Rough road ahead

Over the span of the next week, we will get the chance to play three distinctly different teams. All of them are dangerous, but not for the same reasons. South Side tonight is going to be a fast-paced, physical game with plenty of possessions. We haven't been handling the ball very well early in the season, nor have we been able to put the clamps on anyone defensively. In addition, our shooting percentage is down as well. We've been showing signs of improvement recently in practice, but we've only played three games and it's hard to tell where we really are. Tonight will give us more information, but South Side destroyed us last year - our worst loss in nearly four years. In fact, they have had our number the last four times we've played. We'll have our hands full tonight too.

Wawasee is a brand new team this year. All five starters from last year's team either graduated or transferred. Coach Zolman still has them playing very well. They are 4-1 at this point and receiving votes in the 3A poll. They have apparently embraced the Wawasee style and are earning dividends. A team playing with that type of confidence - no longer in the shadows of last year's powerhouse squad - will be tough to handle, especially on the road.

Finally, we see Whitko next Wednesday in our final home game before Christmas. Yes, it's also our second home game of the year - nice scheduling! I'm wary of them because they have played a very difficult schedule and have yet to win. Similar to Wawasee, the stars of last year's team have departed and a younger squad is feeling its way through a tough opening stretch. But Coach Bell does a good job and they won't come to Fort Wayne expecting to lose. We'll have to handle their physicality and make sure we stay true to our stated goal: Just do what we do!

By next Thursday morning, I expect to know a lot more about our team. That may sound odd, given the experience we return from last year. Still, we are just now beginning to get ourselves organized and of our three games, only one of those was played with our full complement of players. By comparison, South Side has already played four, Wawasee five, and Whitko six. Our patience will be tested - we'll see how it looks!