The Season: How It Ended
Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere
If you are outside the province of Ontario, you may be wondering how a girls’ basketball season could be finished already. Well they do it differently here and the season is a little too packed and fast moving for my liking. Playoffs start in early November and before you can say, “It’s Christmas already?” the boy’s season will be half finished. It was a little intense.
The second half of season one was filled with complete madness. It started with an injury to one of my captains and our leading scorer. She hurt her foot and left the school with what seemed to be a regular sprain and returned in a walking cast. Despite my highest of hopes, she was done for the season.
On the positive side, commitment at practices and games improved. Players embraced more responsibility and I could see some real improvements. Although we were not winning, scores were closer. Eventually, we did pick up another win against the sixth place team and I feel it was our best game of the season.
We also got creative and worked in some original concepts into the team. I had two quick guards who did not get a lot of playing time but they were full on energy. We started putting them on for two minute stretches and played a triangle and 2 where they just chased the ball all over the court. We called it, “The Annoying Sister defense.” It did create its share of turnovers and was a lot of fun.
We also shot more, a lot more. If you were inside the three point line, hit the rim. Once I removed accountability for missing shots, the girls made more. I wanted less turnovers and more offense. Plus we started to dominate the boards. Unfortunately, we missed too many put-backs. But at least we got and attempted the shots. Who was that famous guy who said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”?
Then came the night of October 30th, it was our final game of the year against the best team in the league. I would like to say this is a happy Cinderella Story, unfortunately it is more like the start of Finding Nemo and it was all on me. The officials were not calling any contact and I was annoyed we were losing but more concerned over player safety. I earned a weak technical when I argued a non-call. I was unimpressed but it was not my first technical. I sat as the referee told me. Normally, the referee expects you to sit for several minutes. You can eventually stand but never address the officiating crew again. I stood while the ball was in the other end and quickly received my second technical; no warning and my first ejection.
I was in shock for the next couple of hours. No one I contacted agreed with the call and I am not sure the referees believed in the call themselves. That said, I did put myself in that position and should have known better. Unfortunately, the ejection carries with it a game suspension. I was going to miss our first playoff game.
The player and parent support was overwhelming. I discussed the incident at length and then we moved on to prepare for our playoff game. I received one of the nicest thank you gifts any team has ever given me; a framed cross made out of a basketball and the girls had signed the surrounding matt. We were as ready as we would ever be. I did manage to convince on of the T.A.s to go and help my assistant. All I could do was wait at school and gut it out.
The bus arrived to pick up the girls and I praised their efforts and their season. They were excited but nervous. I was just nervous. I did convince one of my parents to text updates so I could at least know how it was going. I wasted a couple of hours pretending to work and then the game began.
First quarter update: 4-1 them, girls are playing tough.
I could not have survived the days when you had to read the scores in the paper the next day. I had a ton of questions but knew it was unfair to ask.
Second Quarter update: 14-11 them, this is a rough battle. The refs and other coach asked where you were. Any motivational halftime thoughts?
I guess I made an impression. I was speechless and textless. I couldn’t think of much. They (the other team) are nervous now leave it all on the floor. Churchill is not texting me for motivation.
Third quarter update: 21-15… wait Alexis hit a three. 21-18.
Nothing… I felt like a teenage boy waiting to see if she will text him back. Check phone, check phone, look away, check phone.
Fourth quarter: 27-18 but still battling.
Yech
29-22 but Kyra (Our co-captain) just fouled out
Nooo it was over soon. (By that score) The closest game of the evening. The other three quarter finals ended in 15 point plus differentials. We covered the spread and then some.
Today at school there was a lot of chatter about girls’ basketball. It ended on a very positive note despite the loss and all the drama surrounding the coach. I may even have a second assistant for next year. The girls were talking about the future of the program. Success.
