Merry Christmas!

Just a quick note to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I trust you take the time during this season to reflect on the gift of salvation through the gift of Jesus Christ!

As a side note, the team returns to campus Thursday night, Jan. 7th to begin practices Jan. 8th. We will practice Friday, Saturday and Monday before resuming our schedule on Tuesday.

Abbey Armstrong Named Student-Athlete of the Week

The NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week award is awarded to one male and one female athlete in each active sport in both Division I and Division II, chosen from the list of nominees submitted by all recognized sports each week. The student-athlete should exemplify the Christian ideals held by the NCCAA.

Abbey Armstrong senior wing for Northland International University (WI) led her team to two wins this week while playing her final two games for the Lady Pioneers (she graduates this week). Armstrong scored 23 points (8-16 from the floor and 4-7 from 3 pt. range), grabbed 8 rebounds, recorded 2 assists and blocked 2 shots in a region win against Kuyper College (MI). On Saturday, she scored 23 points (4-8 from 3 pt. range), collected 8 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and blocked 2 shots in a road win against NCAA III Silver Lake College.

Good Road Win to Finish the Semester, and Say Good-bye

There's no doubt one of the more difficult places to play during my 5 years with the Northland basketball team has been the UW-Manitowoc gym where we play Silver Lake College annually. Usually we shoot poorly and play from behind most of the game. And although I won't go into details here, but suffice it to say we end up a little black and blue after the game.

I guess that's why it makes it a little sweeter to see us score the opening bucket on our opening possession today (likely a first this season) and never trail as we shot lights out in the first half, and held on to win 76-69.

We were red hot from the outside in the first half (54% fg, 40% from 3pt), but anticipated that would not continue in the second. It's not that we lack confidence, but it's a long game, and almost impossible for a player (or players) to continue to shoot both halves at a high percentage. So, we talked about making an assertive effort to attack the rim with the basketball and get to the free throw line early in the half. The girls listened well, and we ended up taking 37 free throws. Although we didn't convert the percentage we wanted, we did well enough to hold on!

Tiff has 25 points and did a great job of attacking the rim and getting to the line. Abbey scored 23, 20 in the first half), and contributed as always in multiple areas. Lyds had a few moments of carelessness with the ball, but did an outstanding job of keeping the girls calm during Silver Lake's run. But my MVP for the game was Ellie. She scored 15 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and made 5 steals. But she also guarded their best player (coming off of a 30-point game) limiting her to 13 points. It was fun to watch.

As mentioned previously, this is the final game for Abbey and Brianna. So glad they could go out with a win. They will be missed in so many ways next semester.

After the game, we grabbed lunch in Green Bay, then went caroling to some of the members of Bay City Baptist Church. We were able to visit a retirement home as well as a couple of residences. Although we could only stay about 30 minutes, it was so enjoyable to spend time with the folks at the retirement home. It was a great conclusion to a fun first semester.

As I've said before, I really love this team.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Statistical Leaders

There are some team stats that I put a lot of merit in, and others really tell me little about our team. For instance, I like looking at our rebounding differential. I like to know whether we are out-rebounding our opponents during the season or not. I like this primarily because rebounding is so much about heart and attitude compared to, say, field goal percentage. Some nights we can shoot the ball poorly and win, while occasionally you can shoot it well, but have excessive turnovers, and lose. I like to watch our free-throw percentage as a team. There's no defense against free-throws, so whether we shoot well or not is based on preparation and concentration.

Individual stats are just that. A read of an individual performance with little regard for the rest of the team's performance. For instance, a team could have an amazing playmaker that distributes the ball well, but if her teammates can't make shots, then there won't be much to show for it on the scoreboard or assist column. There may be a player that averages nearly 20 points per game, but if they take half the team's shots, that's likely not healthy.

Each week the NCCAA provides a list of national statistical leaders for teams and individuals, as well as regional individual leaders. This week Northland placed fairly well on some of the national team stats (12th in offensive points per game, 15th in blocks, 3rd in steals, 15th in rebound margin, 10th in scoring margin, 12th in scoring defense).

