MS Hack Fest to Start.......

[grunewar]

Boys game last night. Teams had 14/13 players respectively (read - well stocked benches).

Partner and I try to establish the tone early and call a tight game as these kids know their playing time will be limited and they are “overly aggressive” on defense. Hands checks, pushes, hacks all over the place - I mean hey, I’m only going to play a few minutes per half, might as well give it my all right? We must have called 30 fouls the first half. The game had no continuity or flow. One team was in the double bonus w/ four minutes to go in the first half (they only play six minute quarters).

My partner and I discussed “loosening up” a bit at half-time and letting them play a bit more or “we’d never get out of here.” Didn’t need to. I think the coaches took it upon themselves to talk to their players at half-time…… Not ten seconds into the third quarter, TWEET, A42 reaches across B5 and fouls on the arm. Buzzer! Coach takes him out immediately. The coach would have none of that this half.

Game settled into a pretty competitive, well played game. Now, if they could only hit their free throws…….