U14 AND1 Tournament RI 41-69 PLCC

What happens when calls do not go your way and the opponent is playing much more rough and aggressive than you?

We never found an answer to that question during today's match.

We started off extremely badly, unable to get any fast break opportunities and bad hustle caused some easy points over at the other end. Many fouls were called and we allowed the other team to edge ahead with their stellar free throw percentage. In fact, most of the points in the first quarter from PLCC came from free throws, which gave them a 7-11 lead at the buzzer. The next quarter was poor, as we allowed them to outrun, out-dribble and out muscle us on offense, which allowed them easy layup opportunities and putbacks. Ill discipline also wasted a timeout called by coach to get a 3-point shot off, and we even let them intercept the ball for an easy breakaway at the other end. We ended the first half 12-21, 9 points down.

The second half was horrible.

We ended the third quarter 28 points down, 21-49. The numbers show a huge difference and for a good reason; our players were not treasuring every possession, and one of our players was man-marked by our opponents, thus with one man down on the play, we were unable to execute good offense. Also, we were crushed by their star players number 23 and 13 by their fast-breaks. Yet, the saddening fact was no one rushed back on defense, which accounted for those easy points.

Fourth quarter, we came up with a zonal press, managing to get a few turnovers here and there. Mark and Chun Cheong salvaged us with a couple baskets and shots from a simple play the coach designed. Unfortunately, perhaps it was an off-day for us that night, our shots from the charity stripe never seemed to hit their target. Our substitute point guards also were doing an inefficient job of moving the ball around, always looking to drive by themselves, or making their passes much too predictable. Perhaps the only good thing that came out of it was that we equaled our scoring to our opponents 20-20.

Today's match is an important one. When calls do not go your way, and if the opponents are much more rough and aggressive with you, you just have to be equally fierce back. We do not cover before the opponent team, and ALWAYS get back on defense. The safety man can't do it by himself. The duty of the point guard is also to move the ball around so our teammates can get an easy shot, and we would definitely have to work on that.

MVPs:

(RI)

Chun Cheong

(PLCC)

no. 23

no. 13