Fatigue. Both physically and mentally. No opportunity to really take a kid out, sit him down, and let him see the game unfold from the bench (and that can make quite a difference, especially against intense pressure).

 

I'm not going to fully agree with the "fatigue" excuse.

 

I'm on record as saying NCCs first 6 are as good as almost every team in the state but the 3 guards from NCC were really bad in the 4th qtr. I don't think it was fatigue. Other than Pangallo (who struggled as well) the other two simply do not look comfortable against pressure in the backcourt. That's not fatigue. That's just not being strong with the ball against pressure.

 

They're fortunate they have 34 as an outlet. It's a great option.

I'm not going to fully agree with the "fatigue" excuse.

 

I'm on record as saying NCCs first 6 are as good as almost every team in the state but the 3 guards from NCC were really bad in the 4th qtr. I don't think it was fatigue. Other than Pangallo (who struggled as well) the other two simply do not look comfortable against pressure in the backcourt. That's not fatigue. That's just not being strong with the ball against pressure.

 

They're fortunate they have 34 as an outlet. It's a great option.

 

But you said you didn't see the turnovers until the 4th quarter. And aside from PRP & Cordia, they haven't beaten many athletic teams that throw athletic pressure at them. The Lafayette game, the first PRP game, Ballard. It seems like the book is out there on the kind of teams that will give NCC trouble. Talent wise, I don't think Cordia should have been able to take them to two overtimes, but they did.

 

Fatigue and not having a deep bench seem to be a huge part of their troubles to me, though I'll agree that not having guards who are exceptionally strong against pressure is a big problem as well.

But you said you didn't see the turnovers until the 4th quarter. And aside from PRP & Cordia, they haven't beaten many athletic teams that throw athletic pressure at them. The Lafayette game, the first PRP game, Ballard. It seems like the book is out there on the kind of teams that will give NCC trouble. Talent wise, I don't think Cordia should have been able to take them to two overtimes, but they did.

 

 

Not being able to handle pressure against strong pressing teams doesn't mean they're fatigued. It just means they can't handle pressure.

Not being able to handle pressure against strong pressing teams doesn't mean they're fatigued. It just means they can't handle pressure.

 

Know what you're saying, but it seems to be a theme that they don't handle the pressure nearly as well in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th quarter.

 

Think it's a little of both.

Know what you're saying, but it seems to be a theme that they don't handle the pressure nearly as well in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th quarter.

 

Think it's a little of both.

 

Did any of these other teams press in the first half? Or was it just in response to being down big in the 2nd half?

Did any of these other teams press in the first half? Or was it just in response to being down big in the 2nd half?

 

Cordia pressed throughout the game, if I'm not mistaken.

 

In the LHL article, Lafayette's Mendenhall mentioned not being able to consistently score, and thus get in pressure, until the 2nd Half. Knowing what I know about Lafayette, they pressed every chance they got.

Know what you're saying, but it seems to be a theme that they don't handle the pressure nearly as well in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th quarter.

 

Think it's a little of both.

 

BINGO!:jump:

Cordia pressed throughout the game, if I'm not mistaken.

 

In the LHL article, Lafayette's Mendenhall mentioned not being able to consistently score, and thus get in pressure, until the 2nd Half. Knowing what I know about Lafayette, they pressed every chance they got.

 

They pressed the first half and NCC had 0 issues with it, but it wasn't as "high pressure" as they turned it on high in the 4th. They took a lot of gambles and chances, which you have to do when down and pressing trying to get back in it, and NCC seemed to make the wrong pass as there were players open to get the ball to. Some of the passes were just very lazy passes that screamed to be picked off. Lafayette jumped and lunged at every pass as well, a few ball/pass fakes and some of those turn overs are probably points. But, didn't happen and Laf. took advantage.

The last possession NCC did the one thing that teams of their caliber do not do: they panicked.

They pressed the first half and NCC had 0 issues with it, but it wasn't as "high pressure" as they turned it on high in the 4th. They took a lot of gambles and chances, which you have to do when down and pressing trying to get back in it, and NCC seemed to make the wrong pass as there were players open to get the ball to. Some of the passes were just very lazy passes that screamed to be picked off. Lafayette jumped and lunged at every pass as well, a few ball/pass fakes and some of those turn overs are probably points. But, didn't happen and Laf. took advantage.

 

I think a lot of times with a team like Lafayette who plays 10 kids, it's not that the pressure is completely "turned up" so much as that one team is fresher and makes the other group look like they are moving in slow motion. I don't doubt that Lafayette didn't pressure more aggressively and take more gambles being down, but I think part of the thing with them is that they just keep coming and try to wear you down over the course of four quarters. Look at the Scott County game as well.

The last possession NCC did the one thing that teams of their caliber do not do: they panicked.

 

Sadly I agree. I'm still trying to figure out what that was supposed to be. Thankfully there is plenty of time to fix things.