Matthew: For the first time, ever, Mom and Dad both missed a soccer game. To be fair, I think the last time we both missed an event was a Cpher baseball game many moons ago; I was out of town and Matthew had a game at exactly the same time as well. Of course, Cpher hit a home run in that game to show us!
No such heroics from Matthew, but, the team did win 3-1 against a DA team, so, that’s a good result. Took me a while to get the game story from Matthew and others, but, the highlights are a) almost everyone says we should have scored more and they never really threatened. b)) We were missing 4 starters....3 on the backline. Matthew is again at center back and the one new kid (we have one kid from the 'B' team practicing with us and playing with us in the winter) is the other center back. Apparently the new kid, instead of clearing the ball, played it ill-advisedly back into the middle to Matthew very early in the game; Force picked it off, the kid tripped him, pk, down 1-0. I understand as the game went on Matthew was more and more telling the new kid what to do and where to go. c) ( T ) never did it, but ( C ) does....they name captains. Matthew is named a captain for this game. To my knowledge, it is the first time anyone other than the two who have been captains for the last two years have been named one. and d) The Coach told Matthew at the end of the game that in our next game he won't play a moment of center back (should have our normal kids back). He’s been a stalwart back there; has played every minute of our first 3 games.
Kevin/Dad: Kevin lost his racquetball match –4, –8, and –2. Still having problems with serves; did have a lead for a while in that middle game.
Dad lost –10, 15-14, –8 or something like that. I think I could take him if we played again….my shots are still coming together and he had all of his down.
This week brings Dad –vs- Kevin, Match #2.
Cpher: Beat Grand Ledge 31-24, Lost to Grand Ledge (a different GL team) 53-29.
The formula in these back to back games seems to be consistent. A) we play the better team second and B) they know we are tired and press and run and end up winning comfortably.
All pictures below are from the second game; I’ve taken to video for the first game and pictures for the second. The first game is notable because Cpher scored the first four points of the game for our team…..will have to go and see if that video is worth condensing into something useable.
(he’s going to lose this jump…I am sure that kid across from him will be playing varsity Bball for Grand Ledge for a few years. He was easily the best kid on the court)
(moving to set a pick on an inbounds play)
(really really really wish he would shoot in these situations. I can tell just by looking at how he is holding this ball that he is going to pass)
(not guarding the big kid here; our coach realizes that’s a huge mismatch in GL’s favor; Cpher just doesn’t have the ‘quicks’ to stay with him)
Cpher Bonus Entry: Since it was the only sports event from last weekend might as well put it here; beat Laingsburg 51-36. Had an hour off between games for the only time all year, still lost to Dewitt 49-29.
Only saw the first half of the L game before Kevin and I had to go to the airport…know he scored a basket and had 2 fouls. Apparently picked up 3 more in the third quarter and Mom thought he fouled out…they must have given one of them to someone else because he made a reappearance in the game in the 4th quarter.
L had 3 big guys; was explaining to Kevin how Cpher would do against them. One was tall, slim, and agile…Cpher would have a tough time with him on defense (and he did….played well though). The second guy was a lot like Cpher….and had no success against Cpher. The third guy didn’t see the court in the first half…I think Cpher would have eaten him alive on offense and am sorry that he didn’t have that opportunity.
