[BillyMac]

Back when I was coaching a public middle school team, we had the local Catholic school middle school on our schedule. Their coach was one of the best that I ever coached against. In the years that we played them, we only won a few games.

In one game, her team went ahead by double digits early in the game, thanks to her great press, and our poor press break. Her team was up by at least 25 at the half. Knowing that she would take off the press in the second half, I approached her at halftime, and asked if she could continue to press in the third period, so that we could work on our press break. She reluctently agreed, so I went over to inform our fans, mostly parents, that it was I who had requested that she continue to press, so that they wouldn't think she was showing bad sportmanship.

Several years later, the reverse happened, but with another school. Way behind at the half, this coach asked me at halftime if I would press in the third period, with my second string players, so that they could work on their press break. I agreed, as long as he told his fans.

Even when you are definitely going to lose a game, that situation can be used as a learning tool.