Season: Over.

Like "March Madness" only one team ends their season with a "W".  Well, this is a little different because the 3rd place game also finishes with a win, but only one team wins with the Aaron Rodgers championship belt.  Sadly, our 7th graders made it to the dance only to leave empty handed.  That game is difficult for me to recall being blasted 27-49 isn't a great feeling.  Crazy, huh? 

Our 8th graders also just made it to state and played last Saturday.  The game, we were told, was one that we didn't stand a chance in.  Little PPMS from the west side of Springfield played the "city boys" from East St. Louis; a classic match-up.  Our staff was nervous about their size and speed; they had a great full court pressure defense, the ol' diamond and 1.  Plus, their players, across the board were bigger than ours.. including the 6'5 kid in the middle of their zone and the 6'1, 185lb middle linebacker with a gotee.  No lie, his face was like Jared Sullinger's... before he got spit on, ALLEGEDLY.  Either way, they were big and fast.  Funny little secret though, we were probably a more athletic team across the board than they were.  We have some kids that can run and jump; and a flat out thief at PG.  He had them rattled into switching PG's possession after possession. 

When all was said and done, size at the 8th grade level makes a huge difference.  We were intimidated and missed too many lay-ups, floaters and shots in the lane because we didn't want to get blocked.  They crushed us on the boards and two defensive miscues on back to back possessions were the difference.  Down 11 going into the 4th, our kids fought back with a determination the staff didn't see all season long.  It was great being a part of a team that cut a 22-33 difference to 33-34 with 56 seconds left!  After all was said and done, however, they hit a few FT's got a big steal and outlet after a miss and that was the game.  36-40. 

After the game we talked about how great is was to see the kids not quit, to play through their fear, to play intimidated and then to see their confidence soar when they realized they could play with anybody.  This team has the POTENTIAL to be very, very scary.  As I mentioned a PG that is a thief and solid ball handler, an undersized SG that doesn't think twice to take it to the lane against bigger players, a developing wing, the most athletic 8th grader we saw all year that can run and sky and a few members of the bench with very solid potential.  Of course, it comes down to what it always does.. hard work and determination.  A lot of the kids play baseball all summer long and the question remains:  "How much basketball will they play?"  If they develop skills, with their athletic ability it will be a force in central Illinois small school basketball.