However we were also well-represented in some national individual stats:

Lydia - 19th in 3-pt fg%, 5th in assists per game
Abbey - 11th in blocks per game
Ellie - 4th in steals per game

We also have some girls currently placing high in our regional stats (7 teams):

Abbey - 5th in points pg, 8th in fg %, 7th in 3pt fg%, 8th in rebounds pg, 5th in blocks pg, and 7th in steals
Tiffany - 6th in points pg, 6th in 3pt fg%, 5th in assists pg,
Ellie - 7th in points pg, 9th in fg %, 7th in ft%, 1st in steals
Lydia - 2nd in 3pt fg%, 3rd in ft%, 1st in assists pg

But perhaps the statistical leader I'm most proud of is Rebekah at 4th in the nation and 1st in our region in rebounds per game. This becomes impressive when you note that 9 of the top 10 rebounders in the nation are 6'0" or taller, while one player is 5'5"....yeah, our #14, Rebekah. I say it often, so the girls can finish it, but it's not how big you are, it's how big you play! Rebekah is averaging 11 rebounds per game by hard work, heart and attitude.

Again, we don't measure our success by statistics, but they can be a key indicator of where we need to work individually and as a team.

When we shoot poorly, we're not very good...but when we hit our shots.....

Well, I've told anyone who will listen since our first weeks together that this has the potential to be a very good team if we can shoot the ball like we're capable. So far this year, besides the Kentucky Christian loss, we've had two poor shooting games that both resulted in losses. And then there was tonight...

After another slow start (scoreless for about 4 minutes), the girls caught fire and finished the first half shooting 57% from the field, 62% from three, and 83% from the line on the way to a 47-24 halftime lead and 74-53 win over Kuyper College of Grand Rapids tonight. We went through a 10 minutes stretch in the first half where we couldn't miss. Honestly, despite begging and pleading, it was difficult to stay focused in the second half and played less consistent basketball. We led by 35 one point, but a mixture of lineups and some Kuyper hot shooting saw the final margin reduced to 21.

Abbey and Bri were playing their last home games so that made it an extra special game. They both played a couple of the better games of their careers. Abs finished with a career high 23 points, (4 of 7 from 3-point), grabbed six rebounds, and blocked three shots. Bri also scored a career high 14 points and gathered five rebounds. Tiff added 17 points, six rebounds, and four assist, and Ellie 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and steals.

Abbey and Bri could have done a lot of things with their "spare" time this semester, but both wanted to play until the break. It was such a good thing for this team, I think, to help us establish a system with these new players. They both have been helpful in teaching the younger players, but have obviously helped on the floor as well. I am so thankful for their friendship, and they will be missed.

So many times the scorers get all of the attention in a win, and rightfully so. But there are things in a game that the stat sheet can't tell you. For instance, Lyds ran the point for us and had the ball in her hands most of the night with few turnovers. Brooke VanLaanen (we call her Van to differentiate her form Brooke Byard) played some great defense on one of the top scorers in our region. She and Ellie combined to hold their shooting guard to 13 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Rebekah came in and restored some rebounding order when were getting sloppy. Brooke B. came in and filled her role of penetrating and pitching to earn five assists. Kayla really controlled the boards when she was on the floor, and bot Sara and Jenni got valuable time.

This Saturday we travel down to Manitowoc, WI to play Silver Lake College. We have had the upper hand in this match-up the past few years, but Silver Lake beat Grace Bible by 15 this past Saturday, so they must be playing well.

Thanks for reading!

Tough shooting night dooms us again

I really don't know what else to say other than we couldn't make a basket. We lost to the University of Wisconsin-Marinette 69-56 in our first home game on Tuesday night. It was a game, much like an earlier loss to Grace Bible, where I sat there watching and expecting us to start connecting from outside like I've seen us do so many times in that gym - but it never happened. We shot 27% for the game, including 22% in the second half. We entered the game connecting on 37% from 3-point range, but were cold from behind the arc, including 0 for 11 in the 2nd half. Give Marinette credit - they are a drastically improved team. We had no real answer for their 6-foot post as she scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and a trio of guards that hit timely 3-pointers.

We started slow, but fortunately kept them in sight and took the lead half way through the first half. It was back and forth before a barrage of 3-pointers to end the first half gave them a 36-31 lead at intermission. Still, with as poorly as we shot, not a bad place to be.

They opened the second half on a killer 15-2 run that we had few answers for. They connected inside and out, and we couldn't find the basket from the field or free throw line. After shooting 80% from the line last game, we could only manage 8 of 19 from the charity stripe.

While our shooting ability may leave us from time to time, I never have to question the character and effort of this team. I think that's why I really enjoy them so much. They played hard for 40 minutes. There were times where our intensity level was low, but the effort was always there.

Ellie and T led us with 12 points tonight, and Lyds added 10. Rebekah led the team again with 12 rebounds. I thought all of our subs did some nice things off of the bench, and some got extra minutes for the intensity they brought to the floor.

