Maccabi Games Day 1

Game 1: Dallas 42, Miami 41

After an early morning wakeup, the girls patiently waited for their 10:30 am game against a strong Dallas team. Dallas came out hitting their outside shots to take a 6 point lead led by a small point guard who was making it difficult for our guards to bring the ball up the court. Once we made some adjustments, Jen, Lindsey, Allie, and Sam began to pressure Dallas full court creating some turnovers and easy baskets. Emily and Erica were getting their hands on many loose balls allowing our team to come back and take the lead. Both Sam Amaya and Danielle were dominating the paint grabbing rebounds, blocking many shots and finishing layups. By halftime, we were winning 19 - 18.
In the second half, we continued to play better passing the ball around unselfishly, and avoiding mistakes despite the constant pressure defense by Dallas' small, but quick point guard. Emily was grabbing many rebounds as was Samantha A. and Danielle. Erica made some great defensive plays, while Sam Friedman, Lindsey, Jen, and Allie were moving the ball around creating easy baskets for each other as well as Danielle and Sam. As we came down the stretch of the game, it was back and forth with both teams trading baskets. It was clear to me that this game was going to be decided by whoever ran out of time first, meaning both teams were playing well, and it was up to who scored the last basket. With about ten seconds to go down by 1, Jen Deutch had a great look at a baseline runner only to see it go in and out. She made a great play to get the shot off, and as I told her, sometimes they fall and sometimes they do not. It is mostly luck of the roll or bounce that decides a close game. So...despite defeat, it is clear that our girls are as good as any team here in Akron. Fortunately, we are most likely going to play the Dallas team again in the finals giving us another chance to beat them, and that game is when it counts.

Not only did we give a great effort, but the other team's coach told me they had been practicing since April... That is 5 months vs. 6 days! Great Job Girls!!!

Our next game is at 8am tomorrow! More updates soon.