If you missed the HoopHall Massacre - we were crushed on national TV (ESPN) by the #3 ranked St. Anthony’s Friars.
We got out worked, out hustled, out toughed, and crushed in every facet of the game. It was the worst loss in DeMatha Basketball history. We couldn’t get it going on either end of the floor… nothing went right. It really was a nightmare.
There are two stats that sum up how poorly we played:
1) We had the same number of turnovers as points (25).
2) St. Anthony’s point guard scored 3 more point than our entire team (28-25).
No excuses from us; a pitiful performance from start to finish. We did everything in our power to prepare for this game and thought we were ready to compete – but obviously we weren’t.
But it is only one game. It is not the end of our season, much less the end of the world. And while this loss certainly hurts – we have to collectively put it behind us, learn from it, and use it as fuel to refocus and finish the second half of our season as well as we are capable of.
We don’t have time to pout and wallow in self pity. We need to use this as a wake-up call and come together like a true team (family).
"Adversity is always a prerequisite to great things."
Thankfully we don’t play again until Friday, so we have all week to address our issues in practice. Then we play 4 league games in 7 days (Friday – Sunday – Tuesday – Thursday).
How will we respond?
Will our loss to St. Anthony’s be the hole that sinks our ship and sends us spiraling downward?
Or will we accept the challenge to start climbing the mountain again?
I have full confidence that Coach Jones and our staff will fix the issues we are having and get us back on track.
“Everything will be OK in the end. If things aren’t OK; then it isn’t the end.”
Thanks to everyone who sent messages of kind words and support.
Always learning,
Alan Stein
www.StrongerTeam.com
www.Twitter.com/AlanStein
www.Facebook.com/AlanStein