He's headed home. The idea is for the writer to appear objective. Today I want to give you and your team some thoughts about what the second unit means to us at the NBA level. Its just the first two minutes, my gosh, weve got all day. Girls Who Were to Play Against Gianna Bryant Day She Died Want to Honor Her in Basketball, This Coach Hits Jaw-Dropping Basketball Trick Shot, 6-Year-Old's Amazing Defense Rocks Basketball Court in Viral Video Taken by Her Dad, Meet Reporter Who Started #GirlDad Trend in Honor of Kobe Bryant and Gianna. It takes a special person to give of their time, and wisdom, in order to help develop a teammate. MAY ALL YOUR SATURDAYS BE SPECIAL AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY HAPPY YEARS AFTER YOU LOSE ALL YOUR MARBLES. The next morning, Dave Byrne's cell phone rang. Ultimately, Jones decided she wanted to give kids the experience she had growing up, and began running a basketball camp in her driveway. We transmit knowledge and . In addition, players need to be aware of these areas to make sure they look for them in the course of the game. Either way, the first few hours "I'd like to write about the girls.". I also need to alert you that I break from traditional teaching in certain areas of shooting. The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. 1000 MARBLES Good ball handlers are easy to spot. Passers that appeal to me are those who pass the ball away from the defense. Winning two IHSA Class 3A state championships in her freshman and junior years, Jones and her squad would fall excruciatingly short in their quest to win the programs fifth state title in six years this past winter. I step to the line for one and one, but I have a concentration lapse. More Videos; Feb 5, 2023 @ 10:58am. Today, he says his work covering the Morton High School Girls basketball team a local team from his native Illinois has been some of his most rewarding yet. Then I watch to see if he can stay with the action by continuing to jump a second and third time. Sportswriter Dave Kindred sits among girls from the Morton High School Football team, which he has covered extensively. The Lady Potters 2018 team, from the Morton basketball website Morton, IL. 2023 BVM Sports. A player who can shoot usually has good rotation on the ball, little wasted motion, and an exaggerated follow through. MORTON, Ill. (BVM) Courtney Jones has had a terrific four-year run as part of the Morton High School girls basketball team. But it was only one possession, Coach dont have a heart attack! and Kevin Martin leading the league in scoring.. A putback for two, quite simply due, to my failure to turn and block out. I know I saw all five of last years graduates Liz, Cortney, Lexi, Carly, and Erin. ", In the spring of 2015, the Lady Potters won their first-ever 3A state title. Ask him about playing those months in excruciating pain, and he shrugs and grumbles and says, That groin injury, it was definitely Ah, I dont like to make excuses, but that groin injury was definitely a pain in the ass., For everyone else suggesting these Thunder will go to the Finals for years to come, that this young core will go on for years and years, Perkins simply says, I was there when we lost 18 in a row in Boston. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. In the eight years since, Kindred has asked only for one more pay increase. We stress catch low, shoot high.. Kevin Eastman, assistant coach of Boston Celtics always has great insight and this article is excellent in helping explain the importance of EVERY player on a team. Morton Girls Basketball Schedule Print OVERALL 19-10 0.66 Win % CONFERENCE 9-5 3rd Mid-Illini HOME8-3 AWAY7-5 NEUTRAL4-2 PF1,460 PA1,192 STREAK1L Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. He declined the jewelry without hesitation. After assessing the quickness of an individual, I try to determine how good his hands are. Posted on December 12, 2011 by mortonladypotters We have highlighted characteristics and qualities tough players possess almost daily this season. A good passer takes the ball up to the defense and thats a trait often overlooked by most. "They're the best," he says, only half-joking. I had planned on doing some work that morning and then go to the gym. 1 seed at nationals. Im greeted by high fives and slaps, A good passer takes the ball up to the defense and thats a trait often overlooked by most. You could read him every day and never tire of him. Varsity Boys Basketball. . With a BVM Sports account, submitting content to appear on our website is easier to keep track of and share. My sophomore year was the only year I didnt make it to state at all during my junior high and high school careers and it was saddening to see the season end earlier than what we were used to.. Jones typically teaches four girls at a time for hour long sessions. He would act like a little Trey, where he would go off and no one could talk to him last year. The great passer recognizes the difference in those players who are open for a shot or to better position the ball within the confines of the offense. Even the shows moderator sat quietly for a few moments. Body control is another