I gave my final exams yesterday and got them graded today, so I'm feeling pretty good about that. It means that Christmas break can officially begin and the time that I so often spend with the children of others can now be dedicated solely to my own. That's nice.
We won last Friday at Blackhawk and played a very good third quarter after a sluggish first half. It was particularly gratifying to have no fewer than seven former players in the building to witness the latest version of Canterbury girls basketball. It really is special when the former players take the time to come out and see us play. I hope they were impressed by what they saw.
With the win, we finished the first half of the season at 8 wins and 2 losses. That's not bad, considering we played the toughest schedule that any of my teams has ever faced. Only two of those games were contested against schools our own size; everything else came against bigger schools, many with rich histories of success in girls basketball. In the same day, we took on Northrop and Snider, two schools who brought home state championship trophies in the 1980s playing under Hall of Fame coaches. In fact, we've played half of the SAC schools in Fort Wayne already this year. We went on the road to Wawasee, home of Shana Zolman, arguably the best high school girls basketball player in Indiana history. We went to Huntington and won in a gym that the 1990 and 1995 state champions, also led by a HOF coach, called home.
I wonder sometimes how those schools view us. We won three class A state championships in 2008-2010, so Canterbury has a legacy as well. I know it's a little uncomfortable because no one wants to lose to a small school such as ours. Still, we do have some history and this year's team is certainly talented enough that other teams must play well to beat us. From my point of view, I don't think there is shame in losing to Canterbury. But, as I said, I don't know how others feel about it.
We now take a few days off for some well-earned R&R. The girls had final exams this week and with Christmas coming up and no games until early January, we have moved out of the gym for awhile. My hope is that once we get back, it will be with a new vigor and enthusiasm, one that will help carry us through the long difficult stretch known as January. We'll have to do some extra conditioning and review the offenses and defenses that we have in place. I've been able to let my head clear a bit, allowing me to begin envisioning the things that we need to concentrate on once we return. A couple new offensive sets, a full-court press, and some new out-of-bounds plays are on the to-do list. But they will have to wait for now. This is family time, and we don't have enough of it as it is. Cassie is only home until the 27th, so she and the boys are the top priorities for the next several days.
To everyone who checks in periodically to see what's on my mind, here you go...have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and blessed New Year!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Winding down the first half
With just one game to play before Christmas - this Friday at Blackhawk Christian - we are nearly done with the first half of the regular season. To this point, we've done okay. We've played half of the Summit Athletic Conference and gone 2-2 so far. There is no shame in losing to either Snider or South Side, but it would have been nice to perform a bit better on the defensive end in those games. We scored plenty of points, but we didn't do what we needed to slow them down. In our seven wins, we were just better than the other team on that particular night and played well enough to prevail. No team in Class A plays a tougher schedule, so we're hoping that a season-long set of tough battles will help us when the tournament rolls around. That's been a winning philosophy in the past, and we hope it continues.
It's at this stage of the season that you begin to closely follow the teams that you are likely to see on the tournament trail. Some people may see that as an example of overconfidence. I prefer to think of it as preparation. If you are going to do well in the tournament, you first must believe that you are going to do well. The next logical step is to prepare each night in practice and through the collection of scouting reports and game tapes of potential opponents. Right now, there are probably 6-8 teams in Class A who are having impressive seasons. Some, like Oregon-Davis and Vincennes Rivet are familiar rivals who are once again playing well. Triton, Southern Wells, and Barr-Reeve are all undefeated at this stage. Some newer faces like Riverton Parke and Frontier have now appeared in the latest weekly poll. At the end of the day, the teams who are playing the best basketball in February will be the ones advancing through the tournament. We are trying to get better every night so we might be one of those teams. A lot can happen in the next 7-10 weeks. I hope we can be in the mix when that time comes.
It's at this stage of the season that you begin to closely follow the teams that you are likely to see on the tournament trail. Some people may see that as an example of overconfidence. I prefer to think of it as preparation. If you are going to do well in the tournament, you first must believe that you are going to do well. The next logical step is to prepare each night in practice and through the collection of scouting reports and game tapes of potential opponents. Right now, there are probably 6-8 teams in Class A who are having impressive seasons. Some, like Oregon-Davis and Vincennes Rivet are familiar rivals who are once again playing well. Triton, Southern Wells, and Barr-Reeve are all undefeated at this stage. Some newer faces like Riverton Parke and Frontier have now appeared in the latest weekly poll. At the end of the day, the teams who are playing the best basketball in February will be the ones advancing through the tournament. We are trying to get better every night so we might be one of those teams. A lot can happen in the next 7-10 weeks. I hope we can be in the mix when that time comes.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Road Warriors
Tonight, we head west to Huntington for our sixth consecutive game away from home. It's an unfortunate situation that emerged due to a new event at Snider and the shifting of the Whitko game to late January. Otherwise, we would have had at least one game in our own gym in the month of December. In any event, we'll make the 30-minute drive tonight to take on one of the state's most storied programs.
I did my student teaching at Huntington back in 1988 under the newly hired girls basketball coach, Fred Fields. I enjoyed sharing stories and perspectives with him as I had already logged three seasons as a coach on my dad's staff at Columbia City by then. in 1990, Huntington won the state championship. They won again in 1995, a remarkable feat considering that they did it with a completely different group of players. During my tenure at Columbia City, our two teams did battle a number of times, often in the deeper stages of the state tournament series. Fred is in the Hall of Fame now, joining my dad as one of the earliest inductees from the collection of girls basketball coaches in Indiana. He still checks in from time to time as we are making noise in the tournament and I appreciate the fact that he hasn't forgotten about me despite his notable coaching accomplishments.
Huntington looks a bit different these days. They still play a tough schedule, being one of the biggest schools in the entire state. However, they haven't been able to crack the win column yet this year. I know it's just a matter of time - I just hope it isn't tonight!
I did my student teaching at Huntington back in 1988 under the newly hired girls basketball coach, Fred Fields. I enjoyed sharing stories and perspectives with him as I had already logged three seasons as a coach on my dad's staff at Columbia City by then. in 1990, Huntington won the state championship. They won again in 1995, a remarkable feat considering that they did it with a completely different group of players. During my tenure at Columbia City, our two teams did battle a number of times, often in the deeper stages of the state tournament series. Fred is in the Hall of Fame now, joining my dad as one of the earliest inductees from the collection of girls basketball coaches in Indiana. He still checks in from time to time as we are making noise in the tournament and I appreciate the fact that he hasn't forgotten about me despite his notable coaching accomplishments.
