The junior varsity Sundre High School boys' Scorpions basketball team has lots of individual talent, said the squad's coach.
However, the boys have to focus more on fusing together as a team, said Ian James, who's confident that will happen by the end of the season.
They played at home against Olds on Tuesday, Jan. 5 and then again at home against W.G. Murdoch High School from Crossfield on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
They beat Olds 51-45 in their first victory against that team, said James, adding the game was evenly matched.
"They kept their composure," said the coach about his team.
The coach said he encourages his players to work together as opposed to having any one player try to carry the whole team.
"When we play other teams, they have one or two players dominating the scoresheet," he said.
Although the Scorpions have a couple of stronger players, the team has a much more even distribution of points at the end of a game, he said.
"That's when we're playing our best."
The game against W.G. Murdoch was also evenly matched, but the Scorpions came up a little short after a great start.
"It was a really close game. It was a good balanced game in that it went back and forth," said James.
The Scorpions had about a 10-point lead into the last quarter, but in the final few minutes, the competition was able to execute some strong plays and took the lead to win the game 60-57.
"We have a young team," he said. "Under the pressure, they made some unforced turnovers and let the game slip away from them."
But it's still early in the season ó the last regular game is scheduled for March 8 ó and the Scorpions are in great shape, the coach said. The Scorpions have played five games, winning three and losing two.
"With a new team forming, the guys are learning to trust each other and with each game that we're playing we're getting more confident," said James, adding there's a big learning curve for the players.
The Scorpions are focused on keeping the pressure up against other teams and guiding the play in the direction they want. In other words, the Scorpions try to use their defence to dictate the other team's offence, thereby limiting the competition's options. Adding pressure changes how other teams play and makes them perform under duress, he said.
"They don't practise that way typically. We try to take them out of their comfort zone."
The Scorpions are very athletic, which helps them to create an offence out of their defence. However, while the team has no shortage of individual talent, the boys need to gel and trust one another more, he said.
"That will come as the season progresses."
Once the Scorpions get to regional and divisional championships, the coach said he expects them to be well tuned and in sync.
Parents have been excited and are happy with what they're seeing, he said.
"Support is very important."
For young players in developmental sports, a cheering fan base can go a long way, he said.
"With parents there, and student peers, it helps them to develop confidence all around when they're able to perform in front of them."
The Scorpions' next game is tonight ó Tuesday, Jan. 26 ó in Canmore. Their next home game is on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The brief break will give them a chance to practise and regroup.
"They can catch their breath and look at the things they did right, the things they did wrong and refocus."
As a new resident to Sundre, James, a former Olympian who moved here from Ontario to work as the town's community services manager, said he's "very excited to coach the kids. They're good students and athletes."
