 8 minutes left.
Then we went cold again. Ali‘i Blue was the first-place team in Pool B, easily the tallest, biggest team we've faced this season, and with very good guards and a wing who was excellent attacking the basket. They pressed us and we were sloppy, panicky and scared for the first 5 or 6 minutes. The rest of the time, they sat back in a 2-3 zone. The run of threes was coming at some point. When it did, we looked like the best 13U team in the league.
I still believe we were - in spurts. The difference between us and Ali‘i Blue, besides their size, is that they've practiced together consistently for several months. We have great kids, but roughly half our team misses practices for various reasons. That's why our composure against a fullcourt press was down early in the game, and that's why our conditioning is not where it should be.
Even with those limitations, our 13U guys won 4 games in a row after a rough 1-3 start. They figured out who they were as a team that lacked size and depth. They learned to rely on each other, to control tempo, to play fierce halfcourt and fullcourt defense.
Every win is earned by players. Every loss is on a coach. I wish I could've helped you guys find a way to overcome that sluggish start and move into the semifinals. Everybody on this team sacrificed so much because of our limitations. There were times when you played Small Ball so beautifully, it was like watching a high school varsity team.You executed like a machine.
I wonder about our tough, skinny guards like Josh and Colin, how they had to play the low post often and get pushed and bumped by big kids 50 or 100 pounds heavier. I wonder about Javan and all our gunners (Ryan hit two huge threes during our rally today), guys who have hit four, five, even six treys in a game, and how they had to sacrifice so that the team would be in better position to win games because of the change in tempo.
This may not have been our most talented or biggest 13U team, but they had as much heart as any, and they had to play with great courage.
We have one more game to play, a consolation game against McCully next Saturday, 10:30 am at Kilauea gym.
Today's lineup: Javan Montiho, Thomas Baptiste, Micah Visoria, Ryan Higashionna, Josh M DE Jesus, Colin Ramos, Felcris Jay CorpuzAhadain, Chris Afe.
Thanks also to Kali'a Mielke, Kyle Moraga and Roy Moraga for turning out to support the Thunder 13U.
WE LUB THIS GAME!
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