Huntington looks a bit different these days. They still play a tough schedule, being one of the biggest schools in the entire state. However, they haven't been able to crack the win column yet this year. I know it's just a matter of time - I just hope it isn't tonight!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Traffic
on this blog has been ramping up significantly in recent days. Lots of hits from Twitter and LinkedIn, but also getting some visits from search engines as well. I guess I better continue to update it, though a shortage of time and some waning enthusiasm will make that difficult. The primary purpose of this site is not entertainment. I thought it would be interesting to some people to keep them informed about the progress of the girls basketball team as we move through the 2011-2012 season. For the time being - as long as traffic remains high - I will plan to continue on that course. Even though there are some people out there who experience schadenfreude when things don't go our way, I still like to believe that most people who follow our exploits are happy when our team wins.
At one point last year, we were 2-2 and nearly lost a couple others before Christmas (nipped Whitko by 6 and Wawasee by 6). Immediately after Christmas, we had to go double OT to beat Dwenger. But all those games came in a stretch where we won 20 in a row! The expectations for this year's team are much higher. So, even though we are 5-2 and playing the toughest schedule we've ever attempted, at times it feels like we're not getting the results we want. What will it take?
Obviously, a successful trip to Terre Haute would be required. But I'm here to tell you, it's not that easy. "Say it, do it" is not a strategy. We need to be able to mold a team from a group of individuals who are still trying to find their niche. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes sacrifice. It takes commitment. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. We've shown improvement, but we need to get better every night. There's a long road ahead, with lots of twists and turns. We'll see how well we can navigate it.
At one point last year, we were 2-2 and nearly lost a couple others before Christmas (nipped Whitko by 6 and Wawasee by 6). Immediately after Christmas, we had to go double OT to beat Dwenger. But all those games came in a stretch where we won 20 in a row! The expectations for this year's team are much higher. So, even though we are 5-2 and playing the toughest schedule we've ever attempted, at times it feels like we're not getting the results we want. What will it take?
Obviously, a successful trip to Terre Haute would be required. But I'm here to tell you, it's not that easy. "Say it, do it" is not a strategy. We need to be able to mold a team from a group of individuals who are still trying to find their niche. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes sacrifice. It takes commitment. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. We've shown improvement, but we need to get better every night. There's a long road ahead, with lots of twists and turns. We'll see how well we can navigate it.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Briefly
Lost at South Side. Played better than we did against Snider, but had a bad stretch in the third quarter that cost us. In our two losses, the third quarter has been the reason. I guess I need to do a better job at halftime. Some people question our conditioning, but we are rarely outplayed in the second or fourth quarters, times you would expect for that to show up. No, it's the third quarter, so maybe I need to take a look at our mental preparation and figure out why sometimes we aren't ready to play coming out of the break.
Wawasee Saturday was a pretty good day. Played man the entire game and seemed to get comfortable in the run and jump defense in the half court. Their ball handling was not very good, so it was easier to attack them. It was obvious that they were mentally and physically defeated by the end of the first half. We put four girls in double figures, but I was more interested in how we played defense. It was a step in the right direction.
We've got a couple days of prep for Huntington now. We're slowly adding sets as we go through the season, but I want to concentrate on doing a limited number of things very well. No sense in putting in 20 offensive sets and not being able to run any of them effectively. Once again, I am more interested in what we are doing at the defensive end. If we worked as hard at trying to keep people from scoring as we do to score ourselves, this team could be pretty good. Hopefully, we will see another solid defensive effort Thursday at Huntington.
Wawasee Saturday was a pretty good day. Played man the entire game and seemed to get comfortable in the run and jump defense in the half court. Their ball handling was not very good, so it was easier to attack them. It was obvious that they were mentally and physically defeated by the end of the first half. We put four girls in double figures, but I was more interested in how we played defense. It was a step in the right direction.
We've got a couple days of prep for Huntington now. We're slowly adding sets as we go through the season, but I want to concentrate on doing a limited number of things very well. No sense in putting in 20 offensive sets and not being able to run any of them effectively. Once again, I am more interested in what we are doing at the defensive end. If we worked as hard at trying to keep people from scoring as we do to score ourselves, this team could be pretty good. Hopefully, we will see another solid defensive effort Thursday at Huntington.
Monday, November 28, 2011
The path to Christmas break
With Thanksgiving (and Black Friday!) now past, we begin to set our sights toward Christmas. It's hard to believe that our regular season is already a quarter of the way done. By Christmas, it will be halfway over. That means we have five games in the next three weeks - a slow stretch when considering we will play ten games in January alone. So, what will the next few weeks bring us? Tough competition and a variety of playing styles, that's for sure. And, oh yes, they are all on the road...
First, a very difficult game at South Side. It's a loud place to play - weird acoustics - and South is determined each year to make us look as bad as possible. It annoys them when we actually win, like we did two years ago at their place. They got their revenge last year, beating us soundly. Our passing and catching was unbelievably bad. If we play that way this year, it will be another long night. They will press and attack all over the floor with great athleticism.
Saturday, we are at Wawasee. They have a terrific individual player named Knafel. After that, they lack experience and depth. They will play their trademark 3-2 defense everywhere. They press in it, drop back into it, and play it on out-of-bounds plays. It's what they do and we'll need to be able to find the seams and convert when we get the chance. It's our last scheduled game with them as they have indicated that they would like to look elsewhere for a game. That's disappointing, but not unprecedented. Since we've had some success the past few years, more and more teams are coming up with reasons to not play us. Whatever.
Next, we will continue our odyssey as we make the half-hour drive to Huntington. That's a new pickup on our schedule (thanks to Fremont dropping us...see above) and one we're excited about playing. They are an extremely physical team and are tough at home. They will try to beat us up and beat us down, so we'll need to be strong physically and mentally. I scouted them last week against Homestead and they had their opponents in complete disarray due to their style of play. It won't be easy, but that's the only way to get better!
