Nothing I’ve written at The Dispatch has created more of a stir
than a column I wrote last week about the Gilroy boys basketball
team. After listening to numerous opinions, it became clear to me
that each person who read the piece came away with a different
interpretation. While I tried to make my points obvious, there is
one thing I want to make absolutely clear.
Nothing I’ve written at The Dispatch has created more of a stir than a column I wrote last week about the Gilroy boys basketball team. After listening to numerous opinions, it became clear to me that each person who read the piece came away with a different interpretation. While I tried to make my points obvious, there is one thing I want to make absolutely clear.
I was in no way trying to attack the players.
Only two players names – Jason Conrad and Lorenzo Dobson – appeared in the article, and some people took that to mean that they were symbols of what was wrong.
Not so. What I was saying is that these two are the best players on the team, and they deserve to be pushed to the limit to get the most out of their potential, which is near limitless.
The same should have been said for every other player on the roster, who also deserve to be the best players they can be. I thought the practices were too laid back based on what I saw and was told by several players. With more structure and discipline, I thought that potential could be realized.
I happen to believe this team has enough talent to be very, very good. What I saw in the Bob Hagen Memorial Tournament this past week – Gilroy took second place – appears to back up that belief. Players and coaches showed a fire and intensity that all GHS fans have been waiting for.
And that’s one thing I heard from everyone I spoke with about the team and the article. People in the community want this team to be as good as it can be, and whether the Mustangs win or lose, people just want to see passion. We saw that passion in the last three games.
Here are some other things I would like to make sure there is no confusion about:
– Yes, I do have a heart. I felt terrible for Conrad when he went down with an injury against Pajaro Valley. From the times I’ve spoken with him, I gathered that he is an articulate, hard-working young man. He has overcome so many injuries in his rather brief career that it was sad to see him go down in his first season of playing pain-free. Even if he can’t come back and play this season, he still has a very bright future ahead of him at Portland State.
– Of all the players affected by Conrad going down, none will have more of an opportunity to show what they can do than Dobson. There isn’t a player Gilroy will face this season with more talent. I’m not a statistics guy, so I don’t care about what kind of numbers he puts up. As long as he gives his best, he will dominate games. In the future it will be important for GHS to get him established inside on offense, early in games, to set the tone.
– Several players who were shifted around in the rotation to fill in for Conrad and did a great job of stepping up were Tyler Hartman, Stephen Galtman and Justin Wheat.
– Kendrick Azcueta and Elijah Harrell are developing a comfort level as point guards, which is important because it’s the toughest position to play. For two converted shooting guards – one a very good defender, the other a very good scorer – I’m impressed with the way they are accepting their roles for the better of the team. Also, they were awesome when paired together at the top of the 2-3 zone on defense the last three games.
– I love that Derek Jensen plays with a chip on his shoulder. With his high skill level, I think it can give him an edge on almost anyone. By focusing that energy towards staying positive, even when things aren’t going the way they should, he will be an even greater player than he already is.
– The intensity level on the defensive end of the floor the last three games was excellent. It’s like night and day from what I saw against Oakland Tech and San Lorenzo Valley.
– If coaches and players used my article as fuel for the fire, more power to them. I called it how I saw it, and that was all.
– I think it’s more likely that the team rallied because of Conrad’s injury and players were stepping it up for him, and themselves.
– During the tournament, I watched a team that was excited about the game, from the leading scorer to the last guy off the bench. Everyone played a role and guys were congratulating each other when coming off the floor as well as during timeouts.
– As the NBA slogan goes, but in reference to all forms of basketball, I love this game.
