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A RESILIENT GROUP – The Wolf Pack U13 team made the finals of the Remembrance Weekend Basketball Tournament in Calgary after two come-from-behind wins in round-robin play last weekend. Photo submitted by Tim Braday

Wolf Pack putting southern teams on notice

The Wolf Pack basketball club sent their U13s and U15s to Calgary to compete in the Remembrance Weekend Tournament hosted by the Calgary Storm Basketball Club at the CSB Athletic Centre.

By John Tonin on November 14, 2019

The Wolf Pack basketball club sent their U13s and U15s to Calgary to compete in the Remembrance Weekend Tournament hosted by the Calgary Storm Basketball Club at the CSB Athletic Centre.

The tournament was run round-robin style, each team played four games and depending on record either competed for in the final or for third.

After battling their way through the round-robin, the U13 squad pulled together enough wins to make the championship game. Along the way, the youngsters showed a lot of fight in some closely contested matches.

"They won two really close games to get there (the finals)," said head coach Tim Brady. "They came from behind in both. It was exciting and close all the way. It was tight competition."

Brady said a team has to learn something after each game and that when you play in enough games, you will experience all situations. For the U13s, their road to the finals made them prove their resiliency.

"It required them to stay competitive and have an opportunity to pull it out within the last minute," said Brady. "We had 13 boys and all played. They are mixed skill-levels but they all had to manage differences and hang together. They all felt pretty good about it."

When it was time for the finals to tip-off, the U13s were matched up against a team that was bigger and stronger. Even though the team couldn't pull off the win, Brady said they still played a good game.

"They had huge compete," said Brady. "They played the game well and did the best they could. They had some good moments."

The U13s were able to come out on the winning end of the close games; it was the opposite for the U15s.

"They were in close games but lost," said Brady. "We had two games within a basket in the last 30 seconds. We had the opportunity to tie or take the lead but we didn't.

"Any time you are in a close game, it can go either way. What matters is if you put in a winning effort."

After each game, Brady said, he encouraged all the players to review both the positives and negatives for each game.

"We do a review after every game," said Brady. "What we really want is players to lead their own reflection on what needs to improve and where they saw success."

For their next game, Brady said the team would choose some points of emphasis from the self-reflection to focus on. The U15s focused on progressive learning.

"They found a way to make each game a little easier, to work together, and to do the things that helped to improve their performance in each game," said Brady.

The U13s took a tactical approach.

"We wanted to get the ball to move," said Brady. "Attack early and score at the rim, push the pace and pass to break down the defence once a help defender was sent."

The team's strong performances were a bonus. Brady said winning isn't as important at this stage as developing good habits.

"We wanted to get everyone playing time on the floor," said Brady. "Performance comes down to habits. They rose to the occasion and developed those winning habits. Games are the best teacher for that."

Getting more tournaments Outside, Brady said the teams are becoming more confident.

"They are seeing they can hold their own with these guys," said Brady. "These players have big compete and they don't shy away."

The Wolf Pack's stronger showings at tournaments, Brady thinks, are putting their Outside competition on notice.

"We go down and no one knows anything about us, which can be used to our advantage, we come as a surprise," said Brady. "However, the same can be said for us not knowing much about them.

"I think they are making a name for themselves. I surely hope so, I do believe so."

Brady said going to the tournaments down south is helpful because it allows him to get a barometer of where the teams are at. However, he noted it is also about much more than just basketball.

"It helps them perform and play," said Brady. "But it also shows them how to travel, and represent themselves and the club. There is a social part of it."

The Wolf Pack Basketball Club runs a drive and space offence. The ball doesn't stop moving as the players look for drives to the basket or kick-outs to open shooters. The team is consistently looking to push the ball as to not allow the defence to set up.

This Sunday, Brady will be holding a Drive and Space Coaching Clinic at Porter Creek Secondary School. The session will include classroom and on-court discussion in a private setting.

Comments (1)

Up 16 Down 0

Jackie Scott on Nov 14, 2019 at 3:31 pm

I was at the U13 games in Calgary and these young men played with heart and never gave up. It was a great team effort.

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