As I've said in other threads, I felt charitable earlier this spring and took on a developmental AAU 12-year old boys' basketball team. The team is required to play in our organization's summer league and because we're technically an AAU team, we have to play D-1 (healthy, right?). So, we generally lose every game by 15-20 points (great learning opportunities losing by the same amount all the time and never playing competitive games; not bitter though). But, last night, we played the best team in our bracket and we typically lose to them by 25 if they show mercy.
We were playing in an aux gym at a middle school where the mid-court circle practically touches the top of the keys. So, they ran a 2-2-1 press which allowed them to get in it even after missed shots and because the court was so small we couldn't beat it going middle. Their defenders pinched in taking away the middle and it was also easy for them to recover if we reversed the ball. Given their length versus our lack of length, there was really no way to beat it. They jumped out to a 22-1 lead before the opposing coach took off the press.
From that point, we managed to make it more of a game. With about five minutes to go, we actually started to get on roll of sorts. Our half-court man forced several turnovers in a row and we actually converted in transition, going on an 11-2 run. Just when we were feeling good about ourselves, the other coach calls timeout (they're ahead by 24 with one minute left), screams his head off at his team, puts his starters back in, and puts the press back on. They closed with a 5-0 run to win by 29.
Other than everyone learning what a dick he is, I don't think anyone learned much of anything else.
We were playing in an aux gym at a middle school where the mid-court circle practically touches the top of the keys. So, they ran a 2-2-1 press which allowed them to get in it even after missed shots and because the court was so small we couldn't beat it going middle. Their defenders pinched in taking away the middle and it was also easy for them to recover if we reversed the ball. Given their length versus our lack of length, there was really no way to beat it. They jumped out to a 22-1 lead before the opposing coach took off the press.
From that point, we managed to make it more of a game. With about five minutes to go, we actually started to get on roll of sorts. Our half-court man forced several turnovers in a row and we actually converted in transition, going on an 11-2 run. Just when we were feeling good about ourselves, the other coach calls timeout (they're ahead by 24 with one minute left), screams his head off at his team, puts his starters back in, and puts the press back on. They closed with a 5-0 run to win by 29.
Other than everyone learning what a dick he is, I don't think anyone learned much of anything else.