Hoosiers Redux: A Truly Miraculous End to a Long, Wonderful, Rewarding, Trying, Tiring, Special, Season

It’s Monday night and the season, one that seemingly, actually, lasted forever and a month, is over. Much to recount, including tournament drama that, at least in my small world, dwarfed any experience the NCAA ever brought me…
Where to begin, though? With the first game after vacation, I suppose. We traveled to play Health Careers, a team that, despite our playing them tough (see a previous entry), was bigger, stronger, faster. Their gym was nice, but the setup was not. We played running half’s, our nemesis, and found ourselves down big early, similar, perhaps, to our previous encounter. But this time, we were flat throughout. And they were better. They shot the ball well from the 3 and killed us on run-out baskets. We boarded the bus home early evening with a loss that stung, a disappointing one in that we did not stand a chance, we had not come to play.Then, however, a bright spot. On March 2^nd, we played Academy of the Pacific Rim, an established charter school that was actually featured in The New Yorker not too long ago. They were, we had heard, scrappier than Health Careers and larger as well. They did not have guard play, though, and we planned to exploit as much. In our finest effort, we dismantled their team and led the entire game. We won by a narrow margin, but only because we again demonstrated an inability to maintain a lead, to balance aggressiveness with clock savvy. However, the offense, running our Manhattan sets against their zone, was crisp, clean, sharp. We looked the better of the two teams throughout and won, amazingly. It one of their few losses and we had beaten a top team, the third-ranked one at the time.

A week later, at our final home game of the season, we did not live up to our own expectations and struggled to find a rhythm or play as capable against Codman Academy, played deep in Dorchester, earlier in the season. Also bigger and stronger, we did not handle their press, allowed many second chance points on defense and were outworked. After the game, the students lined up at half-court, upset, but sincerely appreciative, and gave the crowd, their crowd, one that had come out to support them throughout, a long ovation. We had discussed this in practice, actually I had demanded it, and the kids did not forget, nor did they do it without a genuine sense of gratitude. Regardless, we lost a game that was a real litmus test, a game against a top team that we knew deep down we could beat…if we played well, if we played as we were capable, if we put a solid game together for 32 minutes.

We then traveled to APR for our away game on the 14^th. Perhaps the worse setup in the league. The court was nice – they play at Hyde Park High – but there was one ref, no scoreboard and running time, kept in his pocket, I might add. He must have been their guy because he was horrendous. He was, throughout the first half, horrendous for both teams, though I suspect APR was used to what he would, and would not, call. At some point during the second half, however, and perhaps he was simply moved by their halftime theatrics for the leaving players on Senior Night, he flipped a switch and decided we would not get a call. Despite being down by double digits, we clawed our way back and some late game antics and hit a three, calling a timeout with 20 seconds remaining. We then threw our press at them and forced a blatant travel…which was ignored. The APR player, in order to heave a ball past our pressing defenders, took four steps, a jog really, some sort of javelin thrower maneuver, before launching the rock. It was in front of our bench. We went nuts. The crowd, our fans, lost it. Too late. Outrageous, but not unexpected in this league with a real variability across gyms and poor-quality reffing almost everywhere. We went home angry, dejected, limping into the final weekend of the season, the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization Tournament, held at UMASS-Boston for the teams that finish in the top 8 during the 18 game season. We were 6-12 and seeded 7^th. We found out we would be facing Codman, something about which we were thrilled. A morning practice on Thursday, March 15 – something to which almost every kid attended every one of, something truly notable and inspiring, given that we had two to three 7am workouts per week through the darkest and coldest of the winter months – was focused on the match-up and, once again, Orin and I reiterated that we expected to win, that we had not faced a team we did not think we could play with, that we simply needed to put decent basketball together for longer strings and show everyone else the learning, the improvement, that we had all experienced together in practice. We liked our draw. We liked that we got to see Codman in the first round and the other half of the bracket had HCA, PHA and APR.

Writing Tuesday morning now… Friday was a mess. As evidenced by the post-game shot of Geo in the snow getting dropped off, it was gross out. The roads were not in good shape. At home, around noon, I found out the tournament would be played. I was somewhat surprised, but assumed that not playing it would mean cancelling it. Players were to meet a couple of hours before our 7PM game, but because of the weather, students trickled in almost up until game time, with those coming from farthest away assuming their seats on the bench after the tip.