After that, we coast into the break with weekend games with Bethany Christian and Blackhawk Christian. Bethany always plays us tough up there in Waterford Mills, so we need to guard against a letdown. They play a decent schedule, so they won't be intimidated just because it's Canterbury. Blackhawk is rebuilding with a new coach and a vastly different lineup. That game will be part of a boy-girl doubleheader, so that should be fun. They are our closest rivals. I hope we play well and head to the holiday break healthy and with some good performances under our belts. I'll talk a little bit more about each of these games moving forward.
First, a very difficult game at South Side. It's a loud place to play - weird acoustics - and South is determined each year to make us look as bad as possible. It annoys them when we actually win, like we did two years ago at their place. They got their revenge last year, beating us soundly. Our passing and catching was unbelievably bad. If we play that way this year, it will be another long night. They will press and attack all over the floor with great athleticism.
Saturday, we are at Wawasee. They have a terrific individual player named Knafel. After that, they lack experience and depth. They will play their trademark 3-2 defense everywhere. They press in it, drop back into it, and play it on out-of-bounds plays. It's what they do and we'll need to be able to find the seams and convert when we get the chance. It's our last scheduled game with them as they have indicated that they would like to look elsewhere for a game. That's disappointing, but not unprecedented. Since we've had some success the past few years, more and more teams are coming up with reasons to not play us. Whatever.
Next, we will continue our odyssey as we make the half-hour drive to Huntington. That's a new pickup on our schedule (thanks to Fremont dropping us...see above) and one we're excited about playing. They are an extremely physical team and are tough at home. They will try to beat us up and beat us down, so we'll need to be strong physically and mentally. I scouted them last week against Homestead and they had their opponents in complete disarray due to their style of play. It won't be easy, but that's the only way to get better!
After that, we coast into the break with weekend games with Bethany Christian and Blackhawk Christian. Bethany always plays us tough up there in Waterford Mills, so we need to guard against a letdown. They play a decent schedule, so they won't be intimidated just because it's Canterbury. Blackhawk is rebuilding with a new coach and a vastly different lineup. That game will be part of a boy-girl doubleheader, so that should be fun. They are our closest rivals. I hope we play well and head to the holiday break healthy and with some good performances under our belts. I'll talk a little bit more about each of these games moving forward.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A new experience
Playing this past Saturday in the Snider Classic, we got to face two local 4A teams in a single day. We always hope that we get a chance to play two games in one day later in February at the regional level of the state tournament. The event at Snider was a good chance to play some stiff competition and to measure where we are as individuals and as a team.
The morning win against Northrop was solid. The 67-49 final was a reflection of our play in the second half. After a fairly even opening half, we steadily distanced ourselves from Northrop. We employed a good game plan at the defensive end and felt good about the quality win. In the afternoon game, things didn't go as well against a Top 20 Snider team. Once again, our game plan was solid, as evidenced by the meager six points scored by their all-star post player Akilah Sims. Unfortunately, we didn't count on the career game from Western Michigan-bound Meredith Shipman. She hit nine three-pointers on her way to a 43-point day. And once we adjusted defensively in attempt to slow her down, the inside opened up for Sims and she exploded for 24 second-half points. Collectively, the two scored 73 of their team's 83 points. We scored 74 in what I felt was a pretty good offensive effort.
Could we have done some things differently? Yes. Was I second-guessed by some people for our defensive approach? Yes. If we played Snider again would we pursue a different strategy? Yes.
If we played exactly the same game today, would Snider have a player score 43? Probably not. If we could hold an all-star post player to six points in a half, would I be pleased? Absolutely. Is hindsight always 20-20? Of course it is.
We're still learning about each other and what we are capable of achieving. This group of girls has only played four games together. Everyone has grand ideas, but we still haven't been able to get everyone on the same page. Over time, and through a certain amount of adversity, we will craft a team that has the opportunity to be successful over the long haul. Until then, it's a patient process that we want to pursue, one that gives us our best chance to win and win regularly and win at the highest levels. We won't get a chance at Snider until next year, but when we do, we will be much more organized and prepared and ready to return the favor.
The morning win against Northrop was solid. The 67-49 final was a reflection of our play in the second half. After a fairly even opening half, we steadily distanced ourselves from Northrop. We employed a good game plan at the defensive end and felt good about the quality win. In the afternoon game, things didn't go as well against a Top 20 Snider team. Once again, our game plan was solid, as evidenced by the meager six points scored by their all-star post player Akilah Sims. Unfortunately, we didn't count on the career game from Western Michigan-bound Meredith Shipman. She hit nine three-pointers on her way to a 43-point day. And once we adjusted defensively in attempt to slow her down, the inside opened up for Sims and she exploded for 24 second-half points. Collectively, the two scored 73 of their team's 83 points. We scored 74 in what I felt was a pretty good offensive effort.
Could we have done some things differently? Yes. Was I second-guessed by some people for our defensive approach? Yes. If we played Snider again would we pursue a different strategy? Yes.
If we played exactly the same game today, would Snider have a player score 43? Probably not. If we could hold an all-star post player to six points in a half, would I be pleased? Absolutely. Is hindsight always 20-20? Of course it is.
We're still learning about each other and what we are capable of achieving. This group of girls has only played four games together. Everyone has grand ideas, but we still haven't been able to get everyone on the same page. Over time, and through a certain amount of adversity, we will craft a team that has the opportunity to be successful over the long haul. Until then, it's a patient process that we want to pursue, one that gives us our best chance to win and win regularly and win at the highest levels. We won't get a chance at Snider until next year, but when we do, we will be much more organized and prepared and ready to return the favor.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Progress? Well, maybe...
Convincing win last night against Woodlan. They won their opener against Bellmont, so we were a little wary, but were more concerned about doing our stuff well. Offensively, we did some good things. I was a little surprised they played us man-to-man the entire night. We could have exploited some matchups all night long, but I wanted us to continue to work on our continuity offense. It paid some dividends - we shot 56% for the night, compared to 29% the other night against Wayne. We relied less on the 3-point shot, yet made more of them. Free throws shooting was abysmal and that's something we need to get rectified. But enough about offense.
