As I’m sure you know our hope is to develop and sustain continuity in the girls’ basketball program at Voorhees by connecting former, current and future players to the tradition of Lady Vikes basketball. For some the relationship to the Lady Vikes program spans many years.

We recognize that, over those years, the nature of things brings us to times of transition. Young players grow interested in basketball. Some join One Voice, eventually transition to high school competition and then again, four years later, transition to their senior year and eventually on to other things. Our hope is that they will one day transition again and return, checking in as alumni, to see how things are going. We want them to know that not only did they create their own experience but they also helped plant the seeds for the experience of others. They will always be a part of One Voice and the Voorhees basketball tradition.

In sports and in business the organizations that produce long term high quality outcomes are those that emphasize building strong interpersonal relationships. We’re better when we are connected. It’s our nature to cooperate and struggle together for the common good. Over the years we’ve established certain rituals to reinforce the relationships between players and bring light to some of these transitions. High school players make the rounds every day to greet the younger players and make them feel welcome, The high school and middle school players mingle while doing our ACL warmups and footwork drills. Once in high school the kids transition to the “other side of the court” where things get a little more serious as they prepare for high school competition. Players who complete 50 sessions are recognized with a black jersey that identifies them as players who have put some serious time and energy into their game. We gather at midcourt at the end of each workout to acknowledge the work put in that evening, or not, and give everyone an opportunity to speak to the group if they choose. When we gather there they stand together, 5^th graders through 12^th graders, reminding us that we are all part of the program – each at a different point in our development – the current and the future players.

As the pre-season moves to an end we traditionally work with the varsity players to emphasize the need for team play and self-sacrifice. We know of their aspirations but also know how hard it is to turn the aspirations into accomplishments. Many times it’s not the technical execution on the court but the quality of their relationships that makes the difference. On our last day they create the end product of those conversations, a visual representation of the behaviors they see as necessary to becoming the team they hope to become. It also identifies the things that will get in the way if they allow it. If they choose to, they can use the visual to assess the status of their work. Are they doing the things they said they needed to do? Are they managing the things they said could get in the way?

With the last day winding down we gathered one last time to wrap things up. One last transition for the seniors. This year we ended with our underclassman extending thanks and personal wishes to each of the seniors. And finally the seniors spoke to the group leaving them with a “gift” based on the wisdom of their experiences.

Unfortunately last Thursday’s snow storm cancelled out our last scheduled workout. We were able to get gym time on Saturday, thanks to Coach Collins, to “officially” close the off season. While we had a decent turnout several players were unable to attend due to other commitments.

So for those of you who could not be there, here are the “words of wisdom” the seniors left for you.

Mary Kate             Colby                     AJ                                Caroline

Mary Kate: Never take any time for granted because even though the days and practices seem long the years are gonna fly by.

Caroline: Cherish the time you have with your teammates because it will never be the same after high school.

Colby: Brought an alarm clock, symbolic of the time you put in and said, the time you play goes by quickly and every time you go to a workout counts, so make the most of your time at practice, give 100% when your there.

Kayla: Always work hard, stay focused, and be looking to improve. There is no one who has a perfect practice or a perfect game and there are always skills you can improve upon to improve your game. Even though the basics may seem boring and it may seem easy to get off track everything will pay off in the end and you will be a better player for it

Jenna: Save these basketball memories because the next minute you’ll be seniors and it’ll be your last season.

                                              Sydney                                        Caroline                 

Sydney: Strive for success in anything you do. Mr. Peterman and Mr. Reilly only want to see us become better basketball players and more than that strong young women. Even though Mr. Reilly may make you run a lot it’s only to make you better and stronger as a person. So save all of pointers and words of encouragement because they are only saying them to help you both in basketball and in life. 

AJ: It doesn't matter if you are bad or good just give 110 percent all the time it will benefit you in the long run because that’s how I was as a player in the beginning. Also cherish your time there because it goes by so fast and you are gonna miss it when it's gone. 

The following day, when the last fall game was over, we met as we always do, to discuss the game. We told the seniors that they were as good a group of players as we have had since the program first started. This wasn’t just coach talk. This is a great group of kids. Their attendance at workouts over the years supports that statement. The team’s commitment to improving on the court has been clearly demonstrated over the past 8 ½ months. In the spring we set out to get better at making more inside shots. They have done that. We wanted to reduce unforced turnovers. They’ve done that. We needed to be able to play man to man defense and improve their discipline in the 2-3 defense. They have done that. Of course they need to continue to improve in these areas but the improvement since last spring is considerable – enough to make them very competitive in the tough Central fall league.

Aware that they fell short last year they were determined to change the outcome this year. This group was able to change their mindset and realize that sometimes more effort is not enough. The effort has to be focused on specific improvements. So far they have been able to do it. They will be challenged, because every season has its challenges, but they seem ready for it. Most importantly they are starting to see the value of playing for each other. There was little or no selfish play this fall. They played in line with their nature – great kids who enjoy each other’s company and truly want to succeed together.

They have leadership, knowledge, skills, athleticism, focus and determination. All that’s missing is an unwavering confidence and belief in their collective abilities. That kind of confidence is elusive for kids their age. It comes with success and embracing the “next play” philosophy. It’s just a matter of time. We hope they enjoy the ride.

A few more pictures of the seniors and their teammates in action, on and off the court.

Bob Peterman