Monticello High School, our across the street neighbors, enrolls over 1,300 students. Last season, our JV Boys Basketball team played them twice - once at Tandem and once on the road. While the Badgers played hard, neither game was close, which was to be expected, given the difference in size. As the Monticello JV Boys walked across the street this afternoon, they may have imagined another easy win - but this Badger team is different - and Tandem made sure that nothing was easy for their opponent throughout their home opener in the Badger Den.
On Saturday, December 6, Coach Ned took two Tandem runners to compete in the 3200 meter race at the Liberty High School Invitational Indoor Meet - junior Hayes B and senior Daniel B. It was the first indoor meet for either runner, and they both ran so well. Hayes came in 1st and Jack placed 12th in the 3200 in a meet that included runners from over 125 schools from all over the state, including local Albemarle HS, Western Albemarle HS, county schools from Madison, Greene, Nelson, Fluvanna, Louisa and more, and many large independent schools. Click here to watch Hayes close the last 300 meters to WIN the 3200 in 9:25:09! What a kick!
Right off the opening tip, the Girls Middle School Badgers immediately got into position. In Sam's first start at the point guard position, she played all 24 minutes and served as the maestro for the team. Sam brought the ball up the court, set up her teammates for quality shots and provided an outlet if they got trapped. The team has been working for the last several weeks on triangle, our half court offense. Sam got the ball to Hattie on the wing, who sent a perfect pass to Zoe in the corner. Hattie then raced to the block, got the ball back and shot it! As a coach - well - I couldn't believe it. They ran the play, perfectly, on our first possession of the season!
The Badgers enjoyed an extended break during the Thanksgiving Holiday, and JV Boys Basketball remained active. Keeping the team locked in, Coach George gathered the squad for practice during the weekend, and that hard work paid off this afternoon.
The man in the middle, Dalin was dominant in the opening period. He scored 10 of his 16 points in the first, and there was nothing Miller could do to stop him. Dalin used his back to the basket post moves, while also beating defenders off the dribble. The Badgers scored 20 in the first quarter, took the lead, and never looked back.
At the end of our admissions information sessions, Gordon always describes his experience at Tandem as the most incredible movie anybody has ever seen. "Today, you got to see the trailer," he tells the perspective families, "but I promise you, the movie is so much better."
Off the opening tip this evening, Quis batted the ball ahead to Sean. Holding the ball above his head, he surveyed the floor, finding Isaac cutting to the rim. Off a beautiful pass, Isaac slammed the ball through the rim with incredible power, easily the most epic first basket of the season any of us have ever seen!