Ive really enjoyed working with kids and I have learned so much from all the coaches Ive had and what they taught me. Morton girls basketball looks to remain in good hands, as rising junior and touted prospect within the state, Katie Krupa, remains a fixture on the team. The focus is what he looks for when recruiting, but some of these concepts can be taught and others can be improved upon through work. In fact, few outside of the tight-knit Lady Potters community know his name -- and most of them don't fully grasp who he is, and even they don't understand why he is here. These situations more than most others will illustrate his ability to catch the ball. They send the message, We are here to compete tonight! But its just one of those things you learn from.. Then Kindred stopped and turned. I believe the quality of your feet is so important that I teach muscle memory with your feet through constant emphasis. He is a player development specialist. The Morton Lady Potters is an Illinois High School Girls Basketball team from Morton, Illinois. If you do have a good post man, you would want to slow it down and give the post man a good look. I would like to thank Coach Redeker for this opportunity along with my family, coaches, teammates and everyone else who has supported me throughout the years. Hes turned into a true attacking guard on defense, too. 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.. Early in his career, Kindred recalled purchasing copies of the Sports Illustrated and The New York Times to follow the work of journalists he admired. They let shooters shoot, ballhandlers handle the ball, defensive stoppers guard the opponents best player and simply do what they are asked to do! In the last few years with the Boston Celtics everyone has talked about our stars and our starters, but our players will tell you that we would not have had anywhere near the level of success if our organization, our staff, and our starters did not understand the importance of the second unit. After jumping out to a 16-0 lead, and 12-point halftime advantage, the Lady Potters looked well on their way to yet another title. 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? They get stops, and then get scores. Kindred hasn't missed a Lady Potters game since. Good ball handlers are easy to spot. Kindred, himself, was a member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame. When you're a daily newspaper columnist, you have to wear well. He isn't a mascot or even a fan. I also want them to have their feet about shoulder width apart for good balance good base. Many coaches will talk to a player about muscle memory, but only address it relative to the follow through. Kindred stands for the first time since tip-off and makes his way to the scorer's table to iron out a discrepancy in his notebook, where he keeps score. I also saw Megan Schoen, Angie (Wacaser) Mattson, Megan (Davis) Condis, Sydney Stahlberg, and Keegan Ryan. However, Jones will have a chance at redemption when she suits up for Illinois Central College next season. In fifth grade, she helped lead that team to the AAU Girls State Championship, and the team would go to the AAU Nationals where they would place third. He never breaks the cardinal rule of sportswriting: No cheering in press box. "I was done with staff jobs, and could do this from wherever I wanted," Kindred says. . 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 . But my sister was on the team and having her there really helped me out.. This is an episode you don't want to miss as we talk to Mr. Jones! After Cheryl, who would accompany Kindred to every game, lost a filling on one of the dense caramel candies, Kindred requested an additional box of easier-to-chew Junior Mints. The average person lives about 75 years. A real test of a ball handler comes when he encounters full court pressure. They know they are very important to winning! "There was nothing bad about it," he says. Last of all in my assessment of athletic ability, I look for the leaper. They get stops and get out on the break. Some nights its not going to be your night, where you can touch the ball. 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. Courtney Jones has had a terrific four-year run as part of the Morton High School girls basketball team. Our alumni are very special to us and seeing them in the crowd brings back so many memories. For the front office, coaching staff and locker-room elders, this season has been a challenge in managing the frustrations of developing stars (Ibaka) and developing players (Eric Maynor) who want more shots, more minutes, more of everything. Each of us has our own criteria whereby we assess selflessness, aggressiveness, poise, and many other personality traits. Passers that appeal to me are those who pass the ball away from the defense. Way to go Morton Lady Potters The Lady Potters are ranked #1 in Class 3A Girls Basketball in Illinois by the Associated Press polls and MaxPreps ranks the Lady Potters #1 overall in Illinois,. You want the reader to see the moment the way you see it.. Those that can shoot it know their range, lack of indecision, and spot up according to the penetration of the ball. Playing nearly every position, Jones helped the Lady Potters to two state championships in an impressive four-year run. He walks alone through the cold December night, beneath the halos of the overhead lights in the parking lot where his car awaits. He knows or looks for the defender and moves accordingly. The Lady Potters rolled Limestone 60-34. Katie Krupa is an incredible player in the paint and I knew that if she was posting up I needed to get the ball to her, Jones said. When we only throw 1 or 2 passes, we find that its very easy for the defense to load up to the ball. Perkins is one of the true tough guys in the NBA, one of the NBAs best defenders of the post and defenders of professionalism. In post-game I sit at my locker, But quickly I sink a jumper. Single possessions are the key. 