Athletics Action: 1st Boys' Basketball

 

Our first game of the season was on December 4 at Bayview Glen, home of the Gryphons'. We started the game strong and we got off to a good lead by the end of the first quarter. Throughout the rest of the game, the battle was tight with neither team leading by more than a few baskets. we were up at the beginning of the 4th quarter but with four minutes left, we started to panic. With three minutes left we were down one, and with two minutes left we were down four. We scrambled up the court trying to so desperately to score that we forgot our systems. Although we ended up losing the game by 5 points, we learned the value of patience and composure.

 

This week we found ourselves playing against the Crescent Coyotes. When we entered the gym it was clear that we were the smaller of the two teams in stature but they weren't ready for our hearts. The game got off to a slow start with both teams struggling to find their flow. We got out to an early lead and went into the 2nd quarter ahead. The game was an exciting one to watch. We did well when driving hard to the hoop and moving the ball quickly with pace. We played strong defense as a team as a result of physical play down low, collecting rebound after rebound, and blocking at least 4 shots down low. We had a beautiful chase-down block in the first half of play as well and our increased tenacity led to many steals.

 

On offense in the second and third quarters, the ball just didn't seem to want to fall. Despite all of this, we found ourselves down by four with a little more than a minute left. We ran our high-low and we did well to rip the ball from right to left and go to the net to hoop and the foul... And one!! We missed the free throw and we're only down one. We fouled and since we were in the penalty, they went to the charity stripe for two... They hit both. We called a timeout shortly thereafter and drew up a play for the chance at a three-pointer. The boys executed and we hit the 3!!! The game was tied, in the heat of the moment, we lost track of one of the Crescent players who was on the fast break, and while chasing him down on defense, we fouled him ... And one. With 2.7 left on the clock, down three, we attempted a March Madness style half-court shot for the tie and a push for overtime but it glanced off the right side of the rim and out.

 

It was a game that saw us much more comfortable in our shoes on both offense and defense. Our lessons from today are the need to practice with greater speed and intensity in order to execute more effectively in games.

 

We look forward to continuing to build on our learning as individuals and as a team. Come out to support the 1st Boys Basketball team next Wednesday, December 18 at 2:30 pm as we host Saint Andrew's College in our third game of the season. It's sure to be an entertaining one! Note: The 1st Boys' Basketball game will also be live-streamed on the LCS Facebook page.