Video: 15U vs. TNT

Game video from our 15U game with TNT. It's a very good lesson for us all. TNT wasn't as tall as other teams, nor as physical. But they shot well enough, moved the ball and hustled back on defense. Meanwhile, we rarely got our fastbreak going. Watch how often we just walk the ball upcourt. That is not Thunder basketball, gents. Watch, learn, move on. Just three weeks together, the 15U will get better. We will get faster, that's for sure.

Part 1 Part 2

15U: TNT 39, Thunder 36

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.

Updated PAA 13U/15U sked

PAA League schedule, weeks 3-5

Please meet at the gym one hour before game time for warmups. 

Wednesday, Mar. 6
7:45 pm Thunder 15U vs. TNT, Kilauea Gym

Saturday, Mar. 9
3:00 pm Thunder 15U vs. Kalakaua, Palolo Gym

Wednesday, Mar. 13
7:00 pm Thunder 13U vs. Hoops 4 Christ, Kilauea Gym

Friday, Mar. 15
6:45 pm Thunder 15U vs. Imua, Koko Head Gym

Saturday, Mar. 16
10:15 am Thunder 13U vs. 808 West, Palolo Gym

Updated schedule

The next three weeks of PAA League games are now listed. Received the e-mail today.

Monday, Feb. 18
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Feb. 19
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Wednesday, Feb. 20
5:15 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside courts
6:15 pm - 13U vs. Huskies, Kilauea Gym (PAA League)
7:45 pm - 15U vs. Boom, Kilauea Gym (PAA League)

Saturday, Feb. 23
9:40 am - Warmups, Aiea Gym outside court
10:40 pm - 12U vs. Imua, Aiea Gym

Sunday, Feb. 24
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym
1:10 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside courts
2:10 pm - Thunder vs. Tar Heels (CAL middle school division)
5:00 pm - Parents/Players meeting, Makiki Park (mandatory)

Monday, Feb. 25
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Feb. 26
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Wednesday, Feb. 27
6:00 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside courts
7:00 pm - 13U vs. Mililani Storm (PAA League)

Friday, Mar. 1
7:15 pm - Warmups, Koko Head Gym outside courts
8:15 pm - 15U vs. Hui Lokahi, Koko Head Gym (PAA League)

Saturday, Mar. 2
8:00 am - Warmups, Aiea Gym outside court
9:00 am - 12U vs. Hoops 4 Christ, Aiea Gym
2:00 pm - Warmups, Palolo Gym
3:00 pm - 15U vs. Kahuku, Palolo Gym (PAA League)

Sunday, Mar. 3
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym

Monday, Mar. 4
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Mar. 5
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Wednesday, Mar. 6
6:45 pm - Warmups, Kilauea Gym outside courts
7:45 pm - 15U vs. TNT, Kilauea Gym

Saturday, Mar. 9
Aiea 12U playoffs (one or two games), TBA

Sunday, Mar. 10
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym

Monday, Mar. 11
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Mar. 12
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Sunday, Mar. 17
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym

Monday, Mar. 18
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Mar. 19
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Mar. 20-23
Aiea 13U Tournament, Aiea Gym

Sunday, Mar. 24
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym

Monday, Mar. 25
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Mar. 26
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Wednesday, Mar. 27
Aiea 17U league begins

Sunday, Mar. 31
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym

Monday, Apr. 1
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Apr. 2
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

Friday, Apr. 5
NJB All-Net League begins (17U/15U/13U)

Sunday, Apr. 7
11:00 am - Shootaround, McCully Gym

Monday, Apr. 8
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua outside courts

Tuesday, Apr. 9
6:00 pm - Practice, Kalakaua Gym

(Note: CAL schedule will be posted when it arrives.)