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. When Perkins partially tore his groin late last season, the prospect of sitting out the Thunders playoff run never occurred to him. So just seeing the joy on their faces when they figure something out is really magical to see.. Subscribe http://www.mortonladypotters.com Home Videos Shorts Playlists Channels Videos. Then Kindred puts on his coat and makes for the exit. And the teen basketballers have come to depend on his coverage. I know, some live more and some live less, but on the average, folks live about seventy-five years. Can he catch a bad pass and make his own next pass a good one? Next game is Tuesday at East Peoria." "He goes out and finds out stuff about people. I get a lot of texts from my grandparents and relatives, said Katie Krupa, of the Lady Potters. And all that time, he turned to the Lady Potters for a sense of normalcy and positivity. When you write about sports, you write about people. They stay away from making it a quick shoot, playground game. It was only one possession, why must my coach scream, Along with the trophy, each player and coach was awarded a medal. View More. It was an excellent thought provoking book which got me thinking and will challenge me to be the best I can be. I concentrate a lot of my teaching on the beginning of the shot and the end of the shot, i.e., the feet and the follow through. I found that by watching the marble diminish, I focused more on the really important things to me in my life. Hes been a great leader.. View More. Morton Heat is a travel basketball program for communities of Morton and Groveland IL. With success, with talent, there come desires unmet, expectations unfulfilled. As you slap your hands and shout. Please seal in an envelope with camper's first and last name included. loved ones and less time at work, and I hope to meet you again some day. And Ive got to tell them: OK, you didnt get yours tonight but, So OK, take Serge [Ibaka]. Ibaka played brilliantly on Wednesday night: 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks. They are at least adequate with both hands. From the front office of Sam Presti and Troy Weaver, to coaching of Brooks, this is a franchise thats been unblinking with confronting its issues. He knows or looks for the defender and moves accordingly. "I'll be there." ", The trip wouldn't last. Some teams play zone, some press, some play man to man, some play up tempo, some play a possession game. Jones received a lot of time on the court as a freshman, often playing in the post. "And that included wanting to write about what I just saw." Im greeted by high fives and slaps, my poor defense permitted the basket, but what can one hoop mean? Athletic Director/Head Coach. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. In her first year, Jones felt pressure joining the Lady Potters, but also was excited to get started with a winning program while playing alongside her older sister. Not many teams can say they had a record like ours.. Byrne went home and promptly did just that. West End Pottery Club c/o 870 Denman St. Vancouver, BC V6G 2L8 604-257-8333. Bill has done a great job over the years preparing fun teambuilding challenges for our girls. Players have to understand that the hardest thing to do defensively is to close out to be running out at a player from the help position. It is difficult to appreciably improve someones shooting in college. Im not as concerned if his elbow is in or out as I am with release and follow-through. They, in turn, have gotten to know "Mr. A player who can do all of the aforementioned in addition to shoot the ball is really a find. He's got a story to write. It was a heartbreaking season in part because Jones sister was a senior who had a chance at a fourth state championship. They stay away from making it a quick shoot, playground game. They take their role as a member of the second unit very seriously. They've won 214 games over the past seven seasons, bringing home the past three Illinois High School Association Class 3A State Championships -- the smallest Illinois town (population 16,000) to ever win a 3A title in any sport. Much of that has to do with the way Westbrook has grown, matured and pushed himself into a broader playmaking role. 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 Morton Lady Potters basketball team is a high school Basketball Team located in Morton, Illinois. and play with intensity.. Coach Bob Becker and the players from the Morton Lady Potters Girls Varsity Basketball team will share their thoughts throughout the season. This is the first part ofan article that was written by Rick Majerus several years ago. And I knew that that light was always gonna be there two or three times a week.. If you ask Kindred, he is not taking the traditional columnist's viewpoint in his dispatches. Morton Potter Athletics 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. 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 addition, players need to be aware of these areas to make sure they look for them in the course of the game. The other day I noticed a book on Coach Browns bookshelf titled Lead . This second unit is so productive at what they do that they create their own identity. Looking deep into her eyes, he still can't be sure she even recognizes him. Is he able to pick the ball up off the floor and convert in a transition game? 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. The profession being what it is, one is often pressed to find an area in which unanimity of opinion prevails. As the halftime buzzer is sounding, and I watch the ball bank in, Sports, Fitness & RecreationMorton ILmortonheat.orgJoined June 2022 116Following 45Followers Tweets Tweets & replies Media Likes Morton Heat Basketball's Tweets Morton Heat Basketball Please direct all questions to Morton Head Coach Bob Becker Email: Robert.becker@mcusd709.org Phone # 309-642-4432 Be sure to visit our Morton Lady Potter Basketball website! 