Entry #4 Michael Tehan (Game 3)

“Blank blank blank”

That's what was going through my mind after a long week of youth camp. I had not slept much the past 5 days, and I just came from a 3 hour car ride. I couldn't get my mind to focus on the game. My legs were dead, but I was trying to play through it. It didn't work. Benched! I was awful, and so was most of my team. We needed to win this game which is why Sam and I came back a day early from camp. However, nothing was going right. 

After the first quarter we were down by 9. Turnovers and not boxing out is killing us. At half we were down by 13. Surprisingly, with our lack of energy and sloppy play we brought the lead down to 7. I still wasn't in the game because I was sucking. “Crap” mid way through the 3rd quarter right when we were putting a game a together, Sam Larsen fell on his ankle. He is out. He had to go to the hospital. 

Last week Jiaan and now Sam. Two of our best and tallest players are out for most of the season. I felt bad for Sam. He is one of my best friends, and he is on my AAU team. Seeing him leave early for the hospital was hard. The game went on. Unfortunately for us nothing went right again. In the 4th quarter they took over, we lost by over 20. We're gonna have to learn how to play as a team, and get rebounds without our two tallest players. I think we have the talent but we have to use it effectively in order to succeed as a team. Watch out Frederick were coming for you next week.

Entry # 4: Josh Jackson (Game 3)

Woooo!  Another close game against the DC Bulldogs.  But, once again the SMC “Money Team” cashed out and deposited another “W” in the bank SMC 77 and DC 73.  I’m beginning to see the difference between playing Rising Stars and Elite.  Elite games are faster, the talent is more competitive and the contact is more physical.  SMC was up by 10 but my friend Zion Russell began hitting those 3’s and brought DC within 3.  However, down the stretch it was SMC defense and free throws that made the difference and secured the win.  #who'snext

Entry #3: Michael Tehan (Game 2)

“SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH”

Great way to start game 2 against Fairfax! Before the game began, we knew we had a great chance to win. All we had to do was be unselfish and play good defense. We started with a full court press, they could barely get the ball across half court. Before we knew it were up 27-0. The game continued at that pace. With the way the game was going, everyone got good minutes. It was never close, we won by 42 points. Sadly, one of our best players, Jiaan, got hurt. I hope he is ok because he is a huge threat on both sides of the ball.

Next week we play #2 ranked Alexandria, and we are already short on players. Sam, Cole and I are at youth camp next week, so we were going to miss the game. However, since we are short on players, coach Larsen offered to pick us up a day early and take us to the game. You know I can’t pass on that. We are the major under-dogs, but after losing our first game we will need an upset in order to make the playoffs. I think if we play our game, we can do it.  See you next week when the Loudoun Eagles take on the Alexandria Knights.

Thanks, Michael Tehan #30 of the Loudoun Eagles

Entry # 3: Josh Jackson (Game 2)

Game 2 is in the books, 

SMC “Money Team” prevails over the PG Stallions. Once again, another talented team gave us a run for our money just like the Charles County Warriors did in our first game. Even though we were missing some starters, we came out on top with the W because everybody stepped up. I was more excited to play against the PG Stallions because I played with them in the winter PYBL season. 

Well, that game is over and we’re on to our next opponent which is the DC Bulldogs. This will be interesting since I will be playing against some of my AAU team mates.  Until next time.  #WEDONTLOSE.

Josh #1 

Entry #2: Michael Tehan (Game 1)

“CLANK CLANK CLANK”

      

      The sound of the ball bouncing off the rim. Not the sound I wanted to hear. Our shots weren't falling. It's been two weeks since we played our last game together, and it kind of showed on the court. We kept on turning the ball over with sloppy passes, bad angles, and out of control play. Before I knew it we were down by 10 at the end of the 1st quarter. We had to focus, play our game, and listen to coach so we could come back. That's when we made a little run. I kept telling myself, "We can't lose this, we can't lose this.” It's our first game and I so badly wanted to win.  

“Yup” halftime and were only down 5!

