As
a general rule, a team success is often measured by its victories - either that
or the total number of points it scores. Don’t tell that to the Eagles Unified
Basketball Team. In their third game, played on February 10 against the very
strong Blue Blazes of Westbrook, they scored a season high of 48 points,
despite losing. Fast forward to their most recent game, when the Eagles faced
off against the Oxford Hills Vikings: While they did not score as many points
as their previous game, nor did they win in a final score of 46-34, their
defense did demonstrate increasing signs of improvement.
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| Vikings show good defense |
In
typical fashion, the first half had lead changes several times during which the
Eagles displayed a new found ability to steal the ball away from its opponent.
This, despite the postponed game and consequent practices, Co-coach Brittany
Taylor and Co-coach Anne Blake’s team was eager to go. “We had practice
cancelled on Wednesday because of the storm but the kids came in on Friday and
were excited and ready to play,” shared Taylor.
Intentionally
paying no particular attention to the score at the half, which incidentally
happened to be in favor of the Vikings, Taylor instructed team members to use
their 10 minute break to practice dribbling, taking free throw shots and
driving to the hoop. The Vikings were doing the same.
The
second half was just as intense with both teams having little or no difficulty
in putting up score after score. With the minutes remaining being rapidly
erased from the time clock, it would come down to consecutive, unanswered
scoring drives by the Vikings. The only, but deciding, difference in the game
was that the Vikings would end up having two high scorers with Branden Skinner
and Brandon Robare, each with 12 points.
The
Eagles’ Brianna Webber would match that with her own 12 points but it would not
be enough. Efforts by Ben Silva with 8, James Tuckers 4; and 2 points each by
Kyle Herzig and Cameron Malone, did however bring them closer. In the end, the
score was 46-34 - but you would never know it. The kids from both sides, as
they always do following the game, met near half court and reveled in their
efforts.
The
unified basketball referee, who wished to be referred to as just George,
expressed his thoughts on his first experience. “This is the first game of this
type I’ve done, so it’s new to me. I usually do high (school) and middle school
games here within RSU14. I had fun doing this. I enjoyed watching the kids have
a good time in a game like situation. I would do it again. It was fun.”
Although the season is just half way through,
there are already signs of recognizing the most improved players. “Most improved
player? That would be everyone,” exclaimed Taylor. But to cite examples, “Ben
Silva had improved on defense and Ryan Sargent gained more patience on the
court.”
Co-coach
Blake concurred, but also added Cameron Malone for most improved; but not for
his play, “Just because he was so timid and shy in the beginning. He wouldn’t
shoot, he wouldn’t even go in.”
The
next four games should prove to be as exciting, if not more so, than the first
four. Their next game is February 28 at home, against the Poland Knights, whom
they faced in their inaugural game earlier this year.
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