My First Team - p2

From 6-27-14

This is a continuation of the story on the 1959 NCHS boys basketball team. We have been giving readers a glimpse of the physical/mental requirements to be a part of our team. We would do 30 or 40 different drills a day in order to develop good habits. We reached the point, where, with the use of a whistle, we'd do these daily drills in minutes. Space doesn't allow me to explain the 3-3 drill, but any former player will never forget it! We always had trash cans handy & the doors open in case players needed help in "finishing the drill"!

It taught several fundamentals & usually determined if they were serious about becoming a part of our team. This drill later almost cost us 6'6" Scott Price, & upcoming freshmen, Scott Hubbard & Brad Bradley. In spite of the great talent, our '59 team was weak fundamentally. Team members who also played football, didn't get to "enjoy" all of this "fun" as they had their own fun @ football practice. Our 1st year the rules of the game were very different from today's. On a turnover, the opponent could step out of bounds & put the ball into play without the referee touching the ball. Later, I'll tell what the Gainesville team did to exploit this rule & end our season. We always tried to limit our turnovers to 10 per game & create 10+ in our opponents. Our statisticians wore out their pencils on this team! On some nights we would have 30-40 turnovers, but we also might create 40 or more opponent miscues! In our 3rd story, we'll cover our great personnel (a unique group of individuals for a young coach to begin his career).