Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots March 16th Edition

By Hartley Miller

    The presumption throughout sports circles in the North Central Zone is that to improve and play against better competition a team should travel out of town nearly every weekend of the season.

In theory, this idea is logical; however it doesn’t always prove true. Take, for instance, the Duchess Park Condors Senior Girls Double A basketball team. Under the watchful eye of Head Coach, Bruce Ballantyne, the 05/06 Condors attended eight out of town tournaments. The results weren’t great, especially for a team that had invested so much time, effort and finances. In fact, Duchess did not even qualify for the City finals; they placed third in the Zones and failed to advance to the Provincials.

In the recently completed 06/07 season the Condors changed their philosophy. This club, weaker (on paper) than the previous year, reduced its travel by half attending only four out of town tournaments.

The results this season (27-11 overall record) were better than the previous year placing second in the City finals, second at the Zones and a North Central best, 6th out of 16 at the Provincials in Kamloops. Isn’t that interesting, less travel and better results?

Ballantyne, Duchess Park’s Principal, tries to put the outcome in perspective: "I think if you are an elite team, such as the Duchess Park boys were last year (Double A provincial champs), then you have to go to the coast and play the Triple "A" teams just to measure yourself. In our case, playing against Vanderhoof and DP Todd, we had a strong zone."

So, why the change in philosophy? Well, it was the players that persuaded the 59-year-old coach (who hints at retirement each year) to ease off on heading out of town. "My seniors said let’s not travel as much. It’s just too hard on us." (missing school, costs etc).

Ballantyne agreed to run just two practices a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. The team played a league game nearly every Wednesday and tournaments on Fridays and Saturdays. The players had Sundays and Tuesdays off. "We did make a definite decision to not travel as much and not overwork the kids. You can get caught up in that 5 day a week practice and that kind of stuff. You know if you have a good two hour practice every second or third day and really work on the skills and keep the kids fresh, it’s amazing what they give up."

Ballantyne, whose booming voice could replace the school microphone, strongly believes he had a more committed group this year. Last season, for example, he carried 13 players, but some of them put hockey or volleyball ahead of basketball. On the contrary, this season he had a roster of 10 players. However, the difference with this year’s squad was that, other than school, basketball was a priority.

As a result, according to Ballantyne the team exceeded expectations, "When we went down there (to Provincials) we thought we could easily lose all 4. People would come over and say you guys just work.  Everybody notices us because we are tiny. It was kind of neat that way."

The Condors have six players returning for next season including Mercedes Van Koughnett, who was named an all-star at the Provincials. Of course, Duchess will be the favorites next season.
"I don’t think we are going to travel any more. We are going to pick our tournaments carefully. Our zone may be a bit weaker so we may have to go to Kamloops once or twice or Yorkhouse (Vancouver) just to see how your stacking up against the Double A kids", said Ballantyne, who insists he may switch roles with Assistant Coach, Emily King next year.

To travel or not to travel? Let the debate continue!

From the quote rack:

"And here we thought the usual procedure was retire, THEN go out to stud." Janice Hough, in the Seattle Times, on reports New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady impregnated a supermodel one month after impregnating an actress."So it turns out Tom Brady doesn’t only see the field the best, he plays it better than anyone else."  Kevin Gleason of the Middletown (N.Y.) Times Herald-Record.

"Nancy Lopez, making a comeback at age 50, won’t have "Nancy’s Navy" with her. They went down with Atlantis." Cntributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

"The Penguins’ new arena will be financed by revenues from Pennsylvania slot machine parlors. So, it looks as if they’re winding up in Las Vegas, after all." Bill Littlejohn

"He’s tougher than a night in jail."  Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke, after acquiring Brad May on trade deadline day in the NHL.

"Toronto police are investigating allegations the NHL Players Association might have accessed and blocked e-mail accounts of players unhappy with the hiring of new NHLPA executive director Ted Saskin. Possible punishments range from five years for intercepting private communications all the way down to two minutes for interference." Dwight Perry, of the Seattle Times.

"Not coincidentally, your 44th birthday comes on Fat Tuesday." Ernie Johnson of TNT, joking with fellow NBA studio host Charles Barkley.

And in case you missed it:

The most valuable players in Major League Baseball last season, Justin Morneau of the Twins and Ryan Howard of the Phillies had a combined salary of $740,000 in 2006. The MVP runners-up Derek Jeter of the Yankees and Albert Pujols of the Cardinals made a combined $34.6 million.

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for  the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.

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