Brea vs Vanden
- Thread starter jazzpt55
- Start date
And Brea won this same bracket last year. If you won the same bracket last year, you need to move up the following year. That tells me a lot about this coach. Brea beat Woodside Priory by 26 points in round 1, and beat Heritage by 42 points in round 2. Now Brea is beating up Vanden. Next year Brea "must" be placed in the Platinum bracket.
My bad. Actually Brea won in the "Diamond" bracket last year. This year they played in the "Gold" bracket.
Last year 2015, in the Diamond bracket Brea beat McClatchy in the 1st round by 17 points. Brea went on to win the bracket, and McClatchy won the Consolation game in the bracket.
This year 2016, McClatchy moves up to the "Platinum" bracket and wins the Consolation game in the bracket again. This year, Brea stays put or moves down from the Diamond bracket to the Gold bracket and easily wins the bracket again without a sweat.
One important note re Brea: It was expected that it's outstanding 6-1 center, Kris Marsh, would be returning for her junior season. She didn't. She had to transfer to a school in Texas where her parents were transferred. With Marsh anchoring Brea's inside defense and offense, there is no doubt they should have been placed in the highest WCJ bracket. Without her, doubts about their physicality and toughness persisted. Frankly, it's not entirely clear how strong they really are even now. Sonora beat them, after all. Their inside game remains somewhat suspect even with a 10-3 record. Going forward, we'll see how they perform in Orange County and beyond.
I saw Brea in Arizona as well as last season. Brea did not look even half as good overall as a team this season as they did last season. R. Richardson was hard to replace no doubt. They did have a couple of girls who were pretty good and seemed to carry them in the one game I saw in Arizona. Perhaps they were missing a player or two when I watched them in Arizona? Because I didn't get the impression they were 40 points better than Heritage and Vanden? Actually I though the matchups and final scores would be much closer and would not have been surprised if Heritage upset them. And I had Vanden favored by about 12 to beat them. Does anyone know what happened? Were Heritage and/ or Vanden missing players? Did someone get in foul trouble? Was the Brea coach just out coaching his opponents? Something isn't adding up.
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In a nutshell, it was Brea's relentless, focused, intense defensive effort, particularly over the last 60 or so feet that did the trick for them. Their guards and small forwards were so committed to defending (usually in man and according to the scouting report) that all four teams they faced in the East Bay could not function offensively. It was impressive. Brea has a collection of small and medium-sized kids who are dedicated to making life miserable for opponents. One of the results was a steady stream of Brea layups and short field goals. And they have two outstanding three-point shooters as well. None of its four local opponents had enough savvy ball-handling to solve that non-stop defensive effort and occasional long-distance bombing. So Brea's deficiencies were masked very nicely. No one got inside with much consistency because post players couldn't get the ball where they needed it. So Brea's post defenders (none is an obvious dominant aircraft carrier) weren't tested much in the half-court. Frustration built and Brea kept coming with more quick people off the bench and things just got worse in each ballgame. Again, it was somewhat surprising. The margins in all four games were stunning. None of the four had even a hint of a chance by halftime. What's more, Brea didn't foul all that much. And, when Brea kids were fouled, they made their FT's. One more thing: Pressing Brea was a big mistake. They broke presses down with ease and scored with regularity. They thrived in the open court offensively. How strong is Brea? The jury is still out. In Orange County, they remain vulnerable. Opposing coaches spend a lot of time devising ways to deal with Brea. The competition is pretty tough in SoCal. Because of its long history of success (10 state titles) which spans a full generation now, Brea has a big target on its back. So far, 2016-17 has worked out well for them. But the season has just begun.
Colhenrylives,
So Brea played with the same players they had in Arizona and ripped each Norcal team they faced apart like that? I saw them lose to Miramonte in Arizona. I know Kelly Sopak and others on Miramonte coaching staff do a fine job game planning, adjusting during the game, and getting the most from what they have..... but based on the talent I saw, it's hard to believe Brea would beat Vanden, Heritage, and Woodside that easily. I would think Julia Blackshell- Fair would have been a bit too much for Brea? Perhaps Brea is better than I thought?
Oh I just checked the roster and saw #35 Tyiona Watkins is still on Brea this season. She was IMO their best athlete/ inside returner. They also have #20 Jasmine Rachel. I was told Watkins transferred out along with another good player or two? I guess that was false. And with that fact and those two players, Brea still has a couple of legitimate threats on the floor. So that explains the need for coaches and teams to need to account for them in preparation and during game time adjustments. Most of the better teams have 2 or 3 players that do the bulk of the heavy lifting and scoring for their team. So I would say Brea is only 1 player away from being as good as any team out there.
So Brea played with the same players they had in Arizona and ripped each Norcal team they faced apart like that? I saw them lose to Miramonte in Arizona. I know Kelly Sopak and others on Miramonte coaching staff do a fine job game planning, adjusting during the game, and getting the most from what they have..... but based on the talent I saw, it's hard to believe Brea would beat Vanden, Heritage, and Woodside that easily. I would think Julia Blackshell- Fair would have been a bit too much for Brea? Perhaps Brea is better than I thought?