Our defense - the focus of the entire game - was subpar. We experimented with a few different schemes, but except for a nice stretch in the second part of the third quarter, there weren't many bright spots at the defensive end. We'll try to figure out what we did well during that sequence and build on it. For the most part, we didn't cover well, didn't trap well, didn't get many tips or deflections, or generate much offense from our defense. If we are going to be any good, that's something that must happen. I'll be studying tape this afternoon to see who was getting the job done and who was reluctant to participate. With a series of SAC powerhouses looming on the horizon, we better get it figured out pretty soon.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Our defense - the focus of the entire game - was subpar. We experimented with a few different schemes, but except for a nice stretch in the second part of the third quarter, there weren't many bright spots at the defensive end. We'll try to figure out what we did well during that sequence and build on it. For the most part, we didn't cover well, didn't trap well, didn't get many tips or deflections, or generate much offense from our defense. If we are going to be any good, that's something that must happen. I'll be studying tape this afternoon to see who was getting the job done and who was reluctant to participate. With a series of SAC powerhouses looming on the horizon, we better get it figured out pretty soon.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Identity
It's not who we are; it's what we do and how we do it.
I've got a group of kids who are very talented basketball players. Sometime, in the future, they will develop into a very good basketball team. My job is to figure out which buttons to push, which combinations to arrange, and which tactical and strategic approaches to employ. However, before any of those things can happen, our team must develop an identity.
The coaches are teaching and the players are learning. Skills are developing and bonds among teammates are emerging. Expectations are being stated and goals are being established. But we still seek that glue that will hold us together and make us stronger. It's like we know where we want to go, but haven't quite decided the best route to get there. Given time, the fog will clear and our path will present itself.
All very philosophical, I know, but there's a lot of that in coaching. We learn to embrace the things that work and discard the ones that don't. No two teams are the same - no two seasons are the same. Every year, it's an adventure as you try to figure out what is going to give your team its best chances for success. None of that can happen though until the team establishes its own unique identity. That's where we are right now, but we're working on it every day.
I'll let you know how it goes...
I've got a group of kids who are very talented basketball players. Sometime, in the future, they will develop into a very good basketball team. My job is to figure out which buttons to push, which combinations to arrange, and which tactical and strategic approaches to employ. However, before any of those things can happen, our team must develop an identity.
The coaches are teaching and the players are learning. Skills are developing and bonds among teammates are emerging. Expectations are being stated and goals are being established. But we still seek that glue that will hold us together and make us stronger. It's like we know where we want to go, but haven't quite decided the best route to get there. Given time, the fog will clear and our path will present itself.
All very philosophical, I know, but there's a lot of that in coaching. We learn to embrace the things that work and discard the ones that don't. No two teams are the same - no two seasons are the same. Every year, it's an adventure as you try to figure out what is going to give your team its best chances for success. None of that can happen though until the team establishes its own unique identity. That's where we are right now, but we're working on it every day.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A winning start
I knew we would have our hands full in our opener last night with Wayne. They have some talented players, speed, size, and good veteran coaching. I figured the game would be fast-paced (we like that) with both teams making runs at the other. I did not think either team would be able to run away and hide, for a couple reasons. First, I thought that the matchups would not favor one team over the other. I was concerned about their big girl in the middle and we had to adjust all night long to take her away as their number one option. On the other hand, Wayne loves to press teams and they didn't even try last night because we have ballhandlers -- good to great -- at every position. Mix in the uncertainty of opening night basketball, and you have all the right conditions for a back and forth contest.
I was very pleased with our effort. We outrebounded a bigger team (44-37), had fewer turnovers (13 to 25), and shot several more free throws (23 to 5). All of these statistics support the notion that we outworked our opponent in several measurable areas. The one thing we did not do was shoot the ball well, particularly from three-point range. 3-28 is a nightmare, yet we were able to overcome it with tenacious offensive rebounding and second chance points. We have some very good shooters and I don't believe I am being overconfident when I say we will have much better shooting nights as the season progresses.
The most important part of the evening was that we found a way to win. In the preliminary game, our JV kids really sucked it up and held on against a physically aggressive opponent. I was very proud of their performance. Likewise, in the varsity game, we did what we needed to do to manufacture a win when a loss was certainly possible. Down the stretch, we made some adjustments and the kids made some plays and that was the difference. Even though we are young - just one senior - these girls are veteran ballplayers and they are going to get the job done. We have some stiff competition coming up in the next few weeks. I am anxious to see how we will improve and what sorts of accomplishments these girls can have.
I'll let you know how it goes...
I was very pleased with our effort. We outrebounded a bigger team (44-37), had fewer turnovers (13 to 25), and shot several more free throws (23 to 5). All of these statistics support the notion that we outworked our opponent in several measurable areas. The one thing we did not do was shoot the ball well, particularly from three-point range. 3-28 is a nightmare, yet we were able to overcome it with tenacious offensive rebounding and second chance points. We have some very good shooters and I don't believe I am being overconfident when I say we will have much better shooting nights as the season progresses.
The most important part of the evening was that we found a way to win. In the preliminary game, our JV kids really sucked it up and held on against a physically aggressive opponent. I was very proud of their performance. Likewise, in the varsity game, we did what we needed to do to manufacture a win when a loss was certainly possible. Down the stretch, we made some adjustments and the kids made some plays and that was the difference. Even though we are young - just one senior - these girls are veteran ballplayers and they are going to get the job done. We have some stiff competition coming up in the next few weeks. I am anxious to see how we will improve and what sorts of accomplishments these girls can have.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Friday, November 11, 2011
Misunderstanding
If anyone asks one of our players today if they are ready to play, the answer will almost certainly be "Yes!" Unfortunately, that's the wrong answer, or at least an answer out of context. Yes, I'm sure the girls are excited about playing. No, they are not ready. There's no way. From Day One of official practice, we have a limited number of sessions to do work on one or more of the following things: conditioning, ballhandling, passing and catching, shooting, rebounding, defensive work, footwork, installing offenses, installing defenses, transition game, out-of-bounds plays, presses, press breakers, and all the teaching that goes along with it.
To make it even more interesting, for one full week (of the three weeks we've been practicing), our leading scorer from last season has been touring college campuses around the Northeast with her junior class. So, we haven't been able to put anything new in this week. She gets back this afternoon and we play our opener tomorrow against Wayne. So...that might help you understand why I don't get too excited about the opening weeks of the season. We know what we're up against and we set a goal to get better every night through the season so we can be at our peak when the tournament rolls around. Winning and losing have much less significant ramifications in November than they do in February.
