Hoop Dreams
Posted: January 25th, 2012 | Author: Michael Goldstein | | 7 Comments »
That’s our middle school boys bball team, pictured above (thanks Julia).
They entered the game undefeated. So did Smith Leadership Academy.
a. It was a friggin’ fun game to watch. Intense. Very well coached (both teams) — big props to Dan and CJ and the gang.
SLA pressed MATCH, and our kids struggled to break it in the first half. But second half we broke it fairly often, and got a number of layups. Liked both teams’ passing against the 2-3 zone….usually hard to get 13-year-olds to move the ball so quickly and deftly (they tend to like to dribble).
b. Good sportsmanship. You know how, after games, both teams create a line so each player shakes the hand of each opposing player? I watch lines like that. This one had a good vibe.
c. I think we got at least one kid that the prep schools will recruit. If he leaves, that statistic will be tabulated in the charter wars as “attrition.” Even though the real story would be his teachers have helped him make huge strides, enough that he may now be able to hack it at a prep school.
d. Notice the low ceiling. Yes, it pretty much limits 3-pointers. You can sink ‘em, but you need to flick a line drive. Our guys eked out the victory, but we benefitted from home court advantage of knowing the ceiling.
e. Refs were good. That’s not easy, officiating middle school hoops. You need to be consistent, but you can’t call every little violation.
f. I love that Kyle, our middle school dean, held out one of our key players. Evidently he’d been giving teachers a hard time last several days in class.
I’d be tempted to think: “Gee, our kids are undefeated. I’d hate to ruin the biggest game of the season…maybe I should hold him out of a different game.”
Of course, that’s the wrong move — I’m just saying it can be tempting. Perhaps Kyle even generated one of those “life learning moments” where the kid realizes he let down his teammates, you never know. A dad from the other team mentioned to me that SLA was also missing a top player.
g. After the game, I hooped with 10 of the MATCH Corps tutors til 9pm. They were amazed at how I combine lack of speed with spotty shooting and poor decision-making. I’m a triple threat.
I hooped it up with the high schoolers yesterday and blew them away with my 3-ball. They were like, “Where did this dude come from?”
SLA beat us 75-3. Nice job on the win.
(Mind you, we have 2 TOTAL 8th grade boys – not on the team, in the grade – one of which is academically ineligible. Most of our team is 5th and 6th graders.)
Steve,
It looks like you have the unfair advantage of having talent. Like Mike I’m a triple threat on the court, with lack of eyesight being my third. I survive by being able to read high school kids, minds.
But middle schoolers are different. First I was afraid to step on one of those little critters, and second there is no way of anticipating what they will do.
I’ve found one-one-one basketball is one of the best ways to build relationships kids. The only question I wrestle with is whether to let them win or not.
Depends on the age…but by middle school, I say make them work for the win. Kids are never prouder than when they beat me for real.
Is it terrible that basketball like doubles my desire to get back to working with these kids?
Joe,
Same for me too. its not terrible. Nothing was more important to my teaching of History than b-ball.