From Coach Jesse Smith:
Our final day proved to be successful and bittersweet at the same time. Here'sthe breakdown...
We started with a much needed 11am game against St. Vincent Academy. The teamplayed with heart and desire but was heavily overmatched and overpowered by ourSTARS team. Sad thing is...this was the game that catapulted us into thechampionship game for the Silver division. We won that game 83-29.
Our next game was at a bit more challenging as we were pitted against the SouthSound Rebels. This was a game where the boys looked sluggish but picked uptheir game play as the game progressed. Then, the chippyness began between theteams. The Rebels who had aspirations of winning it all decided to do some very unsportmanlike behavior. The result...one of our players getting undercut while attempting a layup causing him to be removed from the floor by medicalpersonnel. While his injuries required an ambulance ride and a couple of hoursin the hospital, all x-rays and tests were negative for broken bones, fracturesor dislocation. A little pain meds and sleep will get him back up to playingspeed in no time.
Our final game was the championship game against the Fast Oregon squad. Theybattled hard but the STARS players were playing with a new determination. Not to be stopped by ANYTHING or ANYBODY...STARS win the tournament 68-43.
Great job STARS! We earned an 8-1 record (9-point loss against the tournamentchampions) for the Thanksgiving weekend. AWESOME!
I think we're ready for the GCI Ice Classic next weekend.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
WYS Thanksgiving Tournament, 2010, Day 2
From Coach Jesse Smith:
We again started the day off playing a 9am game in the coldest gym in theSeattle area. We hammered them from start to finish. Final score...90-31. Not
much to report in that game.
Afterwards, we took a supposedly quick drive to the local Red Robin to get somefood into us before the next game (in an hour). BIG MISTAKE!!!! Not monitoringthe boys while they were ordering their food produced several milkshakes andfood that probably shouldn't be consumed before a game. Because many of us gotlost to the restuarant we had to shovel our food down to make it back to ourgame which I am sure wasn't a good thing to do either. But we had to get backso shoveling we did.
In the game against the Hoopaholics, we took the early lead 8-0 but theHoopaholics came storming back. We never were able to get into the flow as thewhistles were fast and furious. While the refs called it pretty evenly, themultiple whistles forced us to fall into more half court offensive sets where we struggled a bit. Running plays when you are used to running the floor fullcourt for points proved to be a little lacking on the execution side of things.
But...we prevailed in a close game 50-47 Stars!
We then decided that we wanted to play the Fast Oregon team. Over the years wehave enjoyed a great rapport with their coach. With this being the last trip to
the Thanksgiving tournament, we wanted the opportunity to play this nationallyranked team (and they wanted to play us as well). With the help of Mr. Keith,we were able to rent a gym and refs for the game. Fast initially accepted butthen backed out due to an unscheduled dinner date. We were then able to get the Bothell team to scrimmage. Not a bad squad to play a game against. They gaveus a very good battle. Our bigs were able to handle theirs (Dane had 16 andJerod 15). What a GREAT game!!!! Both teams enjoyed the back and forth pace of
the game. Final score...STARS win it 67-49.
Today...we play a semi-final game. If we win, we are again in the Championshipgame for the silver division. We still have another game for the second placebracket in the gold division against the team that beat Bothell by 1.
Good luck STARS!!!!!!
We again started the day off playing a 9am game in the coldest gym in theSeattle area. We hammered them from start to finish. Final score...90-31. Not
much to report in that game.
Afterwards, we took a supposedly quick drive to the local Red Robin to get somefood into us before the next game (in an hour). BIG MISTAKE!!!! Not monitoringthe boys while they were ordering their food produced several milkshakes andfood that probably shouldn't be consumed before a game. Because many of us gotlost to the restuarant we had to shovel our food down to make it back to ourgame which I am sure wasn't a good thing to do either. But we had to get backso shoveling we did.
In the game against the Hoopaholics, we took the early lead 8-0 but theHoopaholics came storming back. We never were able to get into the flow as thewhistles were fast and furious. While the refs called it pretty evenly, themultiple whistles forced us to fall into more half court offensive sets where we struggled a bit. Running plays when you are used to running the floor fullcourt for points proved to be a little lacking on the execution side of things.
But...we prevailed in a close game 50-47 Stars!