We went down big early as Codman came out controlling the boards and effectively pressing us. We did not advance the ball past half-court for the first two minutes of the game. Once we did, though, and once we settled down, we began to meticulously break apart their press, and their defense. Their top-heavy press allowed for significant fast break opportunities. Ultimately, they were forced to abandon it, going to more of a half-court trap, which our Manhattan worked well against. The game was tense, but we remained ahead and, despite some shadiness in the final moments and the scorer “forgetting to start the clock” or tell us when their players fouled out, won. The kids were psyched, but comported themselves in a way that showed they were not shocked. We had, for the second time, played as we were capable. The win felt incredible. It would provide an inspiring end to the season, regardless of the semi result...The girls lost on Friday night, ending their season. It was a solid game, but playing without their point guard, who had been suspended at the end of the week, they could not overcome their opponent. The girls were, understandably upset, and felt overshadowed. Their season did not go as planned, for myriad reasons, and we can only hope to inspire them more in the year to come...
We showed up the next day to face the winner of the 8:30PM game that had been cancelled, absurdly, because of the weather. It meant that MATCH and Foxborough would have to play their opening round game at 11AM. We would then face the winner at 2PM for the semi-final. Their game was decided at the buzzer, in a thriller that, admittedly, fatigued both squads. That stated, we were excited to face either.After the 1^st round game and before our semi, the kids all watched, as we warmed up and stretched, the HCA-PHA semi-final. It was an extraordinary game. Both teams pressed and ran the entire time. The lead changed hands continuously. The guard play on both sides was amazing, with PHA and HCA’s point guards showing that they deserved to be considered for all-league honors. Despite getting HCA’s massively built star to foul out, HCA somehow won, beating the only team to defeat them during the regular season (and twice at that; HCA’s only two losses). Both teams played zone, both teams turned the ball over a lot, both teams were physical and aggressive.The Foxborough game was sloppy. We may have led the entire game, but our lead never felt secure. Their two stars, a senior all-league forward and junior point guard, played well and kept them in it. One of them hit a 26 footer off the glass to draw them within two with less than a minute to go, an improbably, but not wholly unexpected make for him. Geo continued to dominate the boards and had an excellent game. Jude game alive in the second half and, after missing two free throws in the waning minutes, hit two to allow us to go up four with a few second remaining. Bayoan again carried us, controlling the pace, breaking the press, scoring, passing. Michael also had a stellar game, his second of the tournament. Chuck was physical and Steven, getting some quality minutes, played well, converting on the break off of a steal and looking more confident and comfortable. The kids were not as excited after the victory.After the game, as perhaps had become customary, the kids walked towards the stands, clapping for their folks and all those that came to support them. They did it genuinely, again, and the response from our fans was nothing short of positive and warming in return.I was nervous heading into Sunday. I reflected on this Saturday night and was amazed at our being in the final. We had played like we should be there, but I wondered about the following day. I wondered how many coaches and players in the league would attribute our being there to a lucky draw or the cancellation of the opening round game or something else. We played HCA tough once, but had also gotten run off the floor by them scarcely two weeks prior to the tournament. How would we fair? In front of our fans, who would surely continue to come out in droves, how would we handle the big stage. Yes, we had nothing to lose and no one expected us to win, but how must that be presented to the kids in a way that also convinced them of their ability to win, or at least play with kids this big, strong and fast.

While watching the first half of the girls championship, which was played before our game on Sunday, I jotted some notes on the back of a program about our game plan. It has since become part of the CCSC trophy display. I believed that we needed to out-box them and hang with their size on the boards; give their stars space to disallow the blow-by off the dribble; play incredible help defense; take charges and get their two stars in foul trouble; slow the game down, to a crawl, if necessary.The post-game trophy presentation took forever and, as we stood by and watched, I saw our warm-up time dwindle. By the time we did start, 7 minutes were put on the clock and the lay-up lines would have to suffice. The game started with neither team scoring. After an opening lay-up by our guys, their shooter calmly drained his first 3, which was not a good sign. We scored again. We never relinquished the lead. The game was remarkable. The kids executed the game to perfection, giving us a chance to win. We led throughout, sometimes by 5, sometimes by 9, sometimes by 2. We drew charges, and more could have been called, we locked up their two stars by giving them space and recovering on help defense, by daring them to shoot. We broke their press early in the game, forcing them to abandon it altogether. We scored against their man defense, using a motion offense we started the year practicing, but had abandoned because we were the only team that played man. We forced them back into their zone and then picked it apart repeatedly with our 2-1-2 zone offense, attacking seams, hitting pull-ups, getting lay-ups off of passes, slowing things down and passing the ball without dribbling. The first half was tense, exciting, full of wonderful plays. No lead made any CCSC player, coach or fan feel safe or calm. All were sweating it out, both figuratively and literally.

We went into the half up 23-18 and spoke about the fact that we had won nothing, that we were playing well, that they would make a run and that we needed to continue to control the pacing, the tempo, the speed. Kids were excited, but nervous. We were so proud of them…The second half remains a blur. I know we were up 9 during the middle stretch. I know that at some point, both their point guard, a lightning quick junior who had torched the opposition all year, fouled out. After that, their forward, though I suspect he will play serious ball as a two-guard, fouled out. We hit our free throws.

