Final from Florence. Congratulations Coach Stamm and the Lady Cougars! Very well deserved.

Congrats to the Cougars!

Big comeback by the Jags

Big comeback by the Jags

 

21-5 run by Cooper to start the 4th and take the lead. Late TOs doomed the Jags. Hurst (Conner) MVP - Held (Cooper) one heck of a player.

Very exciting 4th quarter. Good luck to both teams in the regional tournament. Both teams are capable of winning it all and meeting again in the finals.

Congrats to Aaron and the girls. First title since 2007.

Congrats to Aaron and the girls!

Final 40 seconds

 

 

Conner HS SportsMed on Periscope: "Untitled"

Congrats to the lady cougars, won this game without Savanah Jordan I was told. That is impressive.

Congratulations to Coach Stamm and his team.

Congrats to the lady cougars, won this game without Savanah Jordan I was told. That is impressive.

 

Wasn't able to attend due to illness but Coach Stamm said sophomore Joy Strange did an excellent job filling in for Jordan. She was chosen for the All tournament team. Congratulations Joy!

Wasn't able to attend due to illness but Coach Stamm said sophomore Joy Strange did an excellent job filling in for Jordan. She was chosen for the All tournament team. Congratulations Joy!

 

Joy made good decisions and shots last night - a major reason why Conner won and a well-deserved all district selection.

Congrats to all the Cougar players, Coach Stamm and staff on the win!

 

And congrats to Cooper on getting into regionals! Your season isn't over Jags so keep working.

 

Wishing the best for both teams going into regionals. That tournament should be a dandy with maybe 4 teams that could win it. The draw is going to be huge.

 

 

Few thoughts from the game...

 

1. I had not seen Conner play since back in preseason, and I must say what a difference the season has made for that young talented group. That first time I saw them, they were sloppy with no leader. Last night, they looked like a well oiled machine with all the parts in the right place. Hats off to the coaches and players on all the work they put in. There is no guarantee it always will, but last night, it paid off.

 

2. When Cooper got close, Conner got rattled, turned the ball over, and gave Cooper the oppurtunity to take their first lead with a minute or so left. Things didn't look good at all for Conner. I thought Coach Stamm did a great job of reeling his team in, getting them to focus, and settle down. Just about the moment the last thread was coming unraveled, they found a way and someone to make a play or two for the win. It was great coaching of young players in that timely moment that appeared to make a major difference and save the total meltdown.

 

3. This may seem silly, or maybe show my ignorance, but can someone tell me why Coopers coach would always have Lexi Held inbound the ball? I understand every now and then for whatever you are trying to do, but if it is me, there are going to be important times that I want the ball inbounded into her hands. There is something that seems fundamentally wrong to me in having a player of her caliber pass the ball out of her hands in late close game situations. Isn't that what defenses will do at times...double team dangerous players to make them pass the ball to someone else? I don't know, maybe there is something I am missing and someone can help me out.

Congrats to all the Cougar players, Coach Stamm and staff on the win!

 

And congrats to Cooper on getting into regionals! Your season isn't over Jags so keep working.

 

Wishing the best for both teams going into regionals. That tournament should be a dandy with maybe 4 teams that could win it. The draw is going to be huge.

 

 

Few thoughts from the game...

 

1. I had not seen Conner play since back in preseason, and I must say what a difference the season has made for that young talented group. That first time I saw them, they were sloppy with no leader. Last night, they looked like a well oiled machine with all the parts in the right place. Hats off to the coaches and players on all the work they put in. There is no guarantee it always will, but last night, it paid off.

 

2. When Cooper got close, Conner got rattled, turned the ball over, and gave Cooper the oppurtunity to take their first lead with a minute or so left. Things didn't look good at all for Conner. I thought Coach Stamm did a great job of reeling his team in, getting them to focus, and settle down. Just about the moment the last thread was coming unraveled, they found a way and someone to make a play or two for the win. It was great coaching of young players in that timely moment that appeared to make a major difference and save the total meltdown.

 

3. This may seem silly, or maybe show my ignorance, but can someone tell me why Coopers coach would always have Lexi Held inbound the ball? I understand every now and then for whatever you are trying to do, but if it is me, there are going to be important times that I want the ball inbounded into her hands. There is something that seems fundamentally wrong to me in having a player of her caliber pass the ball out of her hands in late close game situations. Isn't that what defenses will do at times...double team dangerous players to make them pass the ball to someone else? I don't know, maybe there is something I am missing and someone can help me out.

 

Held is the best decision maker on the team and as much can go wrong inbounding the ball as can go right.

 

The inbounder is often unguarded and thus can be a real weapon - I saw Lexi take a pass back after inbounding and knock down an uncontested 3 - great call and a great shot.

 

The issue for Cooper last night was not Held inbounding - it was players not making shots they've made all year.

Held is the best decision maker on the team and as much can go wrong inbounding the ball as can go right.

 

The inbounder is often unguarded and thus can be a real weapon - I saw Lexi take a pass back after inbounding and knock down an uncontested 3 - great call and a great shot.

 

The issue for Cooper last night was not Held inbounding - it was players not making shots they've made all year.

 

 

Fair enough.

 

But to be clear though, I was not mentioning this as a specific problem in the game against Conner. I was just raising the question in general since both times I have seen Cooper this year, they have done this same thing every time, baseline and sideline, early and late.

 

Yes. Your right on the inbounder/unguarded thing. But every time? It still doesn't help me to justify every time, in every situation. And that alone doesn't help the basic struggle I have with it. And yes, I remember that one time you mentioned and that was the problem for me. It was one time.

 

I also understand her skills to get the ball inbounded, but I don't want to always automatically trade in her skills and ability to make a positive play on the floor, just to get the ball passed inbounds. It's not like Cooper is void of players with the ability to inbound. In fact, I think they have some great options for that, and it would free Lexi to be on the floor for inbound sets. (At least every know and then).

 

I guess my overall struggle with it is this. Time and time again coaches do things defensively to get the ball out of dangerous players hands (double team, face guard, etc). And we all know why...the ball in their hands is dangerous. I just believe when Cooper religiously uses Lexi to inbound the ball, it makes the opposing defense and coaches job a little easier. If I am an opposing teams coach, I am thanking you for always putting the ball in play out of her hands. Also, if Lexi is never mixed in or used as a weapon "inbounds" on inbound sets, then that is less I have to prepare for.

 

I do get your points though and I agree with them to a degree. Certainly, her inbounding the ball at times is justified by your points, but your points don't help me justify every time, every situation, and from every place on the floor.

 

Would it help Cooper if Lexi was at times on the receiving end of inbound plays/sets? Maybe that is the question I am asking and I honestly cannot answer "no" to that question.