We then decided that we wanted to play the Fast Oregon team. Over the years wehave enjoyed a great rapport with their coach. With this being the last trip to
the Thanksgiving tournament, we wanted the opportunity to play this nationallyranked team (and they wanted to play us as well). With the help of Mr. Keith,we were able to rent a gym and refs for the game. Fast initially accepted butthen backed out due to an unscheduled dinner date. We were then able to get the Bothell team to scrimmage. Not a bad squad to play a game against. They gaveus a very good battle. Our bigs were able to handle theirs (Dane had 16 andJerod 15). What a GREAT game!!!! Both teams enjoyed the back and forth pace of
the game. Final score...STARS win it 67-49.
Today...we play a semi-final game. If we win, we are again in the Championshipgame for the silver division. We still have another game for the second placebracket in the gold division against the team that beat Bothell by 1.
Good luck STARS!!!!!!
WYS Thanksgiving Tournament, 2010, Day 1
From Coach Jesse Smith:
Well...we got off to an early and cold start Friday morning. With trafficnoticeably light we made it to the gym (which has no heat by the way) withplenty of time to speculate on whether the two people standing at the door fromthe Rotary Black team were coaches or players. Turns out they wereplayers....very BIG players. The rest of the team to arrive weren't muchsmaller. But we weren't worried. We've been out-sized before and this was theteam that we wanted to play a few months back when we missed the Championshipgame by a 2-3 points. So as we warmed up in the gym that was colder inside thanout, the boys looked poised to play. The game was a closely contested one thatsaw the STARS at one point break out to an 11-point lead. We held the leaduntil the bottom started to drop so to speak. Rotary went on a spurt and wemade some costly turnovers on a few inbound plays. Add to that some shoddyrefereeing and our lead evaporated. Throw in a few poor decision-making choicesand the STARS lose a very good game by both teams 56-47. The loss throws us outof the championship bracket but places us in the 2nd place pool.
Our next game versus EC Seattle Black allowed the boys to take out somefrustrations from the earlier game against Rotary Black. Perfect execution onboth the offensive and defensive ends of the court along with better decisionmaking guaranteed a win for the STARS in another Gold division game. Nothingsignificant in this game to report. Score 84-30.
Our final game was our first in the Silver division. We played against theHoopaholics. Again...nothing much to report. We apparently figured out how toplay after the loss and didn't even let the Hoopaholics breathe. While we couldhave spent more time working on plays versus scoring at will...we finished thegame with a 91-23 victory.
Not bad for the first day of tournament play. We finished off the night withcoach watching videos for 30 minutes before allowing the boys to examine theRotary game and see where mistakes were made and where improvements can be made.
We have another game at 9am in the cold gym today. I will keep you posted.
GO STARS!!!
Well...we got off to an early and cold start Friday morning. With trafficnoticeably light we made it to the gym (which has no heat by the way) withplenty of time to speculate on whether the two people standing at the door fromthe Rotary Black team were coaches or players. Turns out they wereplayers....very BIG players. The rest of the team to arrive weren't muchsmaller. But we weren't worried. We've been out-sized before and this was theteam that we wanted to play a few months back when we missed the Championshipgame by a 2-3 points. So as we warmed up in the gym that was colder inside thanout, the boys looked poised to play. The game was a closely contested one thatsaw the STARS at one point break out to an 11-point lead. We held the leaduntil the bottom started to drop so to speak. Rotary went on a spurt and wemade some costly turnovers on a few inbound plays. Add to that some shoddyrefereeing and our lead evaporated. Throw in a few poor decision-making choicesand the STARS lose a very good game by both teams 56-47. The loss throws us outof the championship bracket but places us in the 2nd place pool.
Our next game versus EC Seattle Black allowed the boys to take out somefrustrations from the earlier game against Rotary Black. Perfect execution onboth the offensive and defensive ends of the court along with better decisionmaking guaranteed a win for the STARS in another Gold division game. Nothingsignificant in this game to report. Score 84-30.
Our final game was our first in the Silver division. We played against theHoopaholics. Again...nothing much to report. We apparently figured out how toplay after the loss and didn't even let the Hoopaholics breathe. While we couldhave spent more time working on plays versus scoring at will...we finished thegame with a 91-23 victory.
Not bad for the first day of tournament play. We finished off the night withcoach watching videos for 30 minutes before allowing the boys to examine theRotary game and see where mistakes were made and where improvements can be made.
