Solitary Man

[Wayne23]

2/22: 83-81 at Alabama A & M. 20 lead changes, 12 ties, and the lead changed hands over and over again in the last couple of minutes. We had it last and got it inside to Rob Perl who powered it in with .3 seconds left. Sims had 20, 1, 6, but 8 TOs (We had 20). Perl had 17 and 4. 10, 7, 5 for Rily. Good bench play, 22, 9, 7 to 9, 4, 3.

We're in a 3 way tie for 1st with 2 teams one back and 3 to play.

Ben Sims: I'm disgusted with myself. 8 TOs. I've never turned it over that many times. At least we won.

Rob Perl: It was great to get the winning basket. I'm just gonna keep busting my butt.

[Wayne23]

2/25: 64-78 at Grambling. They're one of the teams that was tied for 1st going in. We hoped for a win but I knew it would be tough. We fell way behind early and never caught up. 17 for Sims, 11, 6 for Crow, but no one looked that good. 10 TOs, and that was about the only bright spot.

Rily banged up a hip but I think he'll be okay.

Ben Sims: I hate to lose but I have to say I played well. The team didn't though.

Coach Blake: So I get off work at 3:00 and I'm through for the day. I take my hour of exercise right after work. When I can get outside I walk/jog for the hour. When I can't I use the gym indoors and do laps around the basketball court. The outdoors is just a big open area. There are lots of guards, on the ground and in towers, but there's almost never any trouble. Once in a great while a fight breaks out but that's about it.

Guys talk to each other, just hang out, and a few of us do some kind of exercise, either jogging, walking, or calisthenics.

The gym has the hoops court and there's usually a game going on. I'd rather jog. I like the idea of aerobic exercise. I'm in good shape and I want to stay that way. Some guys do body building but there are no weights. All of that stuff was taken out of Walpole years ago. The authorities finally realized that allowing some of the most hardened men in society to build themselves monster bodies wasn't a great idea. But people find a way. The old Charles Atlas dynamic tension thing actually works, and guys use that and other forms of isometrics. They get well muscled but not like the old days when there were weights. Here too there's rarely trouble. A hard foul on the hoops court can lead to something but it usually breaks up on its own.

When the guards need to step in, either indoors or outdoors, there are consequences for the prisoners involved- time in solitary, loss of privileges, extra work... Guys don't want that so they usually avoid it by backing off when told to do so.

I'll talk about what I do with the rest of my day later on.

[Wayne23]

3/1: 90-70 over Howard here. The front court really dominated tonight, 19, 10 for Crow, 22, 5 for Perl, 18 for Nash. SG Mark Rily had 15, 5, 4. When we play the way we did tonight no one in this conference will beat us. 9 TOs.

We're in a 4 way tie for 2nd, one back of 1st with one to play, at home.

Ban Crow: My best game yet. It really felt good. I held my guy to 2 points and 3 RBs.

[Wayne23]

3/4: 98-77 over Kennesaw ST here. Our best offensive night of the season. 20 for Rily, 14, 2, 3 for Sims, 12 each for Nash and sub F/C Fole, 11 for sub guard Reg Adam.

We end up the regular season at 17-10, 11-5, tied for 2nd. I think we'll be the #3 seed.

+2.9 PPG, +5.9 RBs, -2.2 TOs. Perl leads us with 14.8 and 6.2. Sims gets 5.3 assists.

I'm hopeful going into the Conf. V tournament. There's a real logjam at the top of the standings and any of several teams could win the tourney, but no one should overlook us!

[Wayne23]

3/5: We face #6 seed Alcorn ST, 17-11, 9-7, in the quarter finals. We didn't play them in the regular season.

Scouting Coach Jab Moore: This team is good outside. We'll need to try to force the play inside to beat this team. We need to especially focus on stopping their SG.

3/6: 65-63. Really close, really sloppy game. They jumped out to a big early lead, stretching it to 13 at one point. We got it down to 2 at the half but then they got it back up to 9. Then we started chipping away. With 23 seconds left it was tied and we had the ball after they missed a three. We called a time out and set up a play for our C, Rob Perl. He's my go to every time. We worked it, worked it, worked it, got it to him inside and he drove it home. He got fouled but there was no call. Didn't matter. They only had time for a full court throw and it missed everything. 16 for Perl, 11, 4, 5 for Nash. It wasn't pretty but we won!

