New Trier 11 - JCWP 9

In the final game of the tournament, the Cats came out flat against host New Trier, going to halftime down 9-4, the most goals the Cats allowed in any two quarters all tournament. Afterwards, the boys all felt like they were not focused before the game, having just played eventual champion Loyola very close. New Trier came out blazing and it took until halftime for the Cats to finally bring their intensity around to match New Trier's.

The second half was won by the Cats 5-2, but it was too little, too late as New Trier held off a late surge to claim the victory and second place in the tournament. Your Jungle Cats took third with a 2-2-1 record.

Thomas Morgan was named offensive player of the game for his strong offensive effort and best defensive effort so far this summer.

The boys learned a lot this weekend. We improved each game (except for the 1st quarter of the last game) and we came together as a team. The boys got to know each other and their coaches a lot better and the "deer in headlights" look in their eyes were gone by haltime of the first game (as observed by Mr. Savio). The crash defense has come a long way in just a few short weeks and we are starting to figure out when to stay and when to go. Offensively, we have also made leaps and bounds by moving the ball down to the wing and generating ball-side drives. 6-on-5 needs a lot of work as we had over 20 chances and only one or two conversions. But, you don't draw 20+ ejections without doing a lot of things right.

Tidbits:
- One field block makes you part of the "Swat Team". Five field blocks is a "Block Party", although Michael Slaughter may just call out "Yahtzee"
- The "wing-out club" is still stuck at two members
- Michael Bowers was apparently born with a beard
- Peter Buelter looks good in sunglasses, even indoors or in the middle of the night
- Savio, Sullivan and Slaughter are the worst morning people and cannot be in the same rooms in California
- Most people walk away from a group when they get a phone call, Aaron Adcock stand in the middle of the group and just talks louder
- We hit a major thunderstorm on the drive back. In our car, we popped on the radio because we weren't sure if we were about to run into a tornado. The emergency broadcast system warned us of 60 MPH winds and to seek shelter immediately. The storm was described the storm as full of "dangerous winds, damaging hail and deadly lightning". We experienced these things for about 90 seconds of terror driving 30 MPH through the chaos, but then the storm dissipated and we just kept driving. Quite exhilarating.
- In my car, we listened to a rap CD put out by Macho Man Randy Savage. It's hilarious. The title track "Be a Man" might have to be the theme song for the team.