Sunday, beautiful Sunday!

What a Sunday!

With 2 games on a Sunday morning, I thought it will be tough to have the boys awake and aware at 9:00.

But they started the first game against Helsingborg full speed, with a lot of application in the passes and great defence.
21-6 for Höganäs at the end of the 1st period: this is promising!
Continuing the full court defence, we manage to get a lot of balls and easy lay-ups on fast breaks. 32-12 at halftime.
Even though we were in the lead, they all understood that they had to stay focus to keep the situation as it was: leading! End of 3rd period: 47-20.
A lot of good rebounds, great passes and help in defence brought the final score up to 62-32. Our biggest win of the season so far! Well done !

Points: Eric 2; Noah 2; Malte 19; Benjamin 10; Valle 4; Gabriel 2; Iron 4; Anton 0; David 19.

Remember that rebounds and great passes don’t show on the paper but help your teammates to score!


Second games against Äli:
When we played them last time, the score was very tight and we even had to play an extra period. Unfortunately it didn’t put that well for us. So today, it was time for revenge ;)

Äli’s players are much faster than HBBK’s, so full court press didn’t work. Back to half-court press, we are much better positioned and we managed to steal more balls and stop them to have easy lay-ups. Half-time: 28-25 for us.

As predicted, the game is very stressful, but everyone managed that very well today. We tried to play fast breaks, which is our strength, but as said, Äli is fast at coming back in defence. We have to take our time and build an attack properly. Some screen attempts, some pass and go, but we are struggling to keep the lead. We are much more present in defence, but sometimes late, so we conceded few faults. Not a problem at all and it is better that than letting them shoot! Äli is leading at the end of the 3rd period 38-39.
4th period is on the same pattern, quick and effective fast breaks for us and some really really nice passes! Some faults in defence but Äli isn’t at its best at free throws.
The stress built up all the way until the last 17sec, when we are leading by 2 points and Äli’s coach decided to take a time-out. We have to stay focused! It is our ball, we are leading, we just need to keep the ball for 17sec. Nothing more.
And.... we did it!
What a game, I had goosebumps when the time ran out! All the kids kept their cool and handled that second game perfectly, being into the game and not so much checking at the scoreboard. It’s a second victory for Höganäs this morning!

Points: Eric 0; Noah 4; Malte 18; Benjamin 2; Valle 0; Gabriel 4; Iron 11; Anton 2; David 10.

I could see a great spirit from everyone, cheering and supporting each other, being fair play and accept the referee decisions.
The boys really stepped up in defence, bringing it to an upper level. A lot more communication on the court as well, they managed very well all the changes of players during both games.
This is amazing! Just keep on the really good work!!

Magalie

PS: Henrik was very sad not to be here with us today!

Magalie Darnis