facet I look for and that doesnt necessarily involve being able to make the circus shot. You know, they were light. Sports, Fitness & RecreationMorton ILmortonheat.orgJoined June 2022 116Following 45Followers Tweets Tweets & replies Media Likes Morton Heat Basketball's Tweets Morton Heat Basketball Watch this highlight video of the Morton (IL) basketball team in its game Morton vs East Peoria Community Game Highlights - Feb. 4, 2023 on Feb 4, 2023. "And when you hear your name, you're just waiting for what he's going to say. They deliver it quickly and effortlessly by using their wrists. The cozy Potterdome bleachers are only half-full on this frigid December Friday, and many of those parents and students have trickled in midway through this opening act to get good seats for the main event: The Potter varsity boys, whose lone banner is an Elite 8 showing back in 2011. As the pass comes my direction, and I fumble it into the stands, By the time Kindred made the jump to a major metro newspaper in Louisville at age 24, he had already started to develop a distinct voice that would endear him to readers and colleagues alike. Looking deep into her eyes, he still can't be sure she even recognizes him. #sisterhood" Theres no question that starters are the key to winning games at any level, but dont overlook the importance of your second unit. This second unit is so productive at what they do that they create their own identity. for God Sake!. Cmon, coach, its a single possession, our team will be okay. I need to buy some marbles., Because one day, we'll all be down to a few. One of the things I've learned about writing is find out what you like. Lady Potters are DIII state champions last 4 out of 5 years (most recently 2019 IL State Champs and 2020 runner ups). That's when Kindred felt the itch. It is most apparent when playing defense because a man without good body control has a tendency to commit fouls by reaching in. When challenging a shooter, Im particularly interested in seeing if the defender can rise vertically, arm extended straight up, and not drift into the man taking the shot. Im most impressed by those who can jump off two feet in a crowd. "He goes out and finds out stuff about people. When Perkins partially tore his groin late last season, the prospect of sitting out the Thunders playoff run never occurred to him. As you slap your hands and shout. At first, the veteran sportswriter balked. We want the ball to be reversed from side to side. However, when sliding from the high to low post or when flash posting, can the man catch the pass amid other players and on the move? Their visit is part of their larger community outreach, something Coach Becker has always been keen on. This is an episode you don't want to miss as we talk to Mr. Jones! We went through a lot and seeing us fall short of an undefeated season was heartbreaking. And it's always, I read Dave's article. You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. Tesa Alderman. Morton Thanksgiving Tournament 2016-2017November 25th, 26th 2016Morton, Illinois He's a great learner. The team voted to put Kindred on that list. Good ball handlers are easy to spot. The Illinois-based journalist, famous for his coverage of Muhammad Ali, said writing about the Morton High School Girls Basketball Team, the Lady Potters, has been some of his most rewarding work . "Things aren't so bad anymore," Kindred told Byrne a few games into the new arrangement. In her senior year, Jones would again switch positions, moving to point guard. A super dribbler is one who can change direction with the ball, head and shoulder fake and change pace accelerating rapidly by the defender. Did I read " Then, struggling to pinpoint the source of fame, the nephew spots the hat and the jacket. It was also rewarding and fun to see so many alumni attend our games and cheer us on. More. Kindred explained that he began facing his own troubles in life after returning to his hometown. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in detail, he went on, and by the time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. Jovanna Martinucci's ties to Berwyn run deep - she ' s a lifelong resident and her dad, Tony, has been the boys basketball coach at Morton High . Perfect Follow Through We talk about 3 types of follow throughs: (1) at the rim (2) at the ceiling (3) up and over the front of the rim (which is halfway between the first two). And the teen basketballers have come to depend on his coverage. I get phone calls at all hours of the night from different teammates, Perkins told Yahoo! But its only one possession, Cmon, Coach, chill out. Im sure they pay you well, but its a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. He has followed this team for eight years, home and away, and written more than 200,000 words about them, including three yearbooks for the three state-title seasons, which he compiled and published at his own expense. But theres been none of that this year. But next possession I give up a layup. Columnists were king makers -- and breakers. At the same time, the Morton grad is loving what she is doing and enjoys being on the other side of