Game 2 vs Mercer CC: A Set-Back Is A Set-Up For A Comeback

When Coach Hunter and I met the players for pre-game dinner, we knew immediately even before the players had changed into their home game uniforms they were emotionally spent from their amazing once in a lifetime first ever win for Valley Forge Military College the previous night. So as frustrating as it was, not too surprisingly we got outplayed in every respect with ill advised shot selection, missed open shots, bad passing, poor rebounding, and untimely mental mistakes. Behind 14-4, changing our defensive scheme from 2-3 to 3-2 and some good shooting temporarily helped close the gap to 17-14 against a well coached team that was playing its sixth or seventh game including scrimmages. However, aided by two back to back turn-overs within two minutes, VFMC found itself at half time behind 24-14. A lead the history-making VFMC "miracle" team--which admitted after the game to being mentally and physically exhausted from the amazing evening before--simply could not overcome, eventually losing 62-24. Of course, in every (win or) loss there are silver linings to be learned. Among which were--once the outcome was obvious, having the opportunity to empty the bench so that every player eligible to play got to experience first hand the speed of the game, while the others got a bigger picture view of play from the bench. And all learned the invaluable lesson of the need to rest after each game. All in all it was quite a week beginning with the nothing short of stunning movie-script like season opening 58-56 victory (first ever win in history for VFMC women's basketball and athletics) against four year NCAA Div2 Davis College. A once in lifetime event no one who was there will ever forget. We reconvene for practice 7pm Monday 11/30/09.