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. Those are everyday issues for the Thunder now. But Kindred's answer goes deeper, back to a scene in his sister's kitchen where his sister, Cheryl, a family friend, and her 12-year-old daughter, Carly, were talking about cheerleading. I believe #1 and #2 cause players to miss short, and that #3 gives the ball a chance because it puts arc on the ball and gets it over the front of the rim. His mantra has always been: "If you pay attention, you'll see something you've never seen before -- write about that. Those areas of concern evaluated are attitude, athletic ability, and basketball skills. My team is ahead and Im playing well, And theres still plenty of time! Im continually looking for those players that dribble to improve their passing angle (a lost art and a hard to teach concept). The official 2022-23 Women's Basketball Roster for the Morton College Panthers. Kindred had originally approached Becker about writing for the teams website and social media, but insisted that his award-winning labor wouldnt come cheap. In December, shortly after the season had started, Byrne spotted an older man helping his wife down from the bleachers after a game. ICC Womens Basketball: Stronger Together Challenge Elementary Students Give Back 2019 Foundation Events Calendar. It is easy to find players that can pass in the open court, difficult to find players that can penetrate and pitch effectively in the paint, but next to impossible to find people who can feed a stationary or flash post by ball faking and dribbling to improve the angle of the pass. The man told Byrne his name was Dave Kindred, gave him his email address, shook hands, and then began to walk toward the exit with his wife. Outstanding passers have that snap on the ball that you cant coach. Kindred is not here to talk about the game, but rather to prepare the girls for what they will encounter tomorrow when they visit the local nursing home. The university president said that if there was a Mount Rushmore for sports journalists, Kindred's face would be in the middle of the mountain. For Kendrick Perkins, the telephone calls from frustrated Oklahoma City Thunder teammates come with a far greater frequency than passes into the post. What began as a typical Saturday Morton High School Lady Potters Grades 9-12 $80 May 28th- May 31st 1:15-2:45pm June 10th - 14th 11:15am-1pm June 17th- 21st 11:15am-1pm $$ Payment Information $$ Checks are preferred and should be made payable to Morton High School Girls Basketball. I said, Look, I'm a professional sports writer. 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. We want feet ready, hands ready, knees bent as the ball is in flight. "At the end of the year, we have a banquet and he always has something to say," senior Kassidy Shurman says. "Did I read -- you've been to the Masters?". "You may call BINGO or you might do something they call 'Coffee and Conversation,' just talk to people," he says. But he has to end perfectly with his perfect follow through. It was extremely hard, Jones said. 1000 MARBLES But after this summer camp, she believes coaching is now a strong possibility in her future. 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. Hell tell these Thunder about the way Garnett sacrificed his scoring when united with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, about how he made sure everyone else fed themselves first. No matter where he was, whether it was in Los Angeles covering the Final Four or in Barcelona with the Olympics, Kindred's thoughts drifted back to Cheryl. Jones typically teaches four girls at a time for hour long sessions. The cheerleaders who bounce out onto the hardwood to try to keep folks engaged during intermissions are working their first Lady Potters game this year, as is the dance squad that will perform at halftime -- of the boys' game. Those areas of concern evaluated are attitude, athletic ability, and basketball skills. And maybe most of all, Perkins sees the transformation of his disposition. (not only the defender covering the receiver but the off the ball help as well.). Unfortunately, few patrons take advantage of the hefty return on the free admission. I've written more than 300 games, probably more than 500,000 words, he said. The game ends, you go home, take an hour break and then I know its mentoring time. Choose your favorite sports and teams to follow to be able to see all of the content you want to enjoy first. Upload it Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. A good shooter has range and theres a correlation between effective range and leg spring. Elbow Awareness, Not Perfection I would love to have every shooter have his elbow directly underneath the ball but I also understand (because I was this way) that not everyones musculature is such that we can comfortably do this. ", Kindred was part of a golden era of sports columnists, when every newspaper had at least one or two star writers whose mugshots graced the top left corner of the sports section and whose gray pillar of prose bolstered the entire side of the thick broadsheet five to seven days a week. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. Body control is another facet I look for and that doesnt necessarily involve being able to make the circus shot. In her sophomore year however, Jones and the Lady Potters would fall short of reaching state for the first and last time in her career. If you forgot your password, no worries: enter your email address and we'll send you a link you can use to pick a new password. Theres no question that starters are the key to winning games at any level, but dont overlook the importance of your second unit. Think about what I said, the really important things to me. 