December 13 Jaq Chan, junior guard:
74-58 over our biggest rival, Providence. We LOVE to beat the Fryers! It’s my 3rd year here and the first time we beat them. I had a good night, 17, 3, 5, 2, and I shut down my man. Rob had 13 and 5, Tark 13, 7, 2, and Ad Hoot maybe his best night so far, 12, 3, 4 with only 2 TOs. The team had only 7 (+12). We didn’t rebound very good (-10) but we outside guys did the job!
Dawn:
I’m going blind and deaf from all the interviews. But, I have a head of professional staff hired and she’ll help with those interviews. I also have a head of maintenance, and she’ll do those on her own, as will the woman in charge of the cafeteria. That takes a load off, and allows me to get to know the department heads. It’s all coming together.
It’s nice to have Zak home until 12/28. He’s a huge help with the kids. He arranges his schedule to maximize his time with them. He’s a great dad!
December 19 Rob Hard, freshman center:
84-64 over Nevada here. Coach was not happy with me tonight. I had 24 and 5, with 3 steals, but I only played 19 min. because of fouls. He says I have to play with more self-discipline. I guess I had such puppy dog eyes he took pity on me. Said he and the other coaches would help me with it at practice, and then said that I did so much good stuff he wanted me in the game for a lot more than 19.
Zak: I guess I kicked Rob’s a$$ tonight. Maybe it will help. Tark and Ron Evan had 14 each, and Jaq Chan, Ad Hoot, and Jeff Frost had 10 each. 18 TOs, which also did not make me happy. I do need to say that we are doing great! 7-1 with one to play before we start A10 play.
December 25 Dawn:
It was a great day!
I have my staff in place, full time and part time, professional and non-professional, and I have backups. We will open on January 2. I have a feeling the state will drop 12 kids on us on that first day; there’s simply no place to put these kids. I hope not, but…
December 26 Zak:
63-68 to Clemson here. Rob Hard played 21 minutes due to fouls, Ad Hoot fouled out, Jaq Chan and Jeff Frost had 4 fouls each. It was idiotic. The refs called 23 fouls on each team. The game had no flow. It was just a march to the foul line. Both coaches got T’d up. 23, 4, 3, 2 for Chan. Best to forget this one.
We end pre-conference play at 7-2.
This is a 4 game week, which is as insane as the refs were.
December 27 Al Anon, scout:
68-57 over George Washington here, to start A10 play. 16,6, 3, 3 for Hard, 14, 6, 2 for Hock, 17, 2, 7, 2 for Chan. 8 TOs (+10).
Zak:
After 10 games we are 8-2, RPI #11 (before the loss). +9.9 PPG, -4.4 RBPG, which is a surprise, +4.6 TOPG, +2.2 assists PG, +2.4 steals PG. Doing great except for rebounding.
December 29
73-75 at VCU. I lay this one completely at Rob Hard’s feet. He fouled out in 24 minutes. We were up 2 when he went out with 87 seconds left. During our inflight coaches’ meeting the staff decided to play him at PF for a few minutes a game. Maybe taking him out of the middle will help with fouls. If that doesn’t work I have no idea what to try. Hard led us with 23 and 6. Tark Hock had 17, 6, 4, 2. 19 TOs (-7) didn’t help.
December 31 Zak:
65-57 over Saint Louis here. Better. The only guy in foul trouble was Tark Hock, and he had 13 and 5 in 33 minutes. Maybe putting Rob at PF for a few minutes helped. He had 13 and 8, but only 3 fouls. 18, 7, 4, 2 for Jaq Chan to lead us. 11, 9 for Jeff Frost who will start, starting now.
Jaq Chan hurt his hip. Day to day.
January 2, 2026 Dawn:
It’s actually 1/3. It’s been a LONG day. At 11:43 a.m.- I noted the time, I called the state child protection office to let them know we were full. Yes, between 9:07 and 11:43 we had 12 kids brought in. Several more drifted in after that but we had to turn them away.
Actually, all of these kids are damaged, some severely, and all of them needed acute care, but none of them were in a trauma situation so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I was there until after midnight doing paperwork.
The procedure is to call ahead, not just bring a kid in, but that didn’t work too well today. I’m trying to come up with a plan to make it work better in the future. We’ll see.
And of course Zak leaves for several days tomorrow. He heard all about today though. I have to say he seemed interested- no, I know he’s interested.