That is, there is no rule that says you have to win them all to earn being called "winners."
Though our side didn't score the most points Saturday night, it was one of the great state-final games in IHSA history, and our guys are every bit as much winners as the team that took home the big trophy.
Besides, we know something that the Richards High Bulldogs people don't know:
Next year, we'll be back and they won't be.
Great effort Bees!
Great effort and something to be very proud of!
Lots of what ifs to deal with as they work on winning it ALL next year!
- What if they actually ran isolation plays and created space for the soon to be Div 1 top recruit in Lenzell Smith?
- What if Don Kloth, like most good coaches do in crunch time, remind each and every player they have a responsibility to block out a player. Especially at free throws, one person ALWAYS blocks out the shooter.
- What if you stop the 4 corners, slow tempo offense that does not bode well for current Zion players. It should be run, run, run, and run some more.
- What if you as a coach made your team shoot 100 free throws a day?
Hope to see this team dominate next year. Clinkscales will be hard to replace, but hopefully others will step up! Go bees.
Thank you ZB Varsity B-Ball team, for giving us such an unbelievably fun season. Congratulations! You should be very proud of your accomplishment! Can't wait until next year.
Yes, Clinkscales will be hard to replace, but I drool when I look at what Zion-Benton has returning. This is gonna be fun!
What if we stop critizing the only Z-B coach who has taken a team to the State Finals? Look at how many teams from this county has made it that far! The experts soon forget how many times a Z-B team couldn't make it out of a regional. We should BEE proud of our coach who has 395 wins in 19 seasons. Until you have been there and done that, keep those comments to yourself.
Are Jerry Tarkanian or Steve Fischer great coaches? Doubtful. It helps when you have a world of talent pouring in your locker room year after year. Granted not always the best of students, but this year they had both. Give this same team to other coaches and they win it all.
The win/loss ratio means little as the chicago mather days helped a ton too when they played no one outside of conference. He is a decent coach, but people are ready to anoint his as Bobby Knight or something. Ridiculous. This shouldnt have been this schools first trip down state, and it definitely should not have been one they lost.
Answer the what ifs I had above? Why not iso plays for Smith? Why not a reminder to box out the free throw shooter? I remember my coach vividly yelling this each and everytime at the line. I stick to my reasoning that they won despite him, not because of him.
It's easy to watch from tv and second guess the coach.
No iso plays for Smith? Couple of reasons. First, he had a Richards player glued on him at all times. Second, they don't need iso plays because of the team ball they play. His points came within the flow of the game, or on the glass. Sure, he's a solid player, but he also makes his teammates better by working in the system. Why not a reminder to box out the shooter? How do we know there wasn't? Remember these are 15-16 year old kids. Mistakes happen. Enjoy the great season. It was fun.