In an earlier post, The Bright Side of "Knowing Nothing," I wrote about the importance of players and coaches controlling their emotions when games take a turn for the worse. I have started telling my players regularly before games and during breaks to "keep moving forward" when the the inevitable times come that their shots do not fall or the other team makes a scoring run. It was very pleasing to see our team handle such a situation so well during the fourth quarter of the semifinal game against the Central Virginia Patriots in the 2011 East Coast Homeschool Championships at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. View the video below to see a resilient group of players handle setbacks and perform at a high level when it is tempting to become discouraged and "take possessions off."
After Eagles senior Joe Calkins' put back gives Augusta a 41-36 lead, Central Virginia scores 7 straight points to establish a 43-41 advantage. The go ahead basket, a breakaway layup made possible by an Augusta turnover, is particularly deflating. But Eagles' guard Austin Crown responds with a 3 pointer to give Augusta a 44-43 lead. The Eagles then get another chance to bow their heads and pity themselves after Central Virginia answers with a 3 pointer, followed by a steal at half court for what seems to be a certain breakaway layup.
Rather than watch the Central Virginia player score the layup to give the Patriots a 48-44 lead, Eagles Guard Austin Crown tracks down the ball handler and steals the ball. Soon after, Augusta's Matt Miller makes a 3 pointer and teammate Dominic Brown converts a steal into a layup, giving the Eagles a 49-46 lead that is enough to allow Augusta to eventually win 49-48.
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