July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
And so, it comes down to tonight (03/25/06)
JCHS boys basketball
By By RAY COONEY-
INDIANAPOLIS — They stepped off the bus and jaws dropped.
As they stood in line, the chatter started. The same words — awesome, amazing — were repeated over and over.
“This is too cool right now,” said sophomore Clint Muhlenkamp to no one in particular.
“That’s like a dream come true to play on that court,” freshman Adam Garringer said as he talked with fellow scout teamer Rhett Retter, a junior. “This is awesome. I could do this the next three years, man.”
“I was like, ‘Wow,’” said starting junior point guard Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman. “I can not wait to play here.”
This was the Jay County Patriots as they entered Conseco Fieldhouse for the first time in preparation for their battle for the Class 3A boys basketball state championship game.
Lawrence North was on the court when they arrived, and after passing through the security check Jay County stopped to watch a few minutes of the Wildcats practice. The disposable cameras and camera phones were all out, taking pictures of 7-foot Ohio State recruit Greg Oden. Most of the Patriots had already gotten Oden’s autograph at a luncheon for the eight state finalists earlier in the day.
But after the stunning feeling of being in the bowels of the NBA arena, the shock of seeing its size and the amazement at the luxury in the locker room, it was down to business. And by the time they were on the floor for a few minutes at the beginning of their 2 p.m. practice, it became all about basketball again.
Senior Zac Green said it always was.
“This is just like a normal gym,” said Green of what he thought when he first saw the court. “Just a lot more seats. Once you get on the court, it’s the same.”
The Patriots (20-6) prepared for their 32 minutes on the court Saturday against the 10th-ranked New Castle Trojans (20-6) — they will play at Conseco at 6:06 p.m. — with an hour-long practice Friday afternoon.
New Castle had practiced there a day earlier.
Jay County did some scrimmage work, but not much, focusing mostly on getting its bearings in the large arena.
“We got a lot of shooting in Conseco,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle. “We got a little bit of up and down, but I was mainly worried about depth perception and the shooting. I don’t think it affected us too much.
“I think it was probably pretty good that we got there early. They could kind of look around ... and get a feel.”
It was a full day for the Patriots following their lunchtime banquet and afternoon practice. After checking into the hotel and relaxing for a while, they went for another practice session, this time at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI). Then it was back to the hotel conference room for dinner and a team meeting to review the scouting report and watch some film on the Trojans.
This morning, Jay County’s players and coaches will attend the Class 1A state title game between Hauser and Tri-Central before heading for a final practice.
That session will be at Butler Fieldhouse, and Teagle said he expects to spend no more than an hour doing some shooting and a brief walk-through.”
“The kids are real focused,” said Teagle. “Every time we get to the venue where we’re going to work on things I’ve been really pleased with the kids. They’ve worked at it really hard. You know, they’re excited. This is a good time, but they’re a smart group and they know what it’s all about. You’ve got to win one more game to celebrate being a state champion.”
After practice they’ll be ready. Pre-game will be as close to normal as possible. And then the Patriots will play in the state championship game for the first time in school history.
“I expect victory,” said Muhlenkamp. “That’s what I expect, sweet victory.”[[In-content Ad]]
As they stood in line, the chatter started. The same words — awesome, amazing — were repeated over and over.
“This is too cool right now,” said sophomore Clint Muhlenkamp to no one in particular.
“That’s like a dream come true to play on that court,” freshman Adam Garringer said as he talked with fellow scout teamer Rhett Retter, a junior. “This is awesome. I could do this the next three years, man.”
“I was like, ‘Wow,’” said starting junior point guard Scott “Scooter” Bruggeman. “I can not wait to play here.”
This was the Jay County Patriots as they entered Conseco Fieldhouse for the first time in preparation for their battle for the Class 3A boys basketball state championship game.
Lawrence North was on the court when they arrived, and after passing through the security check Jay County stopped to watch a few minutes of the Wildcats practice. The disposable cameras and camera phones were all out, taking pictures of 7-foot Ohio State recruit Greg Oden. Most of the Patriots had already gotten Oden’s autograph at a luncheon for the eight state finalists earlier in the day.
But after the stunning feeling of being in the bowels of the NBA arena, the shock of seeing its size and the amazement at the luxury in the locker room, it was down to business. And by the time they were on the floor for a few minutes at the beginning of their 2 p.m. practice, it became all about basketball again.
Senior Zac Green said it always was.
“This is just like a normal gym,” said Green of what he thought when he first saw the court. “Just a lot more seats. Once you get on the court, it’s the same.”
The Patriots (20-6) prepared for their 32 minutes on the court Saturday against the 10th-ranked New Castle Trojans (20-6) — they will play at Conseco at 6:06 p.m. — with an hour-long practice Friday afternoon.
New Castle had practiced there a day earlier.
Jay County did some scrimmage work, but not much, focusing mostly on getting its bearings in the large arena.
“We got a lot of shooting in Conseco,” said JCHS coach Craig Teagle. “We got a little bit of up and down, but I was mainly worried about depth perception and the shooting. I don’t think it affected us too much.
“I think it was probably pretty good that we got there early. They could kind of look around ... and get a feel.”
It was a full day for the Patriots following their lunchtime banquet and afternoon practice. After checking into the hotel and relaxing for a while, they went for another practice session, this time at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI). Then it was back to the hotel conference room for dinner and a team meeting to review the scouting report and watch some film on the Trojans.
This morning, Jay County’s players and coaches will attend the Class 1A state title game between Hauser and Tri-Central before heading for a final practice.
That session will be at Butler Fieldhouse, and Teagle said he expects to spend no more than an hour doing some shooting and a brief walk-through.”
“The kids are real focused,” said Teagle. “Every time we get to the venue where we’re going to work on things I’ve been really pleased with the kids. They’ve worked at it really hard. You know, they’re excited. This is a good time, but they’re a smart group and they know what it’s all about. You’ve got to win one more game to celebrate being a state champion.”
After practice they’ll be ready. Pre-game will be as close to normal as possible. And then the Patriots will play in the state championship game for the first time in school history.
“I expect victory,” said Muhlenkamp. “That’s what I expect, sweet victory.”[[In-content Ad]]
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