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? Quickness can sometimes compensate for a lack of fundamentals and skills. He remembers a lot of little details. #2 The closer you run your offense to the basket, the more physical your screens can be. One of the players' mother wondered aloud if slipping back into that routine, returning to the Potterdome bleachers and escaping the helpless bedside seat might be a salve for Kindred's beleaguered spirit. Cmon, coach, its a single possession, our team will be okay. Jones will also look ahead to her own future which begins this fall at Illinois Central College (ICC). In addition, she was drawn to the team aspect that the sport requires. Does he come down with the ball in traffic under the boards? Its just the first two minutes, my gosh, weve got all day. But he isn't exactly a reporter or columnist. ", "I've read your stuff on Facebook," says the nephew, reaching out to shake hands with the man. Their visit is part of their larger community outreach, something Coach Becker has always been keen on. will tell you stories of his unselfishness, his team building for hours if you permit him. A do-it-all team player who knows what it takes to win, Jones still has a bright future ahead with her playing career, but it also seems she has found a perfect calling for the future. SportsBC can help you find la club, team, or league in your area. In this episode we sit down with Potters Basketball guard, Beau Durbin to get his take on the recent IHSA decision to move forward with basketball. 3 Basketball Truths. You may be able to make a small change but a complete overhaul is next to impossible. However, one career path Jones may be interested in taking down the road is coaching. Although the second unit may not ultimately be responsible for winning, these players certainly can keep you from winning. Anticipation can somewhat compensate for a lack of quickness, however, there is no real substitute for someone who is not endowed with innate quickness. They play at a high level of execution. If all 13 players and 3 coaches buy-in to what we are trying to accomplish amazing things can happen for the entire TEAM. They get stops, and then get scores. "Whoever I am to her is there every day from 10 until after lunch," he says. The man in the jacket turns his bushy mustache up in a smile of amusement. I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say. Krupa recently committed to play college basketball at Harvard, and Jones knows both her former teammate and team have bright futures. Skill Development: Shooting Workout Shooting is the number one fundamental that we work on every day in the NBA. Ill tell him, OK man, you got seven points tonight, then you need to go get eight blocks. Time to come home.". Is he able to pick the ball up off the floor and convert in a transition game? A well-coached player is one who meets the ball and locates the defense before making a move. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington on a journalism scholarship and covered sports for the local Daily Pantagraph. 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. 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. My life had turned dark. Athletic ability is the measure by which many players earn spots on a team and often fill complementary roles. . They make an immediate impact on the game. Good passers have poise and patience above all else. He had covered the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, the NCAA men's and women's Final Fours and each of the PGA majors multiple times, including The Masters, where, after decades of walking the course, he had practically set up an office in the clubhouse. Following is from Boston Celtic Assistant Coach Kevin Eastman. Our experts predict every series, Liverpool rescue three points, chase top-four finish after surviving epic Spurs comeback, Jets' Aaron Rodgers expects a 'heaven' and 'hell' relationship with Zach Wilson, XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades, Song punishes Simon in one-sided TKO victory, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. Hence, I will not belabor the point but suffice to say were all in pursuit of the player who best demonstrates those personality characteristics that compromise having a good attitude. Can he catch a bad pass and make his own next pass a good one? 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. Go Cougars! pic.twitter.com/Aot3CO9vGw, Courtney Jones (@cjoness3) October 20, 2019. In return, Kindred would be paid exactly nothing -- a compensation package that would soon be amended when, after Kindred had bummed a few Milk Duds from the 98-cent movie box Byrne would bring to every game, Byrne resolved to buy Kindred his very own box. You could read him every day and never tire of him. It happened a few times. Very few teams in any sport reach championship status without a premium being placed on the formation and development of the second unit! for God Sake!. The man, disheveled hair creeping from beneath a faded ball cap, approached Byrne on the court. Later that year, the couple found themselves at the Potterdome watching the daughter of a family friend play. 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. This is a committed roster, an organization that has created a culture of accountability inside and outside the locker room. I've written more about that girls basketball team than I've written about anything, including Ali.. (not only the defender covering the receiver but the off the ball help as well.). And he measured my talent and experience and good looks and said, How about a box of Milk Duds every game?. I have written on this topic in the past in specific reference to the sixth man. Within the Thunder organization, they understand Perkins value extends far beyond the modest statistics. I look first of all for a player with an explosive first step. The second half mirrors the first, but its early, its not a big deal. For everyone believing that the most significant friction had developed between Durant and Westbrook, that relationship has fortified itself this season. 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. Rather, it is a facet of play that can better be evaluated by watching for a man who pulls up in balance and squares to the hoop off an explosive dribble.
