Final from the LaRosas Hebron Holiday Classic.

Final from the LaRosas Hebron Holiday Classic.

 

Wow. Talk of Highlands running the table in this tourney a little preconceived obviously.

Wow. Talk of Highlands running the table in this tourney a little preconceived obviously.

 

Holiday tournaments can be a crapshoot. No time to prepare for an opponent. Kids recovering from illness. Travel fatigue etc. It is very easy to have a day when you don't have your A game.

Holiday tournaments can be a crapshoot. No time to prepare for an opponent. Kids recovering from illness. Travel fatigue etc. It is very easy to have a day when you don't have your A game.

 

While true overall, HHS didn't have to worry about travel fatigue.

While true overall, HHS didn't have to worry about travel fatigue.

 

 

Sometimes travel can work the other way as the team traveling is more focused on the game, and the team playing close to home is more distracted.

Holiday tournaments can be a crapshoot. No time to prepare for an opponent. Kids recovering from illness. Travel fatigue etc. It is very easy to have a day when you don't have your A game.

 

NEVER bought into this theory.......you're either ready to play or your not, PERIOD!

 

I can definitely agree with the 2nd bolded.

NEVER bought into this theory.......you're either ready to play or your not, PERIOD!

 

I can definitely agree with the 2nd bolded.

 

Being ready to play and prepared to play are not the same thing.

Being ready to play and prepared to play are not the same thing.

 

While true, I think you're splitting hairs now.

didn't someone say HHS was short handed this week

Well I knew a loss would come eventually, but I didn't think it would come like this!

 

In the first half I wrote down the Birds shot horrible, but quickly changed that to atrocious as the half went on. Birds shot 25% for the half. 0-6 from 3 land of which the majority were wide open looks. 10 missed layups (when we stopped counting) and half of them were uncontested. 4 air balls and our first made 3 was banked in!...if that helps with the "atrocious" comment. It was ugly! And we are talking about a very good shooting team!

 

OC is a very athletic and scrappy team. They get a lot of deflections. They are physical as well. And I felt pretty well coached. They are able to change defenses on the fly and understand the game pretty well.

 

Game was back and forth the entire time. No team had more than a 6 point lead in the game. Birds up by 5 with a minute and a half, throw the ball away and give up a layup. Then with about 12 seconds left, Combs makes a great block on a three attempt, however, the birds stop playing feeling it was over and OC retrieves the ball and finds a wide open girl for a three to tie it. Birds get the ball with 6 seconds, drive and get a no call sending it to overtime.

Birds go up again in ot and OC fights back. Up two and trying to run clock, the Birds throw the ball away. (Opportunities to score and didn't. Birds looked a little confused on whether they should score or stall). OC converts on the turnover and ties the game. Birds have the ball, but don't get a good shot. OC with the ball they call timeout with 6 seconds left. They inbound to their best player who draws a lot of attention. She alludes a trap and finds a girl wide open who shoots in a three and goes thru the net as the buzzer sounds.

 

My honest take on the game is that HHS is probably the better team, but OC definitely out played them today. They out hustled and out scrapped the Birds today. And they shot the ball pretty well. Great job by OC! Fun team to watch.

 

Birds need to suck it up and be ready for Walton at 530.

didn't someone say HHS was short handed this week

 

They are missing two players due to the break, but still had enough to win this one if they execute at all in the first half. Just didn't today. Just picked a bad team to not play their best against and OC took advantage of it.

They are missing two players due to the break, but still had enough to win this one if they execute at all in the first half. Just didn't today. Just picked a bad team to not play their best against and OC took advantage of it.

 

Wait a minute..........vacationing because of X-Mas break? :facepalm: Unbelievable Andy Mac!

I can't wrap my head around this one! Missing players due to family vacation and then losing a game they should of won would leave a nasty taste in my mouth!!

I can't wrap my head around this one! Missing players due to family vacation and then losing a game they should of won would leave a nasty taste in my mouth!!

 

Dont know the circumstances, but thats hard to believe. If just family vacation they would be sitting awhile when they returned and be running alot.

I can't wrap my head around this one! Missing players due to family vacation and then losing a game they should of won would leave a nasty taste in my mouth!!

 

I believe one kid was out due to a recruiting commitment in her scholarship sport. I can't lay blame for that.

 

The big picture is to have your kids ready to play for district and regional play. Kids are going to miss games whether it be by injury, illness or some other commitment. I look at it as an opportunity to develop kids at the end of the bench.