[Wayne23]

#7 seed Kennesaw ST, 15-14, 8-8, was an upset winner and we play them in the semis. They crushed us at their place by 27, then we beat them at our place by 21.

Jab Moore: This one looks close. They beat us with threes at their place and we controlled that in our win. I think that's the key, don;t let them hit too many outside shots.

3/7: 93-81. A real shootout. We were up 49-47 at the half. They hit 10 threes . I dropped the hammer on my outside defenders in the locker room and we held them to 4-8 on threes in the 2nd, and that was the difference. Rob Perl had a huge game, 25, 12, 3. 13, 6, 5 for Sims, 14, 6, 3 for Nash, 16 for Maxx from the bench. +23 RBs, 11 TOs.

Rob Perl: I'm gonna do all I can to carry this team to the title. I was really feelin' it tonight, and I'm just as proud of holding my man to 3 and 4.

[Wayne23]

#4 seed Longwood, 16-13, 11-5 for the title. Beat them by 15 at our place.

Jab Moore: We beat Longwood inside last time. Rob Perl was way better than their guy. I think the key may be PF. If Ban Crow can get it done I think we'll win it, IF we contain their outside shooting. We definitely should be the favorite in this one.

3/8: 59-66. Damn! We fell way behind early, by 18, and never caught up. 36.1% shooting hurt, and 3-20 on threes hurt more. They weren't a lot better than us, but when you score 59 you're not going to win many games. Crow had a decent game, which we thought was a key, but our guards didn't do nearly enough.

Good season but not quite what I'd hoped for. One more win would have satisfied me but what can you do.

Kit Nash: Well, my senior season is over. It was a big disappointment. I had hoped to have a season I'd always remember but I had a forgettable season. I hate going out this way.

Ben Sims: I had a decent senior year, but not what I'd hoped for. I guess we had an okay season. Could have been better.

Mao Maxx: Never expected to ride the bench my senior year and I think Coach screwed up by making that happen.

Rob Perl: I hope we get those 2 other recruits we're chasing. I'm looking forward to my senior year. I think we're going to be a better team, even if we are in U Conf. instead of V.

[Wayne23]

3/12: Oh my goodness!!! We're invited to the CHI tournament. I'm shocked and thrilled! #3 seed in the East. We play #6 Youngstown State, 17-12. They have a good outside game and a deep bench but this is a team we can beat. I'd love to as it would mean a 20 win season.

3/14: 101-87. 59-43 at the half and we never looked back. 23, 6 for Perl, 17, 6, 4 for back up F/C Loy Fole, 14, 4 for Sims, 12, 6 for Crow, 11 for back up guard Reg Adam. Highest point total of the season and +15 RBs.

Thrilled to win our 20th game!

Longwood got crushed in the play in game for the NCAAs.

[Wayne23]

3/20: We play #7 seed Memphis, 15-14, in the 2nd round. They didn't have a great year but they're a big time program. This will be a challenge.

Jab Moore: As I see it we need to worry about their SG, their PF, and their bench. I'd overplay the 2 guys and try to play my starters more than usual if possible.

3/21: 74-61! 48-28 at the half. 6 guys had 10 or more led by Perl with 18, 4, 5, and 4 steals. BIG game. 12 TOs.

We're in the semifinal. We play #8 seed Texas San Antonio, 18-12.

Jab Moore: We need to contain their outside game. They have a deep bench.

[Wayne23]

3/27: 97-86 and we're in the title game! We went into the locker room with a 2 point lead, came out and scored the first 7 points, and never looked back. 22, with 7 assists for Sims, 18, 6, 3 for Crow, 13, 5 for Perl. 8 Tos (They had 21).

#3 seed Robert Morris, 21-10, for the title. We feel like we're way stronger outside but they're really good inside. Our big guys need to step up.

We get a PG, #208.