NO PRACTICE TODAY!! For Vegas please book your flights leaving Portland on the 21st and returning on the evening of the 26th of July. Alaska and SW go to Vegas and have the same fare. We are staying at the place below. The Sonnemakers have some time share-type benefits so we are staying at a 5 star resort at a 2 star price thank you to them!!
Here is a link to look at photos of the Grand Desert Property in Las Vegas
http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/LASGD/main.wnt
The address is:
Grand Desert by Wyndham
265 East Harmon Avenue
Las Vegas
Nevada 89169 | United States | 800-989-1848
Phil with NW Hoops IS having his tourney afterall. Though d1 coaches will not be able to attend he will have lots of JC's there as well as NAIA and D2 coaches will keep you posted. I am looking for other opportunities I like it becuase it is right in our back yard and because it is inexpensive.
http:www.northwesthoops.com
Moving forward. We will have a game on Saturday at West Salem at 5pm in Addition to the games at the Hoop at 2 and 3. We will not play over memorial day weekend in Seattle. Our funds are low and I would rather spend those remaining funds for our July tourneys. As soon as the HS summer season starts we will limit our practices. The HS players will be busy with their summer basketball leagues. We will have a couple of practices in June before the rose city showcase that starts on the 11th of June. Please remind me of who is available and who is not. IT IS VERY VERY important that you seniors especially get in shape...real basketball shape to put yourself in the best possible situation to perform at your best!! That means eat right, sleep right, rest right, etc. Give yourself the best possible chance by being in great shape.
July will be a busy month let me know if you will be missing any dates in July. This is the most important time of the summer for all of the players. This is the "live" period where Division 1 coaches can scout and watch the boys play. I have several colleges contact me about our players and others. Most of these coaches are NAIA and JC coaches. They all have $ for partial scholarships. Feel free to talk to me about the process and where I see your son playing at the next level. BASKETBALL MUST BE THE PRIORITY IN JULY OVER ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES, VACATIONS, ETC.
July 6th-8th we will be here in Portland playing and then immediately leave to Bellvue on the 9th-11th for a very nice tourney there. We will leave on the 21st or 22nd to Las Vagas til the 26th.
Practice - S. Meadows, 7:00 Tues, Thurs, Fri. DO NOT MISS PRACTICE! We do have a local tournament this weekend, TBD.
Basketball is funny...game #4 we played against a local team from Yakima that has played together a lot. We struggled but finally pulled away and had a comfortable 20 pt. lead until the last 2 minutes of the game, when we relaxed and they got within 9. Until we won by 15 points. What I am trying to get all the players to learn is regardless of the score or regardless of the talent of the other team, we always, always have to respect our opponent at all times. I am trying to get them to not relax. Most of our mistakes are mental lapses of judgement.
Game #5 - the Championship. I am a little surprised that we made it to the Championship to defend our title from last year! On a real positive note, it is very difficult to play 5 games of intense basketball with only 7 players. We had a comfortable lead of about 12 points the entire game, thanks to Victor's heroics, who ended up scoring 1/2 of our teams points. We found our 12 point lead evaporating quickly in the last 3 minutes of the game, as our tanks were empty both mentally and physically. We were down by 1 point, our ball, we scored to be up 1 point with 20 seconds to go. They missed their shot with 8 seconds left, our ball underneath their basket. We turned the ball over on the inbound play. So, were up 1, their ball, under their basket. They get a shot off, Hayes rebounds the miss, gets fouled, makes a free throw. Game over, we win by 2!
A lesson to learn: in the last game as the boys were both mentally and physically fatigued, they fell back to old bad habits! And, like a small child began to whine and complain as things didn't go their way. The lesson to be learned from this is, like in life, as things get difficult and unfair, we need to stay mentally strong and focused. I was extremely proud of the boys overall, they played great and it is nice to win a Championship! Lastly, the big picture is that we improve individually and as a team regardless of the outcome.
