All of the rites of passage of summer have fallen into place. Last week I watched an intramural summer basketball tournament and one final 7-on-7 event.
Both are a reminder that the expectations that come with each high school sports year are on the horizon. Football cheer is two months away.
I know the “thought train” of expectations has probably run its course for many top high schools. Do you think June practices/games are just about getting stronger to carry the weight of expectations? Guess again.
Opportunity and potential collide each June at practices and summer games, often obscured by the spotlight and pressure that comes once the regular season begins.
New starters take their place in the lineup after spending time as reserves or on JV/freshman teams. Other newcomers get a chance to earn a spot. Camaraderie develops.
Too often we forget an important fact about high school coaches – they are teachers. Just as a teacher adapts lesson plans to a specific course, coaches adapt schedules and game plans.
And in some cases, like the case of new Liberty football coach Andy Boone, it’s a whole new thing for everyone.
Boone was most recently the head coach at Lakeview near Natchitoches. He made his name playing “Boone Ball” in 14 seasons at central Louisiana-based Avoyelles, a Class 2A school.
His teams run on every down and don’t punt. When they score touchdowns, they try to get two-point conversions. This philosophy has helped Avoyelles reach the quarterfinals twice.
Why a 7-on-7 for a team that probably won’t pass? Why not? Even run-oriented teams do it. The Patriots had two teams competing Friday in the second Jimmy “JyammIAm” Williams Tournament at Episcopal.
“It’s going very well,” Boone noted. “I thought it would take us all summer to fit everything in and get the things we needed to do done. We did it in three weeks.”
There were high fives mixed with smiles and a few grimaces after a dropped pass or a secondary mix-up that led to a touchdown.
Yes, there were teachable moments when coaches and teammates pointed to a specific spot on the field. Scotlandville beat rival Southern Lab of North Baton Rouge 17-15 in the final.
The atmosphere at the Catholic University’s Summer Classic basketball tournament was different. There were the summer standard of two halves of 18 minutes each. All eight participating teams are traditional nations.
There were missed shots, blocked shots and turnovers as coaches saw what their lineup puzzle might look like in real time next year.
Before he made the game-winning shot in the final game against host Catholic, Zachary’s Xavier Ferguson summed up the situation from a player’s perspective.
“I get attention when I score baskets,” he said. “It’s nice to see the guys willing to step up and prove themselves in situations like that.”
Of course, success in the summer is no guarantee of a win or title in the 2024/25 season.
But the possibilities and potential of summer are building blocks that should never be overlooked. Or underestimated.
