Our girls played twelve games in ten days and mostly had fun! Our season record is 7 wins and 8 losses. In reflecting on the trip, it appears that we need to work on fundamentals – shooting and passing at practice this week…
Tomorrow is the day the”Village Tournament” begins. I am optimistic that both our teams will play well. It is like Christmas Eve all over again!!
The first scheduled game for the Lady Eagles was a “no show”. Due to a death in Anaktuvuk Pass, the girls team did not travel this weekend. It was anti-climatic for us since our next game is after the Christmas break. However, the girls were out in force to support the boys, who played well against an extremely talented shooting team. The excitement of their games was contagious – want to play!!!
The girls are getting ready for Anaktuvuk Pass to come to town this weekend. We had 100% attendance at practice last evening and 8/10 girls have completed their grade check. Uniforms were distributed which always lifts spirits! Two more practices and we have a real live competition…
My main worry is that we are in good enough shape to run all four quarters. Guess we will find out this weekend.
This is the first week of varsity basketball practice at Meade River School. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams look strong this year. They are working hard to get in shape. Five years ago, I hugged a player after we had lost a state championship and she whispered, “It WAS worth all the work.” That one sentence keeps me going and helps me to make the girls work hard. Thanks, Julieanna!
Bridgette was the only senior at practice tonight – she is so smooth and seems more aggressive than last year. I look forward to her leadership this year. Unalaq’s confidence seems to be much stronger this year, too. Love the 9th grade power we are going to have – Vera and Angela, too! Olive brings a new dimension to the team as well as her height. Glad to have her on the team. Finally, Brittney and Heather keep surprising me with their ability to go to the goal. Not yet the smoothness of the older players, but they are going to score some points.
We are still working on conditioning and basic skills, but we started working on some set offenses tonight. Next week we play our first games, at home, against Anaktuvuk Pass. Woohoo!
The middle school teams went to Barrow and did so well, on the court and off!
They even set the timer and took this pic!
The “little” Eagles go to Barrow today for a two day event – the girls play two games this afternoon and two games tomorrow. Should be fun!
The girls scrimmaged the boys last evening;we ran the score board and kept time (Thank you Sam!). The boys were scrappy and played hard but the girls outscored them. Of course, most of the girls are taller than the boys. I hope the win doesn’t go to their heads but I am glad that they are confident.
My 7th and 8th grade girls were especially impressive. They played hard and took the ball to the goal. We also have a 6th grader with a lot of potential. On the down side, we need more conditioning.
Our first regular games are next week at Barrow. It will be fun!
This evening was our second practice – six girls took part both days, eight boys yesterday and five today. The players are so energetic and so anxious to learn basketball skills that I look forward to planning practice. We’ll have another day of fundamentals with both teams together, then divide up boys and girls next week.
The varsity players are running after school and a few are helping with the middle school practice. I’m proud of them!
Here’s a site with ideas for conditioning: http://www.basketball-plays-and-tips.com/basketball-conditioning-drills.html
The girls are sore from running yesterday but they are smiling. The boys’ varsity coach has posted their times on the mile and the half mile outside his classroom door. Improved endurance will sure improve their game and their confidence.
Mental endurance is as important – playing hard when outmatched, cooperating when one player is having a bad game, focus, and positivity are all areas that will help our players’ skills.
Goal-setting is an important way to get in shape mentally. We’ll work on that next week…