The final weekend of competition before heading up to Foxborough was one where we really needed to make sure we grabbed up as much momentum as we possibly could. While there's many different ways to get momentum, as we found two weekends ago in the "desert", we were really looking for something a bit more convincing - a championship.
Due to some issues on the job with guys missing parts and needing phone assistance, I arrived at our first gym just in time to get there to warn up. Not that I had much to say leading up to the game anyway, the message was short, simple, and most of all, effective.
This weekend is about momentum. Taking all the things we've been through - our struggles, our successes, our bond - and coming out ahead. We don't back down - this is our time, our moment, our championship.Our first game was pretty much a brawl the whole way. It was a very physical game, but at least the refs were consistent with not calling things. Clearly we learned from the last tournament, as we adjusted to the calls, didn't let the absence of the whistle deter us, and at points just bullied our opponent into submission. While they did close the gap towards the end, there was no real concern (from us at least) as to who was going to win the game. Lesson from the beginning of the season - I told my guys that my panic button is hard to get to, I trust them to take care of business. As long as I don't panic, there's no need for them to. Sure enough, there was no panic from coach or the bench. Win number 1 in the books. Three more to go for that championship.As we lined up to shake hands after, a couple of the coaches commented on how physical we had been that game and what a difference that made. The also added that hopefully this was a wake up call for their group that basketball is a contact sport.
Sometimes all you need is to get bullied one too many times like we had...
We had little time to rest before our second game and our opponent had the luxury of watching our whole game, so they took the court a little cocky thinking they would take care of business. They figured since we had sliced up the other team's man-to-man defense that they'd go zone and force us to shoot. Reasonable logic, if only we weren't firing on all cylinders that day. Ball movement led to pretty much any shot we wanted whenever we wanted it - inside, outside, we were draining buckets from everywhere. And that was just on the times they could set up. We suffocated them defensively and they practically gave us layups and a 20+ point lead with 8 minutes to go in the second half. At that point, I pretty much pulled all the starters and let the bench guys get some minutes. We had a couple of turnovers, and started to cool off in terms of shooting, and they in turn got hot. With about 4 minutes they lead was around 15 so I had to start getting starters back in. It wasn't a move I was fond of, and it bothered me a little even though we ended up winning easily. Not comfortable most of the afternoon with that quick panic button...
The next day we were fortunate enough to play the playoff games of the tournament in our own facility. Another short, effective message.
I let you sleep in a little, don't make me regret it. Don't get punked in your own building.
Not exactly movie-inspirational, but it got the point across. We jumped on our opponent early. Steal, layup. Rebound, pass, pass, layup. Forced turnover, pass, pass, pass, 3-ball, BANG - timeout. They had no idea what hit them. The next possession we went into our 4-high set, and they start calling out screens in anticipation. Sure, except - rip through, blow by, layup. We could do no wrong in the first half, and we were cruising. They were getting some 3's of their own to go, so score wise, they were within range to make a come back, but everyone in the building knew who was in control. At that point, I got the urge, understanding that this was about momentum and needing to have my whole team feeling it heading into the Zero Gravity event, I went to the bench a little early. The guys at the table was a little shocked. One ref gave me the side eye in confusion. I'm sure parents were bewildered. None of the players skipped a beat. The starters were in full support of the decision and cheered their teammates on. Sure the margin started to close, but there was no panic. At one point we were up by 17 or 18, and with 4 minutes left we found ourselves only up 10. I turned to my bench, and told a few guys, "If they cut this to 7, go to the table."
The 3 minute mark rolls around and they get fouled on a layup, the lead is 7. No one is at the table. No one is panicking, no one is being negative. The other coach calls a time out, probably trying to inspire his group to put up one last run to take the lead. I go to my guys, look the 5 guys on the floor dead in the eyes and say:
I pulled you guys early yesterday. I want you to know that I believe in you guys to pull this out. The guy at the table is saying I'm crazy. The referee is saying I'm ready to lose this game. But I'm telling you that I believe in you. None of your teammates are asking me to go back in. I even told some to check in and no one did. This is your time. Don't let it get to 5.
Break the time out, and the defense kicks in. Steal, layup. Turnover, pass, pass, jump shot. My bench wins that game by 12. Now we're rolling. The whole team has got the juice flowing. One last game to go.
The championship game, as much as I hate to say it, was over about 2 minutes in. Right out of the gate we jump to an 8-0 lead and the coach is calling a time out in less than a minute. His team gets a couple of buckets, but we answer right back with another run. We are just ballin' out of our minds at this point. Offensive rebounds, 50/50 balls, hustle plays - all ours and making it look easy. Again, our lessons from the desert kicked in and we just bullied that team out of our house with a huge margin of victory. We had clearly gotten into their heads and we were able to ride out the last 6:30 of the game. We won a championship and played 4 phenomenal games of basketball. Did we have some issues, absolutely. But we have practices this week to fine tune that stuff. Nothing can compare to the confidence and trust we built in this tournament.
We set out to get momentum leading up to the Zero Gravity National Tournament, and momentum we got. Next stop - Foxborough!
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