We have a couple of practices yet this week before an important region game at home against Kuyper College. We'll keep working hard to correct our mistakes, and get better as individuals, and ultimately a team.

On the Road....Again?

People often ask what it’s like traveling with the women’s basketball team for much of the winter. I’m not sure how to really answer that, except to say there is never a dull moment!

During a given year, we typically have 12-14 “away” games, plus our regional tournament at the end of the season. Half of these trips are “day trips” where we can travel to and from the game on the same day. This will often involve an early departure or late return, but it saves Northland a lot of money whenever possible. The other half of our trips involve some sort of overnight stay. Some, like the Kentucky trip last week, involve multiple nights away (four to be exact), but most are one night or two.

About two or three days before the trip, I’ll email an itinerary to the girls outlining the trip as planned. We typically are given a 15 or 12-passenger van with a trailer, and a mini-van by Northland for our trips. After packing luggage, medical kit, uniforms, shooting shirts, water bottles, bagged lunches, etc., we meet together in the gym for a team prayer and load up. Usually, I drive the van pulling the trailer and K-Mo (Assistant Coach Kevin Moses) drives the mini. Occasionally there is jockeying by players for positions in vans or certain seats, but they’re pretty good about mixing it up to get to know each other better. On longer trips, there are usually some trivia games by phone that go on between the vehicles. Other favorite pastimes while traveling are homework, catching up on phone calls (especially those with cell service providers without good coverage at Northland), listening to music, reading, or talking. But the majority of the time, travel is used to catch up on one thing – SLEEP! Some players have a greater reputation than others to fall asleep before we leave campus, but we’ll leave names for another time. If there’s anything more important than choosing the right place to eat while on the road, it’s choosing the right place to, well, stop for, say, “physical refreshment.” I mean, stopping at a place with a single restroom with 12-15 ladies…..well, you do the math. Bad judgment in where we stop could cause us to have to throw the itinerary out the window!

Each coach at Northland can book the rooms for their own teams within a set budget. We usually need a total of five rooms (four for the players, manager, and statistician) and one for me and Kevin. After cost, my criteria for selection is (in this order) cleanliness (based on reviews), free breakfast, free wireless, and an indoor pool (we are a winter sport team). I make room assignments before each trip (revealed on the itinerary), mixing up the groups each trip. There is a captain or upperclassman in each room, and we establish a curfew and lights out each night.

As far as meals go, Northland provides a stipend for each trip, per person, per day, based on how many meals we will miss on campus. We’re thankful for the amount, but with inflation it becomes a little more difficult to make ends meet (sound familiar?!). At times, eating on the road actually takes more thought and strategy than the game! When we eat in Wisconsin, we are tax exempt so depending on the area that can be a savings of 5-7%. So far in the young season, we have hit Culver’s, Arby’s, McDonald’s, Subway, Papa John’s, Wendy’s, and a mall food court. Otherwise, if the girls snack or eat in between normal meal times, it can leave us with the ability to combine a couple of our meals for a nicer meal. Lunch at Olive Garden or a Panera Bread stop are favorites for the ladies, but it takes saving on other meals to enable us to do it. When we’re REALLY frugal early in a trip, sometimes there is money left for Coldstone! When all is said and done, we’re always under budget, and the girls are well fed. Occasionally, depending on game times (noon or 1 pm starts especially), K-Mo and I will get meat, cheeses, fruit and/or granola bars from a local deli for them to snack on prior to the game instead of a heavier meal. As I said, it takes planning and effort.

The advantages of traveling are many. It’s great, especially at the beginning of the season, to help build team unity and camaraderie. That was a major reason for the early season Kentucky trip this year. Also, it gives us many opportunities to be salt and light while we travel. Whether it’s formal ministry like teaching a Sunday School class or singing in a church service, or by divine appointments on the road, in restaurants, and at gas stops, it’s nice to get out and apply what we’re learning.

The down side for the girls is it’s really difficult to have quality study time in the vans, but they make do. Also, this season we will likely log nearly 5,000 miles on the road, with many of those in snowy weather as we approach the winter months. So, safety is also on our minds as drivers. Personally, responsibilities on campus don’t stop when basketball season begins, and they certainly don’t stop while we travel. Most trips require late nights at the hotel catching up on dozens of unanswered emails that accumulate while driving.

But even with these few concerns, traveling with the team is a major reason why I enjoy coaching.