Bulldogs Drop 2 at Cool Sports Tourney
Some of the greatest work a team can get in the offseason is reps in a real game against a real opponent. After ALMOST getting an invite to play in a tourney on Monday - the Bulldogs got an impromptu add into a tourney at Cool Sports on Watt Rd. There, the Varsity Bulldogs would have two games as they took on Clay County and Sweetwater.
In game 1, the Bulldogs lost to Clay County by a score of 48-35. From the last tourney, my intel said that the Bulldogs were coached all game to "Hustle down the court... [then] Get back!" It was clear against Clay County that our opponent was coached in much the same way as their speed showed out and really outmatched ours. While neither team had much of a height advantage, apparently Clay County was simply faster up and down the court. Even while being challenged on speed - the Bulldogs got a huge effort from "Lights Out" Landon Quinney as he connected for three three-pointers and also took 2 charges. I'm told on the second one, "Landon took another charge and slid across the floor."
In game 1, the Bulldogs lost to Clay County by a score of 48-35. From the last tourney, my intel said that the Bulldogs were coached all game to "Hustle down the court... [then] Get back!" It was clear against Clay County that our opponent was coached in much the same way as their speed showed out and really outmatched ours. While neither team had much of a height advantage, apparently Clay County was simply faster up and down the court. Even while being challenged on speed - the Bulldogs got a huge effort from "Lights Out" Landon Quinney as he connected for three three-pointers and also took 2 charges. I'm told on the second one, "Landon took another charge and slid across the floor."
In game 2, the Bulldogs would take on Sweetwater. Sweetwater lost to Clay County by a score of 41-27 - so it would seem that the Bulldogs should be fairly evenly matched. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they lost some of their multi-sport athletes for the second game, and it spelled disaster as they lost game 2 by a score of 51-39. At one point early in the 3rd quarter, the Bulldogs had pulled it within 2 with a score of 33-31... at the beginning of the 4th it was within reach at 37-32... but by the end, it had simply gotten away from the Bulldogs.
Bottom line after today... speed kills... We are going to have to be fast to compete with some of these teams!
Even though we took two losses today, there is a lot that can be gained by real time on the basketball court. Let's dig into a couple of sweet spots:
3 + 2 + 1... here we go...
Bottom line after today... speed kills... We are going to have to be fast to compete with some of these teams!
Even though we took two losses today, there is a lot that can be gained by real time on the basketball court. Let's dig into a couple of sweet spots:
3 + 2 + 1... here we go...
Three Quinney's
With team captain Landon Quinney really coming into his stride this year in all sports - the Bulldogs will need more of what he was throwing down in game 1 today as he shot the lights out. But younger brother Paxton Quinney also manhandled the competition today with multiple blocks and several points. There is also a third Quinney in the chute - with incoming freshman "Rampage" Reid Quinney just biding his time and waiting for an opportunity to join his brothers on the floor. We can all thank the Quinney family for supplying Wartburg with an abundance of basketball players... with recent grad Caleb... and still one more yet to come, with Tucker Quinney in the Wartburg Boys and Girls Club... that makes FIVE Quinney boys! It's starting to feel like the movie Multiplicity, where Michael Keaton kept cloning himself.
Two Ian's
Even with a small school roster, the Bulldogs started two Ian's in both games:
Ian "Franchise" Francis is a triple-sport athlete for Wartburg as a homeschool warrior. He brings a lot of hustle and effort to floor while always flashing a grin. Franchise put in work for 2 full games today - drawing the "And-1" on more than one occasion. It's good strategy to draw those shooting fouls because it impacts the other team's players on the floor. Keep grinding Mr. Franchise...
Ian "Deadly Lefty" Robinson is the left-handed player that can pull up from a distance or drive in for a dunk depending on how he wants to play it. He is a smooth operator that plays with a lot of finesse. The last note I have from the games today is about a really nice reverse layup from Robinson. The Deadly Lefty started and put in two full games worth of work today like the other Ian. The 2 Ian's will make a huge impact this year for the Bulldogs! Let's go!
Ian "Franchise" Francis is a triple-sport athlete for Wartburg as a homeschool warrior. He brings a lot of hustle and effort to floor while always flashing a grin. Franchise put in work for 2 full games today - drawing the "And-1" on more than one occasion. It's good strategy to draw those shooting fouls because it impacts the other team's players on the floor. Keep grinding Mr. Franchise...
Ian "Deadly Lefty" Robinson is the left-handed player that can pull up from a distance or drive in for a dunk depending on how he wants to play it. He is a smooth operator that plays with a lot of finesse. The last note I have from the games today is about a really nice reverse layup from Robinson. The Deadly Lefty started and put in two full games worth of work today like the other Ian. The 2 Ian's will make a huge impact this year for the Bulldogs! Let's go!
There's only 1 Johnny
There's three Quinneys... There's two Ian's... But there's only 1 Johnny... I got to watch Johnny plug in at the end of the AAU season for the Downtown Roosters. Prior to the first game of our last tournament, Assistant Coach Ryan Human looked up and said, "Johnny just came in with a Dale Earnhardt Jr. shirt on and a NOS Energy Drink... We're about to have a good game!" And he was correct! Johnny plays with a fire and intensity that simply aggravates the opponent if they aren't careful with the ball. He earned the moniker "Lone Wolf" for the amount of times I saw him sneak up behind a careless opponent and knock the ball out. There's an intense ball player in Johnny - and he made a big impact on both sides of the ball after starting and playing in both games today.
Freshman Corner
A couple of freshmen got to log some minutes today in the varsity games... but many more are biding their time.
Parker "Phone Booth" Rogers logged significant minutes in both games and played admirably. He scored in both games and played solid defense when called upon. It's apparent that Rogers is carving out a role on the varsity, even as a freshman for his savvy hustle type of play. Noah "Screen Shot" Ward also got a handful of minutes in the second game - scoring his first bucket as a Wartburg Bulldog since his 5th grade year with an easy put back and grabbing some rebounds. Speaking of Ward - he is currently locked in a close battle for best Bulldog mustache... Currently Dawson Swinney has 6 votes - Ward has 6 votes - and Lawson Swint has 5 votes... It's a close race indeed! If you want to influence the vote - you can cast it here!
Parker "Phone Booth" Rogers logged significant minutes in both games and played admirably. He scored in both games and played solid defense when called upon. It's apparent that Rogers is carving out a role on the varsity, even as a freshman for his savvy hustle type of play. Noah "Screen Shot" Ward also got a handful of minutes in the second game - scoring his first bucket as a Wartburg Bulldog since his 5th grade year with an easy put back and grabbing some rebounds. Speaking of Ward - he is currently locked in a close battle for best Bulldog mustache... Currently Dawson Swinney has 6 votes - Ward has 6 votes - and Lawson Swint has 5 votes... It's a close race indeed! If you want to influence the vote - you can cast it here!
To the freshmen that didn't get minutes today - stay hungry! Be the player that outhustles everyone at practice... be the player that sprints when everyone else is jogging... be the player that is sitting on the edge of his seat just waiting for the coach to need a sub... STAY HUNGRY... STAY HUMBLE... YOUR TIME IS COMING!!!
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