We have another game at 9am in the cold gym today. I will keep you posted.
GO STARS!!!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Alaska STARS Basketball Leadership and Directorship is now Shared!
I still have actual details to work out, but I wanted to announce that it is with great pleasure that I welcome Jesse Smith as a full and equal partner with me in the ownership and leadership of Alaska STARS Basketball.
This honor comes as I have observed Jesse have the exact same committment and vision for how this program should grow and serve the Alaska community. I respect him as a "face" of the organization, as a coach, as a mentor, as a role model to our kids.
Jesse and I will begin to work out details about organizational responsibility. But, I no longer want to be introduced as the "owner" of Alaska STARS Basketball. I would like to be introduced as a partner or co-director with Jesse Smith of this organization.
I love Alaska STARS Basketball. I have worked 12 years to help grow and mature it and guide it. The past four years or so, Coach Jesse has worked just as hard and this partnership is a blessing to me and will do nothing but IMPROVE Alaska STARS Basketball's future and the future of its participants.
Please welcome me in accepting Jesse in this new role as co-owner and co-director of Alaska STARS Basketball!
Thanks Jesse!!
This honor comes as I have observed Jesse have the exact same committment and vision for how this program should grow and serve the Alaska community. I respect him as a "face" of the organization, as a coach, as a mentor, as a role model to our kids.
Jesse and I will begin to work out details about organizational responsibility. But, I no longer want to be introduced as the "owner" of Alaska STARS Basketball. I would like to be introduced as a partner or co-director with Jesse Smith of this organization.
I love Alaska STARS Basketball. I have worked 12 years to help grow and mature it and guide it. The past four years or so, Coach Jesse has worked just as hard and this partnership is a blessing to me and will do nothing but IMPROVE Alaska STARS Basketball's future and the future of its participants.
Please welcome me in accepting Jesse in this new role as co-owner and co-director of Alaska STARS Basketball!
Thanks Jesse!!
Friday, May 28, 2010
It's been a while - Summer is here
The last time I posted, the YMCA championships had just ended in March of 2010. Now it is the end of May - the Friday that starts the Memorial Day weekend. Tonight, a team of Alaska STARS are headed down to Seattle to compete in two tournaments, playing in multiple divisions in each tournament.
We have just gone through Alaska Basketball Development League with our class of 2013 and 2014 players (AKBDL). We have just finished ACS Spring League with the others (two 7th grade teams, a 6th grade team, a 5th grade team and a 3/4th grade team).
I would like to thank the coaches and the parents for their continual support in this very hectic and dynamic environment. We are always on the go and everyone just makes it work. Coach Sam Freelove has been so wonderful picking up some slack for me as I have to take on responsibilities with our high school team for summer travel. The 6th grade team has been wonderfully patient as I get through these distractions. Thanks, Sam.
I would like to alos give a special shout out to Coach Jesse Smith and Coach Brian Kewan for keeping our torch lit at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club, ensuring that we have a continual presence there during "Power Hour", providing our boys an opportunity to give to a community that gives so much back to them. Thanks for keeping that important part of our overall mission alive and running and ensuring that our boys enjoy the fullest experience of the program.
I am proud of all the accomplishments of all of our boys. The 8th graders (class of 2014) did a bang-up job in a high school division of the AKBDL. They placed fourth and went into the playoff against the first-place ACS Lions. Lost the game at the buzzer by 1. Wow! What a battle! Great job fellas!
And, I want to recognize all of the growth and achievement that our other teams experienced in the ACS League. We had most of them playing "up" a division and competing well (if not winning). Way to go!
Summer means more activities. The Class of 2013 is about to go to multiple NCAA Live events. Class of 2014 is about to go to Hawaii. This is a great time when more development happens and the kids reap incredible rewards for it.
I look forward to us doing all that we are doing .... and learning how to do it even better.
We have just gone through Alaska Basketball Development League with our class of 2013 and 2014 players (AKBDL). We have just finished ACS Spring League with the others (two 7th grade teams, a 6th grade team, a 5th grade team and a 3/4th grade team).
I would like to thank the coaches and the parents for their continual support in this very hectic and dynamic environment. We are always on the go and everyone just makes it work. Coach Sam Freelove has been so wonderful picking up some slack for me as I have to take on responsibilities with our high school team for summer travel. The 6th grade team has been wonderfully patient as I get through these distractions. Thanks, Sam.
