Congratulations to CMS for winning the automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Tough game vs. DePauw, but Chapman has a tough one also vs Whitman. Hey but we got two teams in and I see the conference to be stronger top to bottom next year.
I just want to say how well the Athena's played Saturday night. The coaching staff did a nice job implementing their game plan to NOT ALLOW Takaoka to get the ball and smother her when she got it. It was mostly Barnes did a fantastic job shadowing her. I mentioned in my previous post who else would step up for CMS and it was a trio of players, Dobbert, Dungca and especially Ray. Ray controlled the game and made big play after big play when needed. CMS also shot very well and seemed much more in sync.
For Chapman, it was a lesson learned on how to handle adversity. The greatest coach in the world can't teach it because it's an individual as well as a team thing. When Takaoka was having a difficult time getting open someone else had to step up other than Villanueva and Gao. Higashigawa did, but the bench didn't produce as they had in the past and there were some costly turnovers form the starters as well as the bench players. As the lead grew, Chapman mistakes rose.
I believe the Al-SCIAC teams will be announced shortly. I said previously that Takaoka should be selected as POY. I also think Coach of the Year should go to Jue. She did a masterful job guiding this team through the multitude of injuries (two starters out for the season) but it helped develop a deeper bench and lack of experience in some positions.
I just want to say how well the Athena's played Saturday night. The coaching staff did a nice job implementing their game plan to NOT ALLOW Takaoka to get the ball and smother her when she got it. It was mostly Barnes did a fantastic job shadowing her. I mentioned in my previous post who else would step up for CMS and it was a trio of players, Dobbert, Dungca and especially Ray. Ray controlled the game and made big play after big play when needed. CMS also shot very well and seemed much more in sync.
For Chapman, it was a lesson learned on how to handle adversity. The greatest coach in the world can't teach it because it's an individual as well as a team thing. When Takaoka was having a difficult time getting open someone else had to step up other than Villanueva and Gao. Higashigawa did, but the bench didn't produce as they had in the past and there were some costly turnovers form the starters as well as the bench players. As the lead grew, Chapman mistakes rose.
I believe the Al-SCIAC teams will be announced shortly. I said previously that Takaoka should be selected as POY. I also think Coach of the Year should go to Jue. She did a masterful job guiding this team through the multitude of injuries (two starters out for the season) but it helped develop a deeper bench and lack of experience in some positions.