Of course, we're going to try to win, and I think we will win. But we're almost doing it with a handicap and that means we aren't going to be as sharp and prepared as one would like. Still, it's a great opportunity to find a way to win and trust me, finding ways to scratch out wins is an art and a necessary element to playing championship basketball. That's what we intend to do tomorrow and every time we take the floor -- find a way!
I'll let you know how it goes...
To make it even more interesting, for one full week (of the three weeks we've been practicing), our leading scorer from last season has been touring college campuses around the Northeast with her junior class. So, we haven't been able to put anything new in this week. She gets back this afternoon and we play our opener tomorrow against Wayne. So...that might help you understand why I don't get too excited about the opening weeks of the season. We know what we're up against and we set a goal to get better every night through the season so we can be at our peak when the tournament rolls around. Winning and losing have much less significant ramifications in November than they do in February.
Of course, we're going to try to win, and I think we will win. But we're almost doing it with a handicap and that means we aren't going to be as sharp and prepared as one would like. Still, it's a great opportunity to find a way to win and trust me, finding ways to scratch out wins is an art and a necessary element to playing championship basketball. That's what we intend to do tomorrow and every time we take the floor -- find a way!
I'll let you know how it goes...
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Jamboree
It sounds like so much fun, doesn't it? A Jamboree!! What are we talking about...a Boy Scout event? Maybe the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney? My grandpa always got the biggest kick out of that show. No, tonight's jamboree is none of the above, but it is going to be a fun time. It's our first action against players from other schools, specifically Columbia City and Huntington. We will play one quarter against each of them for a total of 16 minutes of action. There will be referees and we'll keep score, but it's not a real game, more of a glorified practice. As such, we will only plan to play seven players, sport the practice jerseys instead of our real uniforms, and won't be too excited either way by the results. We won't even have a full squad as our leading scorer from last season is on a class-sponsored college visitation. So, it will be more of a whetting of the appetite for the games that are to come.
We only have a minimum number of offensive and defensive schemes in place, so this will be more of an opportunity to go run around and break the monotony that invariably emerges from practicing against the same people at the same time in the same place for several days. No matter whether we "win" or "lose" or even tie (yes, that has happened in these scrimmage events), we hope to see the things that we are doing well and the ones that will require more attention when we get back into the gym tomorrow night. The Wayne game is looming Saturday - I hope we look like we know what is going on tonight.
I'll let you know how it goes...
We only have a minimum number of offensive and defensive schemes in place, so this will be more of an opportunity to go run around and break the monotony that invariably emerges from practicing against the same people at the same time in the same place for several days. No matter whether we "win" or "lose" or even tie (yes, that has happened in these scrimmage events), we hope to see the things that we are doing well and the ones that will require more attention when we get back into the gym tomorrow night. The Wayne game is looming Saturday - I hope we look like we know what is going on tonight.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Homework
Earlier this week, I gave my basketball team a homework assignment. Not that they don't already have enough to do with Canterbury's challenging curriculum, but I wanted them to do some reading and thinking about how the game is played best.
The article I had them read is by former Duke star and current ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. He actually put words on paper a couple years ago and I've had this article since it first appeared on the ESPN website. The gist of the article is how to be a "tough" basketball player. It's not about the boastful, posturing, puffed-out-chest facade of toughness, but the essential skills, mindset, and grit that make a player better, both as an individual and as a teammate. Bilas details 33 different actions or characteristics of a "tough" player. It's an excellent article and provides food for thought for players and coaches alike.
I had each of my players identify - honestly - any of the 33 they felt that they demonstrated regularly. I asked them to select the three that they thought were most important. Finally, I encouraged them to pick three that they wanted to add to their games this season. I will collect and analyze the work and report back to them about the responses they generated. It should be interesting to see where each of them lands and where we see ourselves as a team. It will also give each of us an opportunity to improve our expectations and performances as individuals and as a group.
I went into this season with a personal goal to do more teaching. We have a very young squad with a lot of potential. So far, I think we have done a good job. My staff is excellent - instructors all - so I believe we will make great progress over the course of a long season, helping the girls understand and appreciate how to play the game better than they do right now. This homework assignment - it won't be the only one I give this year - is a good starting point.
The article I had them read is by former Duke star and current ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. He actually put words on paper a couple years ago and I've had this article since it first appeared on the ESPN website. The gist of the article is how to be a "tough" basketball player. It's not about the boastful, posturing, puffed-out-chest facade of toughness, but the essential skills, mindset, and grit that make a player better, both as an individual and as a teammate. Bilas details 33 different actions or characteristics of a "tough" player. It's an excellent article and provides food for thought for players and coaches alike.
I had each of my players identify - honestly - any of the 33 they felt that they demonstrated regularly. I asked them to select the three that they thought were most important. Finally, I encouraged them to pick three that they wanted to add to their games this season. I will collect and analyze the work and report back to them about the responses they generated. It should be interesting to see where each of them lands and where we see ourselves as a team. It will also give each of us an opportunity to improve our expectations and performances as individuals and as a group.
I went into this season with a personal goal to do more teaching. We have a very young squad with a lot of potential. So far, I think we have done a good job. My staff is excellent - instructors all - so I believe we will make great progress over the course of a long season, helping the girls understand and appreciate how to play the game better than they do right now. This homework assignment - it won't be the only one I give this year - is a good starting point.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Less is more
I have this phone that does everything but mow my lawn. It has internet, a camera, an alarm clock, over 500 of my favorite songs, a scanner, an e-book library, a calculator, a camcorder, GPS, FM radio, pictures, and access to every kind of social networking known to man. Oh right, I can also call people and they can call me. That's really all I need, but anymore, any gadget you buy seems to have 40 other gadgets included. Heck, I don't even know how to use most of them!
I have long been a proponent of the "less is more" philosophy. Until recently, I didn't consider why I believed it. It just made sense to me. Upon further review, I think it resonates with me because I appreciate simplicity. Life does not need to be complicated to be good. I think sometimes the newest innovations are little more than unnecessarily complex mechanisms used to accomplish (formerly) simple tasks.