I would like to alos give a special shout out to Coach Jesse Smith and Coach Brian Kewan for keeping our torch lit at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club, ensuring that we have a continual presence there during "Power Hour", providing our boys an opportunity to give to a community that gives so much back to them. Thanks for keeping that important part of our overall mission alive and running and ensuring that our boys enjoy the fullest experience of the program.
I am proud of all the accomplishments of all of our boys. The 8th graders (class of 2014) did a bang-up job in a high school division of the AKBDL. They placed fourth and went into the playoff against the first-place ACS Lions. Lost the game at the buzzer by 1. Wow! What a battle! Great job fellas!
And, I want to recognize all of the growth and achievement that our other teams experienced in the ACS League. We had most of them playing "up" a division and competing well (if not winning). Way to go!
Summer means more activities. The Class of 2013 is about to go to multiple NCAA Live events. Class of 2014 is about to go to Hawaii. This is a great time when more development happens and the kids reap incredible rewards for it.
I look forward to us doing all that we are doing .... and learning how to do it even better.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Following the YMCA Championships
Today, the 2010 YMCA Championship tournament ended. As the director of the Alaska STARS Basketball program, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past few months and the things that I have witnessed across our six teams.
I have seen a few of the teams just almost breeze through the past few months, with very few obstacles in front of them. I am proud of them and their dedication and their ability to maintain a very high level of performance!
I have seen a few teams struggle and overcome to varying degrees. Again, I am proud of them and their work and their commitment to improve and the finally overcome!
But, there are a few teams who didn't realize "success" as the outside world would understand it. Their record would indicate that they didn't accomplish much. I totally disagree. What those teams - our "development" teams - have done is more impressive than even our undefeated teams.......what those teams have done is much more admirable. They battled and grew and developed and continued to work and stay in the game despite the losses.
To them.......I want to give a most special "GREAT JOB!" and I want them to understand that their tenacity and continual effort represent everything that is the BEST about Alaska STARS Basketball. I hope these players will stick with basketball and stick with their development and maintain their great attitude. What about winning? Well, that just takes care of itself. I hope they will stick with their development...the winning will come.
Great job to everyone during the YMCA league! Allow me to extend that special congratulations to the 3/4th graders, 5/6th grade blue team and 8th graders for their championships. Allow me to give a thumbs up to the 7th grade gold team and their bitter-sweet runner-up result in the tournament.
Coach Bill Lidster
I have seen a few of the teams just almost breeze through the past few months, with very few obstacles in front of them. I am proud of them and their dedication and their ability to maintain a very high level of performance!
I have seen a few teams struggle and overcome to varying degrees. Again, I am proud of them and their work and their commitment to improve and the finally overcome!
But, there are a few teams who didn't realize "success" as the outside world would understand it. Their record would indicate that they didn't accomplish much. I totally disagree. What those teams - our "development" teams - have done is more impressive than even our undefeated teams.......what those teams have done is much more admirable. They battled and grew and developed and continued to work and stay in the game despite the losses.
To them.......I want to give a most special "GREAT JOB!" and I want them to understand that their tenacity and continual effort represent everything that is the BEST about Alaska STARS Basketball. I hope these players will stick with basketball and stick with their development and maintain their great attitude. What about winning? Well, that just takes care of itself. I hope they will stick with their development...the winning will come.
Great job to everyone during the YMCA league! Allow me to extend that special congratulations to the 3/4th graders, 5/6th grade blue team and 8th graders for their championships. Allow me to give a thumbs up to the 7th grade gold team and their bitter-sweet runner-up result in the tournament.
Coach Bill Lidster
Friday, January 1, 2010
A New Year and Community Basketball
I hope all of our friends across the community (Grizzlies, Sharks, Panthers, Mountaineers, Lakers, HEAT, Wolverines, our valley teams, and our friends in Fairbanks, Point Hope and Barrow) have a great new year and find success in their respective programs - no matter how they define it. Some will define it through wins, some will find other achievements, and some will find it through a combination of wins and achievements.
Regardless - I really help everyone has a great year in basketball!
Happy 2010 everyone!
Regardless - I really help everyone has a great year in basketball!
Happy 2010 everyone!
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