Game 14: Honey Creek 43 West Vigo 23

Well it wasn't exactly the way I was hoping things would end up, but "it is what it is..." so they say. It was just one of those nights that you don't want to see the "wheels falling off", but we did what we could and it just wasn't enough.

There are so many things that I think we were capable of doing better this year, but we played hard in every game and as the season went along we made progress and that' all (as a coach) that you really want to see. We made strides in the right direction and good things started happening for us. Here are a few of the "positives" that we can take away from this season....

1.) "We DID get better as the season went along..." 
- We lost to Wilson our 1st game of the season by 40 points! The 2nd time, we lost by 10 and we had them concerned enough to put some starters back in at the end of the game....
- We lost to Sarah Scott by 21 the 1st time and then we lost by 10 to them the 2nd go round...
- We lost to Otter Creek by 18 the 1st time and 9 the 2nd time...
- We lost to Honey Creek all 3 times we played them this year, by 32 the 1st time, 30 the 2nd time and then 20 tonight...
- We beat Chauncey both times. The 1st by 24 and the 2nd by 19...We won the games we should win.
- We picked up a nice win against Crestwood, winning that one by 6, with our highest point total of the season, scoring 54.

2) "We learned a lot of basketball...."
The bible says, "where much is given, much is required..." and I know I poured out a ton of new things for you guys to try to absorb in a short period of time during the season. But as the above shows, you guys were able to take some big steps this year and for those of you that are planning on playing at the high school level, you now have a head start going foward. The goal for me is always to give you as much of an advantage as I can so the transition into next season will be as smooth as possible. Much of what we implemented this year is what Coach Boehler and his staff will be using. This is going to allow you to move forward at a much faster pace than those that didn't participate this season. (It is especially important for all of you that are planning on playing next season to be a part of the off-season opportunities. We will have camp again AND "Open gym" opportunities that will be extremely beneficial to you. Make it a point to be there when the gym times are available....)

3) "We learned how to compete..."
This was as important as anything we did this year. When you guys first came in, I knew that was going to be the biggest obstacle I had to work through with you guys. As I told you from the beginning, it wasn't going to be about, "wins and losses", but rather, "learning" how to compete...the sacrifices needed....the WILL that it would take to get rid of the attitudes of "accepting defeat before you compete"....I watched this team literally turn itself around during the year. We went from being a "door mat" for everyone to walk over, to a team that the others didn't take for granted. That is a credit to each and everyone of you for "buying into" what I was trying to do. I know it wasn't easy at 1st, (and I told you it wouldn't be...) but all of you worked hard and truly became a much more competitive basketball team.

I am looking forward to the "2nd Season" and into the off-season opportunities as well.

"Thank you" for letting me be a part of this journey with you guys...  :)

Finally, I would like to have a pizza party for you guys on Saturday, around 2:00. Please let me know as soon as possible, (by text or f/b "message") so I can make sure I get something booked in.