the camps now that she is older. These situations more than most others will illustrate his ability to catch the ball. ", "He took chicken s--- and made it into chicken salad," says sportswriter John Feinstein, who met Kindred at the Washington Post in the late 1970s. She would help Morton to their third consecutive state title, and personally taste championship success yet again. What began as a typical Saturday Legendary sportswriter Dave Kindred returns to roots by covering local girls' basketball Dave Kindred has covered the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Olympics, the NCAA men's and women's. Three days later, Byrne, Becker and Kindred met at the Morton Steak 'n Shake, where, over shoestring French fries and milkshakes, a deal was hammered out. They play at a high level of execution. This team did save me, Kindred said of the Lady Potters. When my elbow is directly under the ball I feel very tight in my shoulders and upper arms, so this is not best for me. She had never played the position before for the Lady Potters, but the transition was seamless. Would anything ever be the same again? 3 Basketball Truths There are certain parts of the game that always hold true. They get stops and get out on the break. He's got a story to write. A well-coached player is one who meets the ball and locates the defense before making a move. Quickness can sometimes compensate for a lack of fundamentals and skills. They know they are very important to winning! my poor defense permitted the basket, but what can one hoop mean? Then, lost bucket now accounted for, Kindred heads toward the home locker room and waits outside, coat in his arms. Anticipation can somewhat compensate for a lack of quickness, however, there is no real substitute for someone who is not endowed with innate quickness. I think a great athlete is best evaluated on a layup in traffic because if hes quick, hell pull away from the pack, if he has good hands and jumping ability, he wont lose the ball, and finally he will finish the play off strong. For Kendrick Perkins, the telephone calls from frustrated Oklahoma City Thunder teammates come with a far greater frequency than passes into the post. Finally, a really smart passer doesnt put the ball in the corner unless that man has a shot and he never passes to a man who has begun to cut away from the hoop. A great dribbler is one who can go full speed up and down the length of the court with either hand and come to a stop under control. In victory and defeat, the ball belongs to the NBAs two best 20-something scorers and everyone else is left to sort through the scraps of shots. Let me tell you about it. The man, disheveled hair creeping from beneath a faded ball cap, approached Byrne on the court. "I'm going to be the one they cheer for. She eventually awoke, but was still largely unresponsive, as she remains to this day. Ill tell him, OK man, you got seven points tonight, then you need to go get eight blocks. Some players need a step to jump and others a run, but the athlete who can go up right now is someone who really possesses talent. I just watched the game. Perhaps never before has it been such a balancing act for the organization, and thats where Perkins plays such an important part. Those areas of concern evaluated are attitude, athletic ability, and basketball skills. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself. I would say that if you dont have a good scoring post man you should look to move the ball a little faster at times and create driving opportunities. Posts about Morton Lady Potters written by mortonladypotters. They understand that it must be a positive impact! The final buzzer sounds. His grandson, Jared, and mother died, and his wife, Cheryl, suffered a serious stroke that left her an invalid and unable to communicate all within several months of each other. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Within the Thunder organization, they understand Perkins value extends far beyond the modest statistics. Perkins is an original, one of the last of the true tough guys in the sport. Winning two IHSA Class 3A state championships in her freshman and junior years, Jones and her squad would fall excruciatingly short in their quest to win the programs fifth state title in six years this past winter. They let shooters shoot, ballhandlers handle the ball, defensive stoppers guard the opponents best player and simply do what they are asked to do! He explained he became as successful a writer as he is by learning from his peers. He never breaks the cardinal rule of sportswriting: No cheering in press box. Kindred decided to focus on writing books and freelance work. Then figure out why you like it, and then do that., Veteran Aviator and Student Pilot He Helped Land After She Lost Her Nose Gear Take to the Skies Together, Oklahoma Man Charged After Allegedly Covering Up the Murder of the Woman His Wife Was Having an Affair With, Texas Man Continued His Date After Cops Say He Fatally Shot Someone Over $40, Autistic Artist Sebastian Franco Hopes to See Northern Lights as He Contemplates Going Completely Blind, Lori Vallow Daybell's Sister: 'You Expect Me to Just Keep Believing Without Ever Having a Question?'