TCBL Week 5 Highlights From the Hardwood 01/26/09 written by Anne Decker
What a great weekend for basketball. I visited St. Gregory’s on Saturday and was surprised by a visit from Moo Moo Evans of the Harlem Globetrotters. I was able to get a quick interview with him. This is what he had to say:
Decker: How did you get your start with the Trotters?
Moo Moo: A teammate of mine got me a tryout. They flew me to the tryout and then to Phoenix. I have been with them for the past 4 years.
Decker: Are you considered a veteran?
Moo Moo: Well, many stay longer if you keep your nose clean and do what is right.
Decker: Where did you go to school?
Moo Moo: Troy State
Decker: What is for your message for the young players of the TCBL?
Moo Moo: Get an education. You can play ball all you want but without an education you can’t do what you want. Work hard, listen to your coaches, give 200% and keep up the good work.
After the Sr. girls game he addressed the crowd and invited everyone to join them when the team comes back in February and March. Then he performed those famous basketball-handling drills that make the Trotters so famous.
SGS/HT Sr. Girls
Quarter 1-SGS tipped the ball towards their basket and scored quickly. Then followed with 2 more buckets. HT held them off until for about 4 minutes and was able to catch up and close the lead for SGS to 1 point by the end of the quarter.
Quarter 2- SGS in bounds the ball and HT players intercept the pass. SGS turns around and successfully steals the ball twice from HT for 2 buckets. HT capitalizes on loose balls and is able to get 3 points to keep the score close. As the half arrives both teams clearly are in the game. SGS is only leading by 1 point.
Quarter 3- The half begins with SGS scoring a lay up and free throw. However, HT follows with three to still keep the difference to 1 point. Mid way through the quarter SGS emerges with fast breaks, lob passes and shots from the outside to break away and take a comfortable lead.
Quarter 4- As the last quarter begins the SGS girls are determined to stay undefeated. HT never gave up and pull out all the stops. However, it was not enough to overtake SGS girls.
SGS Coach Miller expressed that he has a great group of girls this year. They have great Catholic morals yet the killer instinct of an athlete. Coach Gaskins shared that both teams played well. It was a fun, clean game where all the girls worked hard.
HT Coach Newbold shared that recently his basketball mentor, Jerome Carmody, had past away. He keeps his mass card in his pocket for inspiration. In today’s game and each and every game he tries to instill in the girls what Jerome instilled in him. The girls did a great job today and fought to the end.
SMS/SJS Jr. Boys
Quarter 1- SMS tipped the ball but SJS retrieved it and knocked it out of bounds. The boys on both teams worked diligently to score a basket. They executed plays, passes, steals and shots. The first score came with half the quarter over. At that point both teams were up and down the court for that last three minutes. As the quarter ended SMS was in the lead.
Quarter 2- SJS was fast off the in bound and scored quickly. Neither team was hesitant to shot or go after rebounds and loose balls. At the half SMS was only up by 2 baskets.
Quarter 3- The quarter opened up with back to back steals from each team. With 3 mins left SJS boys closed the score to 1 point. SMS comes back before the buzzer and goes up by 3. However, SMS fouled SJS and they went to the line. SJ was only down by 1 basket.
Quarter 4- After 2 mins had expired both teams began their attack. Both teams were relentless and they both were determined to win the game. The score was up and down the entire quarter. It would be tied, then SMS up by 1, and then tied. With 17 seconds on the clock SJS called a timeout in order to take the last shot for the win. At 5 seconds once again SJS has possession and calls a timeout. At the buzzer SMS held SJS off to win by a bucket.
SMS Coach Carbaugh shared that the 5 th grade boys from SJS showed great team effort and were very well coached.
SJS Coach Costello said that he saw fantastic effort from his team and we just fell short this weekend.