Ikaika League, JV Division, Aiea gym
Fast start for the Thunder, then a fade into the half. We trailed by as many as 8, but stayed within 5 for most of the second half and I think we got within 1 or 2 in the final 3 minutes, but the Stunnahz have a tall center (6-3) who is an active rebounder and a big part of their pressbreaker. He really was a factor in the paint, but we gained momentum in the second half by executing our zone offense — not quite often enough, but much better than we did in the first half.
Our legs weren't quite there in our fourth game of the weekend — the hottest and most humid I can ever remember in Honolulu — but the guys played with heart. We will possibly (I think probably) face this team again in the playoffs. I would not mind that at all now that we know a lot about their tough PG and their two corner shooters.
But first we have to get in. Right now, all our teams are 2-0, or 3-0 or something like that in our different leagues and divisions except for this one. We're now 1-2 and only the top half of each group (two groups in JV) will qualify for the playoffs. In other words, we need to play a little bit smarter and do the little things that make the difference in close games.
If we finish 4-3, that probably would get us into the Championship Bracket playoffs. 5-2 would be much better. Though we're the defending Ikaika League JV champions, almost our entire team is basically the guys who almost won the Intermediate title in Ikaika League (last spring). So we're young and small... we need to get smarter every time. We'll get there.
The little things we need to work on includes free throws. We were a good FT shooting team during the spring and summer. Right now? The lack of practices together also means a lack of reps. We shot 10-for-21 at the line in this game. We missed 11 FTs. No substitute for reps. Daily reps.
Lineup: Chaz, Jance, Skylar Kawakami-bechtel, Jayden, Ryan, Kali'a Mielke, Felcris Ahadain, Jonah, Micah Visoria,
MAHALO to Uncle Joel Gormley for shooting the game video on the Handycam and also on his phone when the battery died out.
Next: Monday - No practice. I have to work. The Kapolei-Kailua game that was stopped by lightning on Saturday will resume on Monday at 6 pm in Kailua. Please get your 3 miles, 200+ shots, 50 FTs, 100 crunches and 100 push-ups done. And ballhandling drills especially for our younger guys. They are pretty good, but the ballhandling can always use daily work.
WE LUB THIS GAAAME!!
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