Vineyard isn't totally alone in the NO SHOW category. 4 of our 6 games had at least 1 team and some both teams shorted handed. You Brethren all promised me there would not be any trouble getting full teams if we could just get a Stake B-Ball program going......
The Winegars of Crismon Ward were all decked out in matching red shirts / blouses & blue denim shorts/ skirts to support their Ward Team. They were real cute!! Too bad not enough Crismon players showed up for an official game......
I'm guessing there will soon be some wedding announcements from the Nauvoo Station Ward as they also can't manage to get 5 players to show up for games. Them forlorn boys must be out wooing the lassies instead of playing B-Ball? One can only hope!!!
"Basketballs" by You Best Digs via Flickr
I didn't realize President Obama's Job Speech would attract such a large audience that nite......or maybe it was the Green Bay Packers VS New Orleans Saints NFL Opening Nite TV game that cut into participation......
After several scoring frenzied games of 60-70 points last week the most any team could manage Thursday was 49 points.
And while I'm thinking about scoring, I remind you of a previous admonition- if you ain't got your own scorekeeper to help keep score, don't complain about the score!! Again we had a team upset thinking that they had not been credited with some points. Again the shiners were the team that did not provide a scorekeeper....
In one game, as I was jogging down the side line Refereeing, a player yelled out, "Hey Vic. What's the score." I am not your scorekeeper! And of course that team did not provide their own score keeper, either......if knowing the score is important to you, then......
I occasionally see some incredible plays at out Stake Men's Basketball. Some are actually incredibly good......Scott Potter of Cortina 3rd Ward stole a bounce pass, then went to his knees to recover it. With Cortina 1st Ward defenders surrounding him Scott deftly flicked a behind the back pass, from his knees, to a team mate. Nice play!!
I'm pleased so many of you are bringing a White AND Dark shirt to the games. Please remind your Brethren of this policy as we still have some fellas in a single color and a few that think gray is a dark color. It ain't! I do wash those white pull over jerseys each week (coming home from games, the first thing I do when I come thru the garage into the laundry room is put the washer on HOT, add bleach and throw those stinky jerseys into the was!!) but it takes one game for them to get stunk back up and all yucky sweaty the next week. So please bring your own White & Dark shirts.
One obviously single fellow, tho not from Nauvoo Station, was wearing a shirt showing a man standing, arm stretched as if around a woman and an arrow pointing to the VACANT woman's spot with the caption "Ladies this could be you!" It's an appropriate warning......
For those fellows who like to display their "behind the Back Dribble Skills" I remind you the move is most impressive when YOU pick up the dribble rather than have the ball bounce to an opponent.
I never cease to be amused by the optimism and requests in prayers offered at pre-game......One player intoned, "Blessed us to play above our skill level." I have that same prayer in my heart for you Brethren every game nite, too. It's not being answered......
Prior to the Jump Ball a Nauvoo Station player asked his teammates, "What Defense are we playing?" I don't know why he bothered to ask- Nauvoo Station hasn't played any defense so far this season. Haven't played much offense either!
Our Score Board still is not working. Fortunately the Church Facilities folks did spend some money hardening the back boards against all the bricks being thrown up against it. Air balls do not harm, tho.
Brad Marineau, Cortina 2nd Ward, has not seen a 3 point opportunity he has not likes, or taken, in his life. If there was a line further back for a 4 point shot he's already taken it......Fortunately for Cortina 2nd Ward Brad throws up "Nothin' But Net"! No bricks or air balls for that guy!!
I'm happy to report there seem to be fewer complaints about Referee calls and more Brethren are taking turns doing the Refereeing!! As expected, most of the complaints that do arise still come from guys that play but won't Ref themselves. Anyone can complain. Takes some guts to put on the shirt and blow the whistle.
I also realize there are a great many rules some or many of you may not be aware of. One such rule came up Thursday nite. Have you notice when I hand the ball to the person doing the Throw In I usually say "Don't reach across the Inbound line," to the nearby defender? The defender is NOT allowed to reach across the Inbound Line. The first violation is a Warning. The 2nd violation by any member of the same team is a Technical Foul. Slap the Throw-In Person's hand or arm and that's a Technical Foul, too.
