I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when my varsity basketball team wanted to “take it easy” on the parents and teachers at their annual meeting in the Bontecou Gym. I wanted them to continue their “killer instinct” and “bury” this team, but my wishes did not win the day. This was the first time I gave in and let them make this opponent “feel good” about themselves. The first half ended with the parents/teachers leading by three points, when we really should have been up by ten. Our team got carried away with this idea that this opponent needed to be given a “pass”.
My competitive juices just couldn’t take this “laissez faire” attitude, so I was hoping we would “put it” to this opponent in the second half. But it wasn’t to be.
Mrs. Bettigole, the “smooth as silk” 4th grade legend led all scorers with 16 points, many with 2 or 3 of our players hanging all over her. Mr. Cissel, playing in his first game, added 8 points and showed he still had the wheels to compete with a much better opponent. Mr. Depetris, that “very cool” music teacher poured in 10 points, many with a defender right in his face. Super-sub, Mrs. Yager dropped a beautiful shot from long range in for two, while Mr. Pink added a basket even after twisting his ankle minutes before the game. Rounding out the teachers was Ms. Schoch, moving fantastic without the ball, something every coach dreams his players would do. Parents Chuck Dull (10 points), Jim Baker (2 points), and Frank Christensen (4 points) rounded out the team and added some great shooting and defense to the mix. Trainer Ryan Stevens, a very wonderful part of the entire DDS sports program, showed some fluid moves throughout the game. We can’t thank Ryan enough for all he does for DDS sports.
My guys felt very good about letting the parents/teachers win this one. Griffin Wilson and Hudson Kuras combined for 17 points and played their usual solid game, while Adam Baker, Cooper Davis, Shriman Balasubramanian, and Austin Christensen combined for 12 points and all finished their careers at DDS. It was fitting that the six graduating players did all the scoring for DDS. Great job Guys! A “fifth” quarter saw more scoring from the eight graders and a nice shot for two, just inside the three-point line, by Christian Ouellette. Rounding out the game with some great play were Danielle Stamer, Jackson Ryan, Roan Gideon, and Matthew Stapylton. Ben Poholchuk, out with a broken collarbone, showed his support for his team by joining them on the bench.
The action on the sideline was just as busy as the game itself. TJ Sayah handled the timer duties for the game and did a great job. Super-sillious sixth graders Chloe Green, Hadley and Isabel Stack, and Sophie Perekslis, aka Sofy Tm, Iz2y, and other creative monikers, added tons of laughs, “informative” basketball insight, and beautiful smiles at the scorers table. Thank you girls for helping with the score-keeping duties. Also, a big thank you to the DDS tiger for “bringing in” the varsity team for the last time this year. Ms.Carly Augustus-Kokoni played the tiger, ably assisted by Ms. Claire Shope, the trainer of this unruly beast. Thank you ladies. A final nod to Tom Hart, the best ref I have ever worked with at this level. He really loves what he does and is great at it. Thanks Tom.
Well, that wraps up another fantastic basketball season at DDS. My thanks to all the parents for their wonderful support throughout the season. I hope you enjoyed watching your children play as much as I did coaching them.
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