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| Attitude key for Paola boys |
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| Sports - Paola | |||
| Written by Gene Morris | |||
| Wednesday, 10 December 2008 15:17 | |||
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One word summed up coach Dave Cash’s assessment of the Paola High School boys’ basketball black and gold scrimmage. It was written on the board in the locker room — attitude. For a Paola Panther program which has been built more on heart and determination than size and athletic ability, the way the team takes to the court will make or break the season, Cash said. The way the black squad (varsity) played during the scrimmage, drew Cash’s ire. While junior varsity players were getting after it on the court, vying for a shot at varsity minutes, the players with an opportunity to lead the varsity did not. Cash challenged everyone in the Panther locker room to do three things they can control — have a positive attitude, play hard with confidence and talk on the court. “I don’t think we had the type of intensity tonight that we have had in practice,” Cash said. “We have a lot of work to do.” Paola has to bring that intensity every night or it is going to be a long, frustrating season, Cash said. “I don’t care how many games we win,” he said. “What I care about is how we play. I want guys who are going to play hard.” Paola was 4-17 last season, but not one person ever said the team did not play hard, Cash said. The mere suggestion the team does not play hard should sting everyone suited up in a Panther uniform, he said. “I can live with the fact that you aren’t very big,” Cash said. “I don’t want to hear people say they don’t play very hard, and you shouldn’t want to hear that either.” Paola played three quarters of basketball for the scrimmage, which featured varsity and junior varsity players. Guard Isaac Cotton was strong on both ends of the floor and caused several turnovers. He took one steal and started a fast-break with Travis Hayes, feeding the ball ahead for a layup. Nick Wilson, a post player, had a nice touch with his jump shot and was a force on the boards. Nathan Peckman grabbed several rebounds. Michael Prothe made a great pass to find Skylar Hawkins, cutting to the basket from the baseline for a back-door layup. Justin Dunmars made some big shots, including a jump shot from the perimeter. Hayes, a center for the Panthers, stole the ball and turned it into two points with the basket at the other end. For most of the scrimmage, varsity wore the black and junior varsity was in gold. The junior varsity press-forced, trapped the varsity and created turnovers. The Panthers, who opened the season this week in the Paola Invitational which concludes Friday, had too many turnovers, Cash said. Paola needs to be patient in its half court offense and make the other team run on defense. “If we stand around, we are not going to be hard to guard,” Cash said. While there were some good looks at the basket from the perimeter, the Panthers have to know when to pull up and get into the offense. “We can’t come down the floor every time and shoot the ball after making one pass,” Cash said. “That isn’t going to make the defense work. We have to be a rebounding team and we have to make teams work on defense.” No one ever said being a Panther was easy, Cash said. Paola has to do the little things to be successful. The team cannot run with people. They have to get into the offense, set a pick and make the pass and battle for rebounds. “It is not easy to have the mental toughness we are asking of you or everyone would do it,” Cash said. “We have to box people out and put bodies on people.”
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