One of our Brethren that likes to Ref as he plays but does not Ref otherwise, reached WAY across the Inbound Line on an Inbounds play. I blew the whistle and reported a Warning. He looked at me like I was crazy!! It's a simple rule and a simple call to make. I suggested to him that I'd appreciate it if he's help do some Refereeing the next time he played while wearing the Black & White shirt.
I must give high marks for shot creativity. Not even Kobe Bryant has thought of some of the shots you Brethren have taken. And some of them have even gone in!! AMAZING!! Someone should be recording the games we we can submit to U-Tube.
"I got pushed!!" Is a common complaint. Yes, you did! Lots of times it's your own team mate trying to get the same rebound, too. Twice we had a player completely taken to the ground. On each instance the player on the ground's first glance (or was it glare?) was at the Referee. On their 2nd glance, seeing it was a teammate laying on top of them or under them, they were no longer peeved at the Ref for not calling a foul. (Which isn't to say they weren't peeved at their team mate for knocking them down).
One of our more spirited players is Derek Taylor from Ironwood Ward who plays with reckless abandon that often ends up in a wreck. Derek knows only one play, DRIVE THE LANE. With his long arms & sharp elbows oft times effectively clears a path as players move to avoid injury. In doing so he also manages to bump into every player between the top of the key and the hoop a least once. Since he is initiating those bumps he ain't getting a foul called. I was relieved to see him Thursday nite as last week he let with a bloody nose and some speculation he's broken it. Apparently not as he was stickin' it back into the fray again!
Sneaky Stuff- Many of you have been taught some sneaky stuff by coaches along the way. Some of it you figured out on your own, had it pulled on you & decided to include it in your repertoire of "moves" or saw someone else doing it. After 20+ years refereeing high school basketball I've seen pretty much all the sneaky stuff you can do, too! And I AM SEEING it in your games. Fortunately for you, when it does not affect the play, I let it go. Unfortunately for you, when it does affect the play I will call it and especially when we get to the Tournament in 2 weeks I will be calling it. Most of the sneaky stuff does not happen to the dribbler. It usually happens away from the ball handler, or "Off Ball" as Referee's refer to it. I love to pick up & call sneak "Off Ball" stuff. So does my High School Referee partner, who I hope will help Ref some of our Tournament games.
Blocking Out- You MAY establish a position between an opponent and the basket. You may move laterally to maintain position. You may NOT reach your hands & arms behind you to hold the person from going around you. You also may NOT use your forearm, hip, elbow or ample posterior to move the other player out of their position. When you set up your "Blocking Out" position on the left side of the key and you end up on the right side of the key and your opponent is now out of bounds from your push, that is not "Blocking Out", it IS a foul. Brian Brooke of Cortina 1st Ward asked, "You mean everything my high school coach taught me about "Blocking Out" is wrong? Yep, Brian, that's pretty much the story.
Yougins Run Amok-It seems to me we managed to keep the kiddies from running thru the halls and thru out the church building Thursday nite!! Way to go Moms & Dads!! Now if we can just make sure you folks pay a quick visit to the Nursery Room to be sure any toys your wee ones got out to play with are put away many people would appreciate it. The kids of those who attend Ward meetings at the buildings already know where that Nursery Room is. The other kids following them in.
It would also be appreciated if the kids could help to stay off the court during games. It's a fearsome sight to see a little tyke trotting across the court near the basket as a fast Break opens up and starts to bear down on the little on.
I could understand the folks doing the watching being distracted momentarily by seeing good play, if there was more of it. If it's your kid that gets squashed don't ask me why I let it happen.
Lost & Found- 2 B-Balls & 1 pair of Black, Red & White Nike shoes are still unclaimed. I think I figured out why, tho- They are in such woeful shape I think the former owners reported them as stolen to their spouses so they could justify spending money on new equipment!!
TOURNAMENT:
We take 2 weeks off to allow the Stake Young Women to conduct a Volleyball Tournament. That will allow some time for aches & bruises to heal. Also gives Nauvoo Station time to come up with some sort of Defensive strategy.
We will resume play with out Tournament on Thursday, September 29.
We'll be playing 6 games the first nite and then I think we can go to 4 games of 1 hours each after that.
I'll send out the schedule shortly
I think I'll schedule the 6:00 PM Game with Vineyard VS Nauvoo Station and plan on another NO SHOW by Vineyard Ward so Nauvoo Station can claim at least once victory on then season....
Men's Basketball QCNS 9.8.11
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