Upward Bball 2019 - Week 7

** Guest Blogger **

Eric Hendrickson

Silas Game #7 vs. Nuggets - February 23rd
Silas had his best game of the year today.

See how he is protecting the ball from the defender (above).

I know he wishes he could steal right now (above).  Is this young age group, they have a rule of "no stealing".  He can't wait for next year.

Silas is doing a better job on defense at looking at the ball and his person.  He is also better at anticipating passes and getting loose balls.  On offense he is passing better and made 11 baskets today.

Phoebe Game #9 vs. Sun - February 23rd

Today Phoebe had a triple header (see explanation below).

Phoebe was guarded by her friend Haylee (above).

We were up 22 to 8 at halftime and won the game 32-22.  Phoebe had 8 points.

Phoebe Game #10 vs. Rockets - February 23rd
Our second game was against the team that doesn't like to follow the defensive rules.  As usual, they were up to their same rule breaking for this game.  (No zone defense is to be played in this Upward league.)

I told the girls to spread out on offense.  The girls would be out 15-20 feet from the basket and their defender would stay in the lane.

The girls are to defend at arms length.  As you can see here the girl was staying away.  I told Phoebe to stay there dribbling until she came up and played defense.

We were losing 23 to 12 at half.  By the second half, we were out of gas.  It didn't help that snowy weather this week limited our Tuesday night practice to just 2 girls.  The other team came in with a game plan to throw it to the tall girls camping in the lane.  Our game plan of spreading it out would have been more effective with a practice (and the other team following the rules).

By the end of the game, I was fed up and upset that the referees would not enforce the rule (and probably more vocal than I should have been).  Not only that, they were calling ticky-tack fouls on us for moving screens but would not call 3 seconds in the lane for the other team camping out in the lane.  Very frustrating.

We lost a high scoring game 49-30.  Phoebe played great defense and was a good example of playing with endurance.

Sarah Game #7 vs. Celtics - February 23rd
For Sarah's game, we had one girl not show (reason unknown) and two girls were sick so we were down to three girls and needed another player.  Here comes Phoebe to save the day.  She was pumped to join her sister and friend, Abigail for this game.

Phoebe was a little nervous but ready to go.  This would be her first full-court game.

No subs and going full court all game was tough on these girls.

Although we were short handed, we played great.

Sarah had missed her last (8) free throws in prior games.  She was lacking confidence is all.  I told here to get a little more arc and she made (4) in a row.  The referee made it a point to let me know that her free throw shooting is textbook.

Sarah shuts down any player she is on.  She also took another charge when she flopped after the other team pushed out with their arm.

Phoebe played good defense and made one of two baskets with a beautiful pass from her sister to her.  She even played defense a few periods on a 7th grader that is a foot taller than her.

Whenever Sarah gets double teamed, she knows to pass.  She has greatly improved her passing this Upward season.

About 90% of Sarah's shots are layups.  The other team has decided to foul Sarah every time they can when she shoots one (that is if they can keep up with her down the court).  Some of the fouls have been hard fouls and one this week should have been a flagrant foul as it was more of a tackle.  Sarah has beat up knees and elbows after these games especially today's game.

We won 28-10.  Sarah had 20 points.  Phoebe had 2 points.

Good job girls and thanks to Phoebe for stepping in.  Our team today, (above) Phoebe, Sarah, Abigail, and Lauren.