. Morton Potters Basketball Pride, Trust, Commitment, Sacrifice, Selflessness Site Navigation[Skip] Home Schedule Roster Coaches Varsity Roster 2019-2020 Player Guide Fan Central MPTV-Watch Games Live Potter Basketball Camp Tradition Facebook Twitter Contact Form Gameball Sidebar[Skip] Game Ball Run - Children's Hospital Twitter He had written books about star quarterback Joe Theismann, legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali. Im very excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at ICC next year. Each of us has our own criteria whereby we assess selflessness, aggressiveness, poise, and many other personality traits. They were married in 1962. Dave Byrne, a longtime Lady Potters fan, remembers a similar introduction to Kindred in 2010. "Yeah," the man says. An average guard turns his back against pressure or goes with the playground spin move. A heady guard uses a pullback crossover dribble so as to maintain vision up court thus eliminating the likelihood of a double team or trap. There are three major areas of consideration which I address in my evaluation of a prospective athlete. After assessing the quickness of an individual, I try to determine how good his hands are. Today I want to give you and your team some thoughts about what the second unit means to us at the NBA level. You may be able to make a small change but a complete overhaul is next to impossible. The Morton grad plans to continue to host the camps throughout the rest of the summer and believes she may even be able to keep teaching girls in the fall if there is continued interest. I heard an older chap with a golden voice. 2 Grizzlies, Bayern back in charge, Yamal makes history, Napoli's party spoiled: Weekend Review, Man City go top of Premier League as Haaland scores 50th goal in win at Fulham, Man United end Villa's run, take step towards top-four finish against backdrop of fan protests, Legacy pick: Cardinals take great-great-nephew of team's first-ever draft pick, The story of the Cowboys scout and prospect son Dallas just drafted, UFC 288: Why Burns and Muhammad are taking the biggest fight of their careers on short notice, Transfer Talk: Man Utd, PSG to battle for Abraham's signature, How a thrill-seeking stuntwoman became crashed ice's biggest star, Freshman tops list of high school prospects. ", Many girls on the team know this. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while were out? Kindred and his high school sweetheart and wife, Cheryl Liesman, decided to settle down in their native central Illinois in 2010, and when they, like the other small-town parents, went to support the local high school basketball teams game, Kindred couldnt help but write about it. They built a spacious log home with a back porch overlooking a pond where they planned to sit and talk and watch the sunset. Upload it Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. It was my sisters senior year so it was kind of hard, Jones said about her teams finish sophomore year. Cheryl, his wife of 53 years, suffered a catastrophic stroke and was left non-responsive and unable to communicate. Can he catch a bad pass and make his own next pass a good one? Then Kindred puts on his coat and makes for the exit. Being able to catch it in a stationary post situation should be a given. The Lady Potters have been good to their fans. The Lady Potters rolled Limestone 60-34. An ultimate team player, the Morton grad fit perfectly as a floor general, even setting the single-season record for assists in the Mid-Illini Conference with 200. Despite facing multiple injuries, the Lady Potters would dominate their regular season schedule, and enter the state championship game at a perfect 37-0 part of a 47-game win streak. Sign up on our mailing list so you are automatically notified when a new post is . "No, I'm a writer," said the man. Jones has always enjoyed working with kids and has thought about a coaching career in the past. And why the girls? And maybe most of all, Perkins sees the transformation of his disposition. 8940 N. Wood Sage Road • Peoria, IL 61615 . He's not second-guessing the coach, not putting any grand, season-long meaning or narrative on this play or that game. Established in 1955, the Guild constitutes a living, organic network working together, learning together and talking together. I said, Look, I'm a professional sports writer. I studied them, he said. The seasoned sports writer is famous for his coverage on Muhammad Ali, following the heavyweight champion throughout his career with more than 300 interviews and a 2006 biography on Ali and his relationship with reporter Howard Cosell. Most of those people don't have people that come very often. Im most impressed by those who can jump off two feet in a crowd. Athletic Director/Head Coach. Meanwhile, family and friends from nearby Morton stopped in to bring snacks and emotional support. He isn't a mascot or even a fan. Kindred hasn't missed a Lady Potters game since. A good shooter has range and theres a correlation between effective range and leg spring. Kindred had originally approached Becker about