Bayoan continued to dominate and control the game. He scored, passed, called time-outs. Wale scored when necessary, taking the ball to the rim and finishing one play with a spectacular left-handed bank shot on which he was fouled. Geo completely frustrated #28, giving him space on the perimeter and closing off his driving lanes. He also hit two huge shots, one jumper and a pull-up, with two minutes to go and our offense struggling to find points.Steven, giving Bayoan a breather, led a wonderful break and assisted Geo with a perfect bounce pass. Jude, an emotional wreck during the first half, got it together and played hard-nosed defense and controlled offense. Chuck, playing more aggressively, and bigger, than he had all season, was an inside presence that we needed and somehow figured out the key to rebounding, boxing out, with a weekend to go in the tournament.With 1.6 seconds left, up four, and their defense swarming, a smart timeout was called. We talked about winning with class, we talked about expecting it, we drew up an inbounds play that would get the ball onto their side of the court and get the time running. All of the above occurred. We won. Unbelievably, unexpectedly, miraculously, marvelously, shockingly, absurdly, we won. We beat a team that had gone 18-2 to that point, that had blown us out. We not only beat them, we looked like the better team.

We shook hands and then went through the sweet motions of the trophy presentations. I wanted to be with the team, with my kids, but had to join the other coaches in voting for the tournament MVP and all-tournament team. When the league commissioner explained the process – you could nominate your own guy, but could not vote for him asked for him – and then asked that we start with the MVP, the other coaches unanimously, almost un unison, said, #3, referring to Bayoan. The commissioner, surprised it would be so simple, said, “well, that was easy.” His mother, moved to tears already by the win, lost it again.Geo was voted onto the all-tournament team and both received special trophies. The team trophy, as you can see, is larger than my 7^th grade student.Afterwards, we spoke. I admitted to them that part of me wanted them to lose, thought it would be better if they lost, that it would be too much if they won, this being their first season in the league, this being a team with no juniors or seniors. I talked about how this championship could not diminish the work every single kid must do in the off-season to retain their spot, to improve. I talked about the extent to which we could no longer fly under the radar, that we were marked, that other teams would be gunning for us next year. I mostly talked about how proud I was of them, how hard we had worked, about our 7AM practices in the dead of winter, about our running, about the detention sprints and push-ups seemingly did at the end of every practice. I didn’t really have the words I wanted for them; I had just witnessed something miraculous and unreal. Orin said some words, as did Chris. We huddled, I told them to give their trophies to their mothers, and we screamed CCSC coming out of the huddle one final time. Then it was picture time, hugs and kisses time, congratulations time, “I can’t believe it” time.

Yesterday, the players wore their jerseys to school. Chuck, after the win, had apparently run up to Ms. Evans, the Head of School, and asked if they could. “Of course,” she said. They looked sharp. They were so proud. There was an amazing energy throughout the day as kids walked around, almost in a daze. Folks inquired about the games, watched as the trophy case, which only had one other display – a second place trophy from the soccer season, which was no less incredible given the personnel and that it was year one in the league – was setup up, rearranged, spoken of with pride. The results were announced in the morning meetings, cheers were heard throughout the school, it all had a dream-like quality to it. Chris, texting me during the day, wrote, “huge f-ing win. This season was the most satisfying sports season of my life. Thanks again.” This from an accomplished athlete who competed at the college level. He was, at least in part, reacting to how much he had seen nearly every single kid improve. By the end of the season, every single kid was making left-handed lay-ups, jump-stopping, sliding their feet on D. Mid-season, we had changed course and decided to simply focus on the fundamentals, perhaps at the expense of everything else. We did endless slides, lay-ups (15 in a row as a team from both sides before we went to other drills), dribbling drills up and back and all over again.

We kept it simple. And the kids, like sponges eager for more, soaked it up, improved, got better. And the result, simply put, was shocking. It offered external validation of the strategy, of the countless hours, of the 7AM practices and bus rides into Dorchester, of the late nights and stress and anxiety. On some Passover-style dianu chanting, if we had simply beat Codman, it would have been enough… If we had only reached the finals, it would have been enough…Today is MCAS. Sunday, despite the win, I had compositions to grade and a final day of prep to plan. Continuing with the sports theme, I decided a month ago to “leave it all on the court” in terms of the effort I would bring to my own planning, grading, teaching. Yesterday, we savored the win, yes. But we also examined student compositions, gave feedback, reviewed final multiple-choice and open-response prep homework, talked strategy, answered questions, assuaged fears and more. Today, all of my students, and many of my players, begin three days of testing. The results will, in part, decide whether or not each graduates. All are doing wonderfully. All are not wearing jerseys, but they continue to relive the game’s moments, the tournament highlights, the passes, lay-ups, free-throws, celebrations. As many have said, this is bigger than a hoops win. This will help our school, this will help us recruit to fill spots, this will get us positive press, this will raise spirits during a week in which we will need a lot of help. My students are ready. They have been prepared. We have worked too hard for them not to pass this test. Apparently, my ballplayers were as well.This may be the last entry for some time. And if you had to read it in installments, well, there was a lot to cover. Thanks for keeping the kids in mind and reading along. Enjoy the images. And lots of love from the Community Charter School of Cambridge…