        Coach got on us for not playing our game. He was right. We need to get back to business. I knew I had to be more aggressive with the ball, and our team had to stop turning the ball over.  Third quarter is when we took the lead for the first time. Momentum changed, we were hitting shots. Our bench was crazy. Before we knew it we were up 5. My mind was racing, I hate to lose. We had to hold on. I kept thinking, “We got this, we got this.” End of the third quarter, up by 5 still. We held on to the lead for the first few minutes. Oh crap turn over, and another one, and another one. All tied up with 2 minutes to go. Two of our best guys foul out. They take the lead back. Not enough time.  We gave it away. We lost! This is not how I wanted our first game to end, but we're ready to come back fighting next week. 

By the way if we had Sam Larsen we definitely would have won...

Thanks, Michael Tehan #30 of the Loudoun Eagles

Entry # 2: Josh Jackson (Game 1)

Week 1: Southern MD vs. Charles  

My first PYBL game with Southern Maryland Cardinals AKA “The Money Team” was good and we finished the game with a W. But before I get to the win let’s talk about what happened a little bit before tip-off.

Before tip-off, everyone is anxious to play. Especially me, I had so much adrenaline pumping through my body, I couldn’t wait to get on that floor. Tip-off; everyone seems to be playing a little too pumped. By the second quarter we got it together and started to play like a team.

I’m not going lie, Charles County gave us a run for our money. Towards the end of the game it was a dog fight. Charles County goes up by 2 with a few minutes left in the game. The score was Charles County 60 and Southern Maryland 58. We then get the ball back on offense and make a clutch 3 with like a minute left. Charles County gets the ball and misses, we then get the rebound and they foul us and we’re in 1 and 1. We miss both free throws. Once they got back on offense we put them in a bottle and they didn’t score. So with so much time on the clock I was fouled. I made 1 out of 2 free throws which put us up by 2. The score was Charles County 60 and Southern Maryland 62.  We then got fouled again, made 1 out of 2 free throws again and the score was Charles County 60 and Southern Maryland 63. As soon as you know it, the game is over CARDINALS WON!!!!!!!!  


Next game we’re coming for u PG.

Entry #1: Michael Tehan (Pre-Season)

“POUND POUND POUND”

The sound of the ball hitting the floor. It all started in 6th grade when my friend Sam joined pybl for the winter league. I did not know much about pybl at the time, so I decided to follow them on instagram. The constant posts of stats and results were really cool. Then I found out they were having a summer league.  I knew I had to tryout for loudoun.   About 2 weeks before  the tryout the nerves kicked in. I was in the gym everyday for 2 weeks correcting bad habits and working on my shot. Then it came, the day of tryouts. All I could think about at school was tryouts. I tried to play football after school to get  my mind off it, but that didn’t help. My friend, Cole,  who was also trying out came over and we just sat there nervously until our ride came. When it came, we hopped in the car and drove off. When I got there I was so nervous I was shaking. Everyone was huddled up and coach was talking to us. Then he had us do lay ups. After, we did some other drill that I had never done before.  It was sorta confusing but fun. Then 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3, and 4 v 4 half court minnie games. Then it changed 5 v 5, I knew I had to make an impression. It was a hard, fast, aggressive AAU style of play which is not how my Flexx AAU team plays.  I did it!  My shot was on and I played well.  That night, I got the email that I made the team.  

A week later practice began.  Coach went over the offense, in bounds play and the press break.  Same thing for the next practice.  We were getting to know each other and starting to have some fun.  Coach entered us into a tournament so we could learn to gel together as a team.  We blew everyone out and it felt great.  So great that we decided to do another one the next weekend.  We blew everyone out again until the championship game.  The team we played in the championship was from Raleigh, North Carolina and they were big, fast and aggressive.  It was even until midway through the second half.  We stuck to our game plan and finally the other team began to fall apart. They turned the ball over and started to make mistakes which gave us the opportunity to pull ahead.  We won by 24 points.  Thats when I knew we were going to have a great summer season.  I can’t wait for June 9, our first PYBL game.