When a Season Turns: How a Quiet Shy Kid Helped Turn Our Season Around.
It can
happen so fast, if you blink you miss it. A season has a certain direction and
you think you know where it will end. You have coached for so many years that
the predictability almost makes the task boring; like you have seen it all
happen before. You think you are so smart and bam! It all changes, just like
that. This is not a story about the best player on our team. Our MVP was there
each and every game and gave a great consistent effort. This story was how one
of our role players helped change our season.
In the fall
of 2011, I was lucky to take over a Senior Girls Basketball Program and
Monseigneur Bruyere in London, Ontario. I had seen the girls play the year
before but they had graduated three seniors and expectations on the season were
not incredibly high. We had a lot of talent and athletic ability but we were
very young. (Only three of our eleven players were in grades 11 or 12.) During
our coaches meeting at the beginning of the season, the two returning
assistants had no problem giving me the head coaching role; partly because they
were busy and partly because they did not see the true potential in the team.
So we began
the journey the season high on energy but low on expectations. I looked at what
we had and figured we could at least make the city finals, but beyond that was
wishing. Our big rival had not graduated anyone and they were big and tough. While
we were a lot of things, we were not big or tough. (They were tough in the push
you down and kick you as you lay there sense of the word.)
We started
well, winning our first four league games but losing to our rival in the
semi-finals of our first weekend tournament. We lost league games to teams we
should have, including our rival, but continued to work hard and improve. But
before I get too far ahead, I must introduce our captain, Nathalie.
Nathalie
was our only returning grade 12 who had played the year before. The other grade
player was a kid I asked to come out from my English class. I named Nathalie
captain right off the bat but it was not one of my better decisions, initially.
Nat had had a tough season the year before, losing playing time to a late
season addition. She was a quiet kid who seemed very reserved. Honestly, I
named her captain because of her age. During the first half of the season, she
went through the motions but never played truly inspired basketball. She was an
undersized center who was never overly physical. She had a 12 foot jump shot
and could defend the post but not a ton more. We were limited on the interior
so she played a lot, until the injury.
We were
three or four games in when she rolled her ankle. I thought it was nothing at
the time but it kept her out for the rest of the game and then another and then
another. I thought we had lost her but she returned a couple of weeks later.
Still, she returned but was still unspectacular; never hurting us but you
always felt she could give a little more.
Apparently,
I am an intense coach. During our last weekend exhibition tournament we were
playing like a team defeated; very little effort and no heart. I called a time
out and let them know what I was seeing. I do not remember the rant but I don`t
think it was overly pretty. It might have been the moment, but who knows. The
game ended and I was not happy with our result; especially since we had a
semi-final game in the upcoming weeks.
We won the
semifinal in routine fashion; by 13 but nothing to write home about. Which
brings us to the City Finals and our rival; remember them, the rough and tumble
group? I was sure we were going to get beat up. I was sure we were going to get
pushed around; and then it happened or I should say then Nathalie happened.
Every time they pushed us, she was there to take it. Every time we needed to
push, she helped inspire it; take out Charles Smith and insert Charles Oakley. We sat watching as she gave our team a
backbone.
We rode the
wave; our more talented players were given a boost and it pushed us over the
top. One of my little wings, she was maybe 5'5", grabbed a huge rebound over
their 6' beast. We beat or Rivals in the City`s and advanced to the Regionals,
which were hosted by our Rivals. (I can't make this stuff up. We had to beat
them twice to make our Provincial tournament. The second game would be played
in their barn!) We played them again in a knock em down- slug it out match; a
game we would have lost a month earlier. This time we were tied at 35 in the
dying seconds when our best player, a grade 10 point guard named Sarah, picked
their guards pocket and waltzed in for the two point win. A bruised and
battered bunch held the regional trophy high; but they were not done.
At the
Ontario Provincial's, we were the small scrappy team. We expected to go 0-3 and
be done with the season. We almost did so, 0-2 and off to the consolation
round. Then we won a game, and then another, and made the consolation final. Of
course, in that game we were going to play a team that had been upset and had
no business being on the consolation side of the draw. Down 12 with four to
play, I had a strategy in place for the rest of the game; empty the bench and
get everyone into the game. This time our star, Sarah, did what stars are
supposed to do, she shone. She scored 14 in the last 4 minutes as I prepared
and then cancelled my substitutions. Consolation champs, not bad for a
rebuilding season. Nathalie, she just continued to be our rock; rebounding with
the trees and out working their posts.
Fast
forward to our Christmas concert; which was the morning after our men's league
basketball party. Sitting in pajamas, feeling very hung over, and trying to pay
attention to what was going on onstage; I just wanted a coffee and a nap. There
was a special guest announced and some guy in a suit walked across the stage.
He gave a speech about hustle, heart, and sportsmanship. He discussed how these
were the essentials to high school sports. He then presented the girls with a
banner for being the most sportsmanlike team.
Epilogue:
Nathalie
graduated with honors that year and went on to Kings University. Presently, she
is planning on working with the Intercordia program which will bring her to
Bosnia. "She will be volunteering in a children's centre that brings
together children from different areas and backgrounds to strive towards
creating understanding and respect for one another and promoting peace."
If this is something you feel like supporting, please follow the link below. I
can promise you, she is the type of scrapper you want to help.
https://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=32262.