WOW did I say basketball is a funny thing...... we played a very mediocre team again they hustled and we just came out complacent, we didn't shoot the lights out. They were a high school team and they game up 3-4 inches per man. Defensively we were lazy, kids not moving their feet, they got some confidence and momentum and hit some shots. They got to the basket and got lots of easy layups and points in the paint! How with our size advantage I have no idea! ( mother I did not scream and yell or cuss at the kids I stayed level headed) We were down by 6 at the half even at the end of 3 and then with some huge plays by vic and hayes we ended up tying it up at the end of regulation. Vic hit a couple of nice threes and a HUGE steal for a layup and Hayes made several clutch hoops. Tyler played most of the 2nd half and had some really nice put backs and rebounds as the. Zack was a trooper fought the whole game hit some FT's some nice put backs and solid d and played nearly the whole game. John had some great baskets that we needed badly during some dry spells!! ....we won by 1 in overtime hayes was fould on a 3 hit them all mark hit 2 ft's to ice it. .........Here is the deal. As an athlete ...a real athlete you need to come ready everyday regardless of the the competition. It has to do with respecting the opponent and the game itself. Also creates a consistent mental mindset in all situations. Most the kids at this level are playing for a reason. All are capable of making a big play getting hot sticking a few threes. After an amazing game yesterday we slipped a bit today in game one but.........we lived to play another game and advanced! We play at 1pm if we win we play at 5 in the championship lose we
play at 3;40 in the consolation game. 3-0 with 2 games to go. I am a bit worried with only 7 players I think we will run out of gas at some point.......stay tuned!!!
Basketball is kinda funny.......We are here in Yakima with 7 players. Got some guys gone some kids that couldn't make it. Nice place, and comfortable. We are rested and play our first game at 11:40 after a great breakfast thanks to Dotty Sonnemaker. We play a very mediocre team, just not much size, not great players we struggle all game but have a decent 10-14 point lead, bad decisions makes the game a bit closer and we win by 10 after them getting it down to 7 in the 4th q. .....Game #2 3:40 we play what is perhaps the best team in Idaho several good players good shooters good size and they have played a lot together.........we win by 30 ad have a 20 point lead at the half. Mark was Huge!!! I was able to keep him on the floor because he gave great defensive effort.best he has done and because of that he bangs down
5 3's hits some free throws, and has a very effecient game. It all happened because of his defense and moving his feet!!! Best game by far for him. Hayes was amazing shot great but not one TO or bad pass. Vic was very solid hit some great shots scored both on the drive and on the catch. Zach was huge and had some great defensive stops and some great put backs and keeping the ball alive. John is getting better and better each day. I am very proud of him. He has improved so much a great attitude and work ethic. Getting better every time out and he is seeing the big picture. I can't tell you how impressed I am with John!! Joel did great and s getting better each time out, Tyler was amazing had some great rebounds and was a dominate force on their big guys. We are 2-0 and play in the championships of the to seeded teams. Dinner at Sonnemakers at 7pm!!! hope all is well. Our bigs dominated their bigs which was the difference.........stay tuned peace
818 North 1st Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 453-0391
For the boys that need a ride to Yakima call me so we can make arrangements.
The brackets and schedule is posted at www.ieaau.org.
You can follow our progress there. Call me at 503 875 8281 if you have any questions. We will be back late Sunday night.
Moving forward as the Summer basketball season kicks in for school and the school year comes to a close we will slow down our workouts as not to conflict with your HS basketball games and practices. We will have a tourney in June then gear up for 3 tourneys in July. Those that have not paid the full amount please contact me to make arrangements. I am out of pocket a large sum that I had to pre pay for our expenses.
Below is the link to the hoop games:
http://hoop-beaverton.ezleagues.ezfacility.com/leagues/81121/10-Spring-Hoop-Spring-League--Varsity-Boys.aspx#ShowSchedule1
