January 28
[So, it was cold outside – damn cold! The school would be shuttered for the next two days as locals try to figure out how to keep the chickadees warm! But the game was on . . . ]
[I missed all of the JV game (I guess we won) but arrived in time for the coaching staff warm-ups. We learned this week that [t]he National High School Athletic Coaches Association has just announced Wendy Kohler as a 2019 National Basketball Coach of the Year Finalist. Eight finalists from across the nation will be honored.]
[And Kaye Paschka (3) was honored as being the first player to fall under the gaze of my camera lens. The Cards had broken a 3-game shooting slump in the previous game and appeared to be back on the road to recovery . . . ]
[I couldn’t find the camera’s “on” switch for the opening tip (at my age, it happens), so this was the first game action. Mia McGrane (5) got us off to a running start, hitting our first 3, and then a couple of free throws . . . ]
[With friends McKenzie Duwenhoegger (35), Kaye, and Ella Grove (11) . . . ]
[Congrats from those teammates while the Lumberjacks’ 25 gives her the “eye” . . . ]
[The ‘Jacks came in with a good record, and we soon discovered they had a lot of players who could shoot . . . ]
[If that was a pass to an open player in the corner, it likely led to a 3 . . . ]
[The Cards aggressive defense made it hard for the ‘Jacks to find good shots, but they handled the pressure pretty well . . . ]
[All 3 of the ‘Jacks in this shot seemed to hit 3’s whenever they were open. Fortunately, we didn’t let them get open that much . . . ]
[Ella in a maze of white jerseys . . . ]
[Mia and Mac calling, “Here I am” . . . ]
[The Cards are turning back down court like a basket was scored . . . ]
[Mia applying back court pressure . . . ]
[Emily Jones (33) in the middle of a 10-player convention under the basket . . . ]
[And up she goes for a two-handed stuff . . . ]
[All eyes have it. I don’t know . . . ]
[Ella had had a 3-point shooting hot streak; then slumped with all the team . . . ]
[She appears to have recovered as she was 3-for-3 on 3’s in the 2nd half . . . ]
[And she’s been a good foul shooter all year . . . ]
[Alayna Strand (25) provides speed and quickness off the bench – a likely starter next year . . . ]
[At the half. It was good. We were turning the game into a track meet, and it was great to see the team get out and run enmasse. Our speed was the difference, as it usually is . . . ]
[Mia on defense . . . ]
[Then Ella . . . ]
[Then Alayna lets loose and outlet pass as we head the other way . . . ]
[And then she shoots some free throws . . . ]
[Ella from underneath . . . ]
[Looks good?]
[I think so . . . ]
[The Cards got up to about a 30-point lead . . . ]
[But it closed a bit at the end. The Cards were back in their pre-slump mode. The five starters scored 16, 13, 12, 10, and 10. With that kind of balance we usually win.]
They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds. ~ Wilt Chamberlain
Up Next: Espagne
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