From the Sidelines: Victory comes at the right time
Editor's note: This column is part of a series of columns called "The experience of coaching."
Sitting at 0-2 Dec. 17 the Marion REC sixth grade F & R Swine boys' basketball team was in a need of a victory.
Then came the snow.
The whole day canceled. It seemed like we were never going to step on the court again.
Then Saturday finally came, and we were able to play two games. A rare basketball double-header.
The early morning game was against the Newton Railers.
They were like the Yankees in the Bad News Bears. They had slick uniforms, had been playing together since June, and had a coach that actually knew what he was doing.
Now my team is no Bad News Bears, but when you practice once a week, it's hard to beat a team that has been playing together the past six months.
Let's just say the score wasn't pretty. However, if my players would have boxed out like coach Jeremy Vondenkamp and I have been showing them, it would have been closer.
Five hours later we are 0-3 and ready for a match-up against Chase County.
Another winless team we know we can beat.
What happens? First play they come down and score, 2-0 Chase County.
But then something great happens. The kids started playing like I knew they could, and reeled off 16 straight points.
They were having fun. I was having fun.
After grabbing the big lead, they did what even NBA teams do, and that is ease up a little. But in the end the 29-16 victory felt good for all of us. Parents, players, and coaches were able to experience a victory for the first time this year.
It's said at this level winning isn't important, and having fun and learning is what matters. And that is true.
However, winning is fun and, it can teach you a few things as well. While losing may make you humble, winning with class can do the same as well.
With two games left on the schedule, (Hillsboro and Chase County again) we have a chance to finish .500 heading into the tournament.
We'll see what happens.
