The Boys Basketball Team recently rocked in their Christmas tournament, securing the title of 3rd place statewide! It was a thrilling showcase of talent, determination, and sportsmanship. Teams from various schools came together to compete in a series of intense matchups, each game filled with high energy, and perfectly planned out plays. Audience members were treated to an array of impressive performances, from sharp shooting to strategic defense. The tournament not only highlighted the skills of the young athletes, but also mastered a sense of community among the participants and fans alike.
Head Coach Marc Polite works overtime to make sure that his players are always in peak condition to play for tournaments such as these. It may seem effortless to the outsiders, but it takes time, effort, and a lot of drill practice to succeed. Polite explains that even though practice is important, rest and having the players take care of themselves is just as important, stating, “We tend to have a few days off before because it’s right around Christmas time, so we try to make sure our guys have an opportunity to be able to celebrate Christmas, and spend some time with their family, but also we have to maintain that momentum that were working towards.” With that being said, Varsity player Avian Thomas explains that he would always, “listen to music to relax my mind” as his way of rest and relaxation. Polite also explains the different strategies and drills they do over practices to get the players ready for any challenges by stating, “Typically, coming into a tournament, we’ll know who that first game is, so we’ll do some scouting as some prep for that first game, but then, beyond, that is really more general, some of the fundamental things of the game.”
But basketball isn’t about just the games being played throughout the tournament, it’s about the bond that the team has with each other, the excitement they get from winning, the chemistry they have to have on the court, in practice, and anywhere they go. Thomas explains that team positivity is very important to them, stating, “We support each other by kind of joking around, but also, in serious moments, we mention to one another that we are capable of doing anything, as long as each of us are confident.” He also goes on to explain how he felt personally about the team’s placing, stating, “3rd place kinda sucked, but it still felt good to be among one of the top teams in a popular Christmas Tournament across the state. Some teams we knew we were capable of beating, so winning felt good.” Polite goes along with this by mentioning that chemistry is everything, stating, “We’re a team that playing together, getting along, sacrificing, is all your key pillars to our program.”
Although injuries aren’t wanted, they do come, and they can throw preparation off, especially during a high stake tournament play, but, Polite is the man with the plan, and he’s ready for anything that’s thrown at him when it comes to preparing for injury. “We tell our guys they gotta stay ready. You can’t prepare for [injuries] aside from letting the season play itself out. But we also gotta have our bench guys understand that you could be called on at any moment’s notice.” But, the players know how to take care of themselves, as well. Players such as Thomas try to prevent injuries by “stretching, taping and double socking,” he explained. Being an athlete comes with risk, but as long as the players take care of themselves and the coaches know what to do incase of emergency, it couldn’t possibly slow them down.
Tournaments are by no means as predictable and slow paced as regular games, the competition is more broad, games are back to back, titles are at stake, and the thrill is more intense. Considering all of these details, the coaching style has to be changed slightly. Polite explains this change with great detail by saying, “I think it’s less detailed because you’re playing so many games, you don’t have as much time to prepare, so we try to what we call it, keep it simple, keep it light so they’re able to play quick. During the regular season, I typically will have two to three days to prepare for an opponent. In a tournament, you’re playing back to back to back, three consecutive days, you just don’t have as much time to be able to give them as much information, so we tend to gear towards general themes, then we do more specific details.” Although there isn’t much time for wiggle room between each of the games, Polite is always prepared for the unexpected
Overall, the tournament was a success, showcasing the skills and sportsmanship of the young athletes. It was a testament of hard work and dedication of the players and coaches, and it fosters a sense of community among the participants and fans alike. The boys basketball team can be proud of their performance and look forward to future competitions.
