NEWS

16U Boys Black Break Through at McGregor Cup

By: Brendan Collins

After suffering back-to-back disappointments at our previous two tournaments (One of which was 17u) the 16u Kangaroos Black had a zero pressure, nothing to lose mentality. This being our third tournament of the season we wanted to prove to ourselves, the parents, coaches and every other team that we were not a joke like the first two tournaments may have hinted.

We arrived in Etobicoke Friday evening very anxious to get on the court the next day our second tournament of the year, 16u Boys Macgregor Cup. Friday evening was highlighted by the explorations of a very mysterious hotel that we were staying in. Soon it was time for the routine meeting on the eve of every tournament where we discus personal and team goals and what we need to direct our focus to on the court. The meeting covered an hour¢s length which was longer that usual, meaning of course that we as a team and as individuals were extra focused for the task at hand the next day! Shortly after the meeting it was time to hit the sack. All nestled all snug in our beds with visions of kills and aces dancing in our heads. (Must have been that in-depth team meeting we had)

Then next morning we awoke, ate breakfast then headed toward the gym. We arrived at about 8am and began our warm-up which consisted of dynamic stretching and doing various running drills to get us warm. Our first game we played the Northumberland Wind Breakers where we ended up winning in 3 sets. This win was a huge turning point for our team and it gave us some much needed confidence. We then played Pakmen where again, we won in 3 games. We played well again with some moments of brilliance from different players. Our third game of pool play came against rivals, Pegasus Gunnerz in which is lost some very close sets. The difference from our two wins and the loss was that in those two wins we as a team were constantly talking and communicating. Or maybe we played so well because of all the delicious food the parents provided for us that gave us energy. Thanks to all the parents!

Our 2-1 record put us second in our pool, meaning that we were set to play the Northumberland Heartbreakers. We lost the first set in another very close set. The second set had a different result and we won. Thus setting up ANOTHER third set and it was a very memorable set. It went back and forth for the entire set and everyone was afraid to make a mistake because the way this set was going every point was extremely costly. I know for a fact that I was jumping up and down the sidelines for the last couple of points and I desperately wanted to get back in the back row to play libero but all I could do was watch. Eventually we did pull it out and we felt nothing but joy. It¢s one of the most rewarding feelings to win in a close third set in a deciding match and I think that everyone last one of us would attest to that. After advancing to the semi-finals we waited to see who we would be playing next giving us lots of time to enjoy and then get re-focused for the task at hand. Our semi-final game was against Toronto West. We lost the first set 19-25 but then fought back in the second set to win 25-18 which once again put us ROOS Black into a heart pumping third set. Unfortunately for us, repetition wouldn't follow and we lost this third set 15-10. It was a heartbreaking lost and made us all realize how close we could have been to having a guaranteed podium finish. Crushed, we then had to play in the Bronze medal match without much determination because we had came to this tournament to make the finals not the bronze medal game. We lost to Pegasus 25-10 in consecutive sets.

Overall it was a breakthrough tournament for us in which we saw many ups and downs. Most importantly we saw what we were capable of which gives us lots of confidence for future tournaments. Thanks again to the parents. (Oh and to add more insult to injury, the eventual winners were Pakmen, a team that we had beaten in pool play!).

Click here for photos of this tournament.

 

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