writing for the teams website and social media, but insisted that his award-winning labor wouldnt come cheap. The man in the jacket turns his bushy mustache up in a smile of amusement. Im continually looking for those players that dribble to improve their passing angle (a lost art and a hard to teach concept). She also played softball, soccer, and swimming in her youth and would participate in volleyball throughout her high school tenure at Morton as well. The profession being what it is, one is often pressed to find an area in which unanimity of opinion prevails. Then Kindred stopped and turned. Ibaka cares deeply and wants to be an even more significant part of these Thunder with James Harden now gone. An average guard turns his back against pressure or goes with the playground spin move. A heady guard uses a pullback crossover dribble so as to maintain vision up court thus eliminating the likelihood of a double team or trap. All three of the women had stood on the sidelines, waving their pompoms. He did the most professional thing of all: He never disclosed the severity of the injury, never revealed the truth to spare himself the criticism that came about how sluggishly he moved, how limited he had become. Our purpose is to create and stimulate interest in, and to support all approved High School Athletics of the Morton Unit School District. With our team I can tell you that our scoring proficiency goes up as the number of passes and ball reversals goes up. Heres what we learned from Kindreds interview with CBS 60 Minutes.". #2 The closer you run your offense to the basket, the more physical your screens can be. <25 Employees . Enter our @Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win an early galley: 27 Apr 2023 17:28:25 . Athletic ability is the measure by which many players earn spots on a team and often fill complementary roles. But the 19-year-old was always attracted to basketball, in large part because she wanted to emulate her older sister, who played the sport. Morton Heat is a travel basketball program for communities of Morton and Groveland IL. 3 Basketball Truths. Now then, I multiplied 75 times 25 and came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, Im getting to the important part. His mind is always open to that.". This is the first part ofan article that was written by Rick Majerus several years ago. Passers that appeal to me are those who pass the ball away from the defense. It was only one possession, why must my coach scream, Byrne's daughter was a freshman just coming into the program, and Byrne, a self-employed web designer, had started a blog to chronicle team stats, scores, schedules and player and coach bios along the way. (not only the defender covering the receiver but the off the ball help as well.). Does he come down with the ball in traffic under the boards? "At the end of the year, we have a banquet and he always has something to say," senior Kassidy Shurman says. Kindred wrote what he saw -- poor athleticism and lack of fundamental skills. They move the ball and take high percentage shots. Quickness can sometimes compensate for a lack of fundamentals and skills. However, when sliding from the high to low post or when flash posting, can the man catch the pass amid other players and on the move? I think the younger girls have looked up to us and I hope we motivated the girls to want to have a team like us. We really appreciate so many eager volunteers to help throughout the weekend make this event possible. The site was bare bones, strictly a one-man job. Hell do it to reset the offense, or perhaps to avoid a trap, and this is an indication to me that the young man is a bright player and can handle the ball. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington on a journalism scholarship and covered sports for the local Daily Pantagraph. Playing nearly every position, Jones helped the Lady Potters to two state championships in an impressive four-year run. After a moment, coach Becker summons Kindred into the locker room, where the team sits in a circle of metal folding chairs, still in uniform. You will learn about the team, the coaching staff, some funny stories, some challenging situations and other cool stuff! The 2019-20 Morton Lady Potters put together a historic season that included a school record 37 wins (2nd most in IHSA history) & a return trip to Redbird Arena for the Final 4 & a State Runner-up finish. Good passers have poise and patience above all else. Sometimes, this is the blessing and the curse of playing with the greatness of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. I think a great athlete is best evaluated on a layup in traffic because if hes quick, hell pull away from the pack, if he has good hands and jumping ability, he wont lose the ball, and finally he will finish the play off strong. "Whoever I am to her is there every day from 10 until after lunch," he says. "The girls offered me a medal because they cared about me.". "If they hadn't won 106 games over the past three years, I probably wouldn't be here.". austin davis obituary, 4x8 plastic deer blinds,
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