Segue to basketball. I've got notebooks and binders and playbooks with hundreds of different offenses and sets and schemes. You can count the stuff we'll put in this year on two hands. It's consistent with my philosophy. We could install a bunch of stuff and run most of it poorly OR put in a few things and do them really well. It's like the familiar coaching maxim from John Wooden - "Don't confuse activity with accomplishment." I scouted an opponent a couple years ago and watched them run through 12 different plays against man-to-man defense. The final score was in the 40s, including an agonizingly bad overtime session. You can have all the complexity in the world, but if you can't pass and catch what difference does it make? Do the ordinary things extraordinarily well and you will be successful.
Did you hear that, Microsoft??
I have long been a proponent of the "less is more" philosophy. Until recently, I didn't consider why I believed it. It just made sense to me. Upon further review, I think it resonates with me because I appreciate simplicity. Life does not need to be complicated to be good. I think sometimes the newest innovations are little more than unnecessarily complex mechanisms used to accomplish (formerly) simple tasks.
Segue to basketball. I've got notebooks and binders and playbooks with hundreds of different offenses and sets and schemes. You can count the stuff we'll put in this year on two hands. It's consistent with my philosophy. We could install a bunch of stuff and run most of it poorly OR put in a few things and do them really well. It's like the familiar coaching maxim from John Wooden - "Don't confuse activity with accomplishment." I scouted an opponent a couple years ago and watched them run through 12 different plays against man-to-man defense. The final score was in the 40s, including an agonizingly bad overtime session. You can have all the complexity in the world, but if you can't pass and catch what difference does it make? Do the ordinary things extraordinarily well and you will be successful.
Did you hear that, Microsoft??
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Talent draws a crowd
We have some very skilled players in our midst. They have worked hard to put themselves in a position where colleges are now beginning to pay attention to their development and potential roles as players at the next level. We have been visited in open gyms and practices by college coaches from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan schools. I'm getting phone calls on a nearly daily basis from Division I schools who are interested in some of our players.
I hope it works out that every player who seeks to play ball in college finds the right fit in a good program. Our job here at the high school is continuing to prepare them to make that jump. As talented as they are, they can all get better. We've got an outstanding coaching staff who will be able to make a difference if the girls are sincere in their approach and dedicated in their efforts. Our goal individually and collectively is to get better every time we hit the court. If that happens, I think we will all be pleased with the results.
I hope it works out that every player who seeks to play ball in college finds the right fit in a good program. Our job here at the high school is continuing to prepare them to make that jump. As talented as they are, they can all get better. We've got an outstanding coaching staff who will be able to make a difference if the girls are sincere in their approach and dedicated in their efforts. Our goal individually and collectively is to get better every time we hit the court. If that happens, I think we will all be pleased with the results.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Day One is in the books
By most accounts, we had a successful beginning to the new season last night with our first practice. Good enthusiasm, hard work, no injuries. We had 14 girls in the gym (one more is still participating in the school play) so we are roughly in the same position as last year number-wise. Among that group, we have one senior, two juniors, six sophomores, and six freshmen. That's right, we're really young.
We began the session talking about my expectations and spent the rest of the time working hard to meet them. The girls worked hard and experienced some fatigue that they have not felt for awhile. Even the well-conditioned fall sport athletes felt winded from the different physical demands that basketball places on them.
Indiana's NewsCenter was there with a camera to record some footage and a couple interviews. I hope they do some significant editing because our skill work was pretty rusty...
We always begin with simpler goals, like passing, catching, and making layups. We like to weave basketball skill work together with conditioning in order to maximize our gym time and to blend the two disparate, but equally important, areas of preparation. We will employ some different drills tonight, but with the same basic pursuits. IPFW is sending an assistant coach tonight to observe our practice. Given the ragged display we put on last night, I hope he has a sense of humor.
In all seriousness, our primary stated goal in practice is to get better every night. We have lots of areas for improvement, so we've positioned ourselves well to meet that particular objective.
I'll let you know how it goes...
We began the session talking about my expectations and spent the rest of the time working hard to meet them. The girls worked hard and experienced some fatigue that they have not felt for awhile. Even the well-conditioned fall sport athletes felt winded from the different physical demands that basketball places on them.
Indiana's NewsCenter was there with a camera to record some footage and a couple interviews. I hope they do some significant editing because our skill work was pretty rusty...
We always begin with simpler goals, like passing, catching, and making layups. We like to weave basketball skill work together with conditioning in order to maximize our gym time and to blend the two disparate, but equally important, areas of preparation. We will employ some different drills tonight, but with the same basic pursuits. IPFW is sending an assistant coach tonight to observe our practice. Given the ragged display we put on last night, I hope he has a sense of humor.
In all seriousness, our primary stated goal in practice is to get better every night. We have lots of areas for improvement, so we've positioned ourselves well to meet that particular objective.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Monday, October 24, 2011
The moment we've all been waiting for. Or not...
I think the whole "bittersweet" thing is misused sometimes. It's typically thrown out to mean mixed feelings or weighing the happy and sad events in your life. Life is too complex to distill it down to a balance sheet of personal feelings or emotions, so trying to get to the heart of the matter with one word is pointless.
So no, today is not bittersweet. I am sad that Colten and Cassie had to go back to school after a short fall vacation. That emotion is not affected by the fact that basketball practice officially begins today. I am looking forward to that, but most of my day has been spent moping around with the departure of my two college-age children. It never gets any easier to watch them walk out the door.
Practice will be good. It gets my mind off the feelings described above, and we have a lot to look forward to as we walk into the gym for the first official workout of the 2011-2012 season. It's the first time in the past three years that we haven't begun the year as the reigning 1A state champions. I don't think it's going to change how we operate though, because we have always treated the season as an extended practice for the tournament.
We'll start the session with a discussion about expectations. We'll end it with a celebration of the efforts of each player during that particular workout. In between, it's a mix of fundamentals, conditioning, and lots of teaching. I'm no genius and this is no magic formula...everyone does it. We'll get a sense of where we are and what areas we need to emphasize tomorrow.
I'm told the TV media will be here tonight. It's an honor when they choose to use valuable air time on us, so we always welcome them when they request a chance to visit. It gives some of the girls an opportunity to get in front of the camera and earn some experience giving interviews. The success we've had the past few years has given several girls the chance to do just that. Hopefully, February and March will be a busy time and we'll be able to place some new faces in front of the camera.
I'll let you know how it goes...
So no, today is not bittersweet. I am sad that Colten and Cassie had to go back to school after a short fall vacation. That emotion is not affected by the fact that basketball practice officially begins today. I am looking forward to that, but most of my day has been spent moping around with the departure of my two college-age children. It never gets any easier to watch them walk out the door.
Practice will be good. It gets my mind off the feelings described above, and we have a lot to look forward to as we walk into the gym for the first official workout of the 2011-2012 season. It's the first time in the past three years that we haven't begun the year as the reigning 1A state champions. I don't think it's going to change how we operate though, because we have always treated the season as an extended practice for the tournament.
We'll start the session with a discussion about expectations. We'll end it with a celebration of the efforts of each player during that particular workout. In between, it's a mix of fundamentals, conditioning, and lots of teaching. I'm no genius and this is no magic formula...everyone does it. We'll get a sense of where we are and what areas we need to emphasize tomorrow.
I'm told the TV media will be here tonight. It's an honor when they choose to use valuable air time on us, so we always welcome them when they request a chance to visit. It gives some of the girls an opportunity to get in front of the camera and earn some experience giving interviews. The success we've had the past few years has given several girls the chance to do just that. Hopefully, February and March will be a busy time and we'll be able to place some new faces in front of the camera.
I'll let you know how it goes...
Friday, October 21, 2011
Cav Games
Canterbury is an interesting place in a lot of respects. Before I began working here, I had a stereotypical attitude about what this place is all about. Rich white kids, a puffed-up appreciation for high test scores and AP exam success, and just a generally aristocratic view of the world. Boy, was I wrong!
People here work very hard, they treat each other well, and they earn every bit of success that they achieve. Teachers and students are multi-talented. The school blends a diverse set of races, religions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school is growing and blossoming under the watchful eye of people who genuinely care about not only the strengths of the school, but also the areas where we encounter challenges and need to find ways to be better. In other words, it's a successful "work in progress."
Today, the unique culture of Canterbury allows us to set aside an afternoon for something known as Cav Games. It's a time for everyone here to blow off some steam, dress in some outlandish outfits and colors, and to participate as teachers and students in "competition" against other teachers and students in a wide range of games and contests. The closest thing I can compare it to is the "class struggle" days of long ago where the four classes challenged each other in tricycle races and egg tosses and wiffle ball games.
Canterbury has its own set of competitions. Games like tug of war and dodge ball are old stand-bys. But we also have gym soccer (what's Canterbury without a soccer match?), can-can (you'd have to see it to appreciate it), and a spirited game of Jeopardy - the Canterbury version - to conclude the day. Points are earned, a trophy (and associated bragging rights) is awarded, and we all ease into the weekend secure in our belief that nobody anywhere is doing silly stuff like this. Everyone gets into the act as we take pride in our colors and fight for the honor of our House. It's a lot of fun, a mindless reprieve from the sometimes high-pressure nature of our college prep curriculum. And, without a doubt, it is uniquely Canterbury.
People here work very hard, they treat each other well, and they earn every bit of success that they achieve. Teachers and students are multi-talented. The school blends a diverse set of races, religions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school is growing and blossoming under the watchful eye of people who genuinely care about not only the strengths of the school, but also the areas where we encounter challenges and need to find ways to be better. In other words, it's a successful "work in progress."
Today, the unique culture of Canterbury allows us to set aside an afternoon for something known as Cav Games. It's a time for everyone here to blow off some steam, dress in some outlandish outfits and colors, and to participate as teachers and students in "competition" against other teachers and students in a wide range of games and contests. The closest thing I can compare it to is the "class struggle" days of long ago where the four classes challenged each other in tricycle races and egg tosses and wiffle ball games.
Canterbury has its own set of competitions. Games like tug of war and dodge ball are old stand-bys. But we also have gym soccer (what's Canterbury without a soccer match?), can-can (you'd have to see it to appreciate it), and a spirited game of Jeopardy - the Canterbury version - to conclude the day. Points are earned, a trophy (and associated bragging rights) is awarded, and we all ease into the weekend secure in our belief that nobody anywhere is doing silly stuff like this. Everyone gets into the act as we take pride in our colors and fight for the honor of our House. It's a lot of fun, a mindless reprieve from the sometimes high-pressure nature of our college prep curriculum. And, without a doubt, it is uniquely Canterbury.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Questions
How does it begin? How does it end? What does it look like along the way?
Official practice starts Monday. We will spend more than four months accumulating the answers to those questions. Each year is different. Each team is faced with its own set of challenges, no matter how talented they are. The season will present obstacles that we haven't considered yet, things like illness, injuries, and periods of subpar performance. The ending is a function of all the things that take place through the season. Did we improve as individuals and as a team? Did we avoid the injuries that can alter the makeup of the team? How was our team chemistry? Did we make the adjustments -- hit the curve ball? -- that became necessary as unexpected circumstances suddenly disrupted the framework of our carefully laid plans? When it was all said and done, were we able to play at a high level, handle adversity, and emerge as a championship team?
Lots of questions. Very few answers. Yet.
Official practice starts Monday. We will spend more than four months accumulating the answers to those questions. Each year is different. Each team is faced with its own set of challenges, no matter how talented they are. The season will present obstacles that we haven't considered yet, things like illness, injuries, and periods of subpar performance. The ending is a function of all the things that take place through the season. Did we improve as individuals and as a team? Did we avoid the injuries that can alter the makeup of the team? How was our team chemistry? Did we make the adjustments -- hit the curve ball? -- that became necessary as unexpected circumstances suddenly disrupted the framework of our carefully laid plans? When it was all said and done, were we able to play at a high level, handle adversity, and emerge as a championship team?
Lots of questions. Very few answers. Yet.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Austin Hatch
I finally got a chance to see Austin today. It's his birthday and he was hanging out with his friends in the cafeteria. I shook his hand and told him how happy I was that he was back with us. I can't imagine what his life has been like for the past few months and what it's going to be like for the years to come. But I do know that he might be as close to Superman as I ever get. I believe the Lord has huge plans in store for him. He is a reminder that life is too short and we should squeeze out every last bit of goodness that we can. Welcome back, big fella!
Monday, October 17, 2011
One week...
I woke up this morning feeling tired. Daughter Cassie called LATE last night (who looks forward to THAT call???) and wondered how I felt about her adopting a kitten that some of the girls had encountered. She's been bothering us about getting a pet down at college (something, by the way, that is not allowed in the dorms) and this was the latest attempt at doing so. After I tried (in vain - why did she even bother calling me?) to dissuade her from going down that path, I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, unable to get back to a restful slumber.
So, today's been a bit of a drag. The one thing that keeps perking me up from time to time, is when I see one of our ballplayers and we remind each other that practice starts in earnest one week from today. I spent quite a bit of time this past weekend on the phone with a half dozen college coaches, talking about the beginning of our seasons, comparing notes on teaching points, discussing talent, and sharing the optimism and enthusiasm that invariably emerges at this time of the year. No matter the level of coaching, we are all working from the same starting point. The kids have been putting in work and now it's time to begin providing the organization and vision to help them achieve success as a team.
Soon, the media requests will begin. The message boards will start to light up, as (mostly) anonymous pundits and fans will post about which teams are going to be strong and what players should be recognized and why doesn't the IHSAA do something about the latest travesty committed by the private schools against humanity. It's all very predictable and I only mention it because we get the opportunity to deal with it every year. We are fortunate that the media are interested in what we do and how we do it. We are fortunate that there are both fans and haters of our program. It means that people are actually paying attention to what we do. No matter the reason, they are still watching us. By any measure, that's an indicator of a successful operation.
One week from today, it all begins...
So, today's been a bit of a drag. The one thing that keeps perking me up from time to time, is when I see one of our ballplayers and we remind each other that practice starts in earnest one week from today. I spent quite a bit of time this past weekend on the phone with a half dozen college coaches, talking about the beginning of our seasons, comparing notes on teaching points, discussing talent, and sharing the optimism and enthusiasm that invariably emerges at this time of the year. No matter the level of coaching, we are all working from the same starting point. The kids have been putting in work and now it's time to begin providing the organization and vision to help them achieve success as a team.
Soon, the media requests will begin. The message boards will start to light up, as (mostly) anonymous pundits and fans will post about which teams are going to be strong and what players should be recognized and why doesn't the IHSAA do something about the latest travesty committed by the private schools against humanity. It's all very predictable and I only mention it because we get the opportunity to deal with it every year. We are fortunate that the media are interested in what we do and how we do it. We are fortunate that there are both fans and haters of our program. It means that people are actually paying attention to what we do. No matter the reason, they are still watching us. By any measure, that's an indicator of a successful operation.
One week from today, it all begins...
Monday, October 3, 2011
Open gym - 3 October 2011
We had a bit of a snafu today at open gym. I didn't think the boys were coming in to play (thought they were just conditioning) and Coach Kline didn't think we were coming in to play. So, we just put the side baskets down and ran side courts. The girls played 9-10 games against a couple different squads of freshman and sophomore boys, and overall the results were pretty good. The girls only lost one game, despite playing with just a single sub while the boys were able to rotate entire squads.
We are definitely going to need to set up a "scout team" similar to the one Danny McMahon organized last season. Being able to compete against bigger and stronger opponents will help us improve in the physical element of the game. At the moment, the girls are mostly just playing without a lot of organization. Practice opens three weeks from today, so we're looking forward to getting the entire squad in the gym and working off the same page. We have some dangerous offensive players, but we will need to concentrate on defense and rebounding, particularly without a space-eating center in the paint.
There's quite a bit of talent, but there's going to be a lot of coaching/teaching by the staff -- more than we did last year. As always, the goal will be to hit our stride in February and March and let the chips fall where they may.
"Whatever it takes!"
We are definitely going to need to set up a "scout team" similar to the one Danny McMahon organized last season. Being able to compete against bigger and stronger opponents will help us improve in the physical element of the game. At the moment, the girls are mostly just playing without a lot of organization. Practice opens three weeks from today, so we're looking forward to getting the entire squad in the gym and working off the same page. We have some dangerous offensive players, but we will need to concentrate on defense and rebounding, particularly without a space-eating center in the paint.
There's quite a bit of talent, but there's going to be a lot of coaching/teaching by the staff -- more than we did last year. As always, the goal will be to hit our stride in February and March and let the chips fall where they may.
"Whatever it takes!"
Team theme
I am not particularly clever, and like most basketball coaches, if I see something that I like, I commandeer ("steal" is such a negative concept) it for our own. Way back in the early 90s, we used a phrase "Whatever it takes" at Columbia City. It's pretty self-explanatory, and something we'll use a lot as we develop a mentally tough squad this season. It can assume a few different meanings, whether it means spending extra time in the gym shooting free throws, playing a new position, or making personal sacrifices for the good of the team. The implication is that we will all do whatever it takes to be successful, short of cheating or playing in a way that fails to honor the game.
We also will adopt one of my favorites from Tony Dungy: No Excuses, No Explanations. Again, it doesn't require much interpretation. We will play the game the way it's supposed to be played. We will support each other and enjoy the successes of the team with little or no concern for personal accolades. And, if we fail, we will handle ourselves with grace and class. There will neither be the need for excuses nor explanations; we did our best, we played our hardest, that's all we'll ever do.
I hope you get a chance to find us in a gym near you. I think we're going to be a lot of fun to watch. And we'll do whatever it takes...
We also will adopt one of my favorites from Tony Dungy: No Excuses, No Explanations. Again, it doesn't require much interpretation. We will play the game the way it's supposed to be played. We will support each other and enjoy the successes of the team with little or no concern for personal accolades. And, if we fail, we will handle ourselves with grace and class. There will neither be the need for excuses nor explanations; we did our best, we played our hardest, that's all we'll ever do.
I hope you get a chance to find us in a gym near you. I think we're going to be a lot of fun to watch. And we'll do whatever it takes...
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
2011-2012 Schedule
Follow the link to see our full schedule for the upcoming season...
Canterbury Lady Cavalier Basketball Schedule
Canterbury Lady Cavalier Basketball Schedule
T-minus one month and counting...
I am going to make a more concerted effort to use the blog this year to keep our fans updated on the activities of the team and the results of the season, from the perspective of the coaching staff.
Stay tuned to the blog for information and my current stream of consciousness...
Stay tuned to the blog for information and my current stream of consciousness...
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