Oh I just checked the roster and saw #35 Tyiona Watkins is still on Brea this season. She was IMO their best athlete/ inside returner. They also have #20 Jasmine Rachel. I was told Watkins transferred out along with another good player or two? I guess that was false. And with that fact and those two players, Brea still has a couple of legitimate threats on the floor. So that explains the need for coaches and teams to need to account for them in preparation and during game time adjustments. Most of the better teams have 2 or 3 players that do the bulk of the heavy lifting and scoring for their team. So I would say Brea is only 1 player away from being as good as any team out there.
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So in hindsight, based on what we know now, based on the 26, 42, and 41 point blowouts against good teams (Woodside, Heritage, Vanden), and based on last year's 2015 WCJ results when Brea won the "Diamond" bracket last year, should Brea have stayed in the "Diamond" bracket this year? Play in the "Platinum" bracket" this year? Or play in the "Gold" bracket that they actually did? Thoughts?
I think it depends on what the coach of Brea felt was best for the team's confidence and development. If the coach had no choice in the matter, and we based it on what we now know and the results of the team's success and easy time in the gold division we should have let them take the one or two loses in the Platinum division.
Indeed. A lot of folks tend to ignore team defense (not to mention rebounding) and focus almost entirely on offense. With teams like Brea, that's a big mistake. Their defense becomes their offense with regularity. Apparently, their four NorCal foes weren't ready for them. That's typically not the case among the better units in SoCal. Brea is a known commodity there and well-coached opponents prepare for them accordingly. It appears more than likely that they will wind up in a SoCal numbered division when regionals commence, as they did a year ago.
From a tournament perspective I would say Brea, Miramonte in the Platinum and PV and Sac in the Diamond would have been better for us fans.
Coaching is very underrated. Most coaches just approach every game the same and not consider each game and each opponent separately. They are more moved by their stubborn ego which has fooled them to believe it's all about their system and the one way and one shoe fits all approach. That is why most will continue to win most of the games based on talent advantage they should win and never be able to upset teams that are more talented or experienced than they are. My "Win Anyway " Philosophy says consider each circumstance and use anyway that works not just the absolute one way only ego approach. Many are catching on and dropping the ego a notch or two and receiving the benefits and advantage others don't.
Thanks for sharing your perspective and insights.
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You had Vanden favored by 12 over Brea and they lost by 40?
I may have to question the formulas you use for your PAYTC POWER RANKINGS.
You had Vanden favored by 12 over Brea and they lost by 40?
I may have to question the formulas you use for your PAYTC POWER RANKINGS.
I never said I was always right. Smile. Or that anyway worked all the time. That is why I encourage using "anyway that works" not my way or any one way. And being open minded enough and flexible to consider each circumstance separately.
As far as power rankings go, I don't give a team Top 10 power in the rankings, until they actually make an achievement of significance. Brea and Vanden are not even considered on my top in the nation list. Not at this point anyway.
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No. But I would love to team up with a few of you to create such an app. We all have different perspectives, knowledge, skills, and talents. Lets make it happen. I'm open to the help. bhaps1@netzero.com is my direct email.
I don't think coaching is as difficult as many others do. That's just my opinion. I don't think "girls" High school coaching is much of a jump from CYO and so call Beer leagues. It all boils down to support, leadership, and accountability. Name the successful coach on any level and I'll bet they have great support around them. Some coaches are better than others. Very few do more with less. Those are the great ones in my book.
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It really depends on how much of a leader you are. If I'm coaching, I'm leading, or I'm not coaching period. I'm accountable because to me that is what real leadership is about. My neck is voluntarily placed on the chopping block because I don't know anything about scared coaching, since I don't see sports as life threatening. And I'll take the blame and give the players credit since they have to be the ones to execute. I'll put the players (those who must execute) in the right lanes based on size, talent, and match ups. I'd manage the game not the players so much, and keep my ego out of the way. I'd empower and encourage the players not micro- manage them to create on the floor leadership. I encourage and point out what they can do( and are doing right) not harp on what they can't do, or are doing wrong like a finger pointing, excuse making, scared coach. Making mistakes are a part of learning and adjusting during the process and experience of getting better. I'd encourage them to not be or play scared or dumb, because I'm not scared or dumb, and I don't see the benefit of playing or being timid. But I understand many others get unnecessarily nervous and anxious about coaching, I just don't agree with it. I guess that is why some players and some coaches get more nervous than others come game time or in the higher profile games. That many times is one of the main things that separates coaches and players come game time. And why some are better playing and coaching in practice and easy games than others who are more pressure and big "game time " acheivers. It's also why I wrote the book(s) to help both coaches and players who need it. And to close the gap between the players and coaches relationship, to help all get better. Since the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. And there is not one person on earth regardless to position, title, or status that doesn't have room to improve.
I would let a parent know where they fit in and where they didn't. Some could actually be helpful. Whiles others are egotistical, selfish, trouble making cancers the team could do without.
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I've never ran a tournament but here is how I think this exchange with Brea
Brea wants to play in a certain division for any number of reasons.
Tournament staff ranks the teams entered on the field and tries to create competitive brackets throughout.
The two sides "meet on the middle" or the team moves onto a different event.
Better to have Brea in the field than not in my opinion
Brea wants to play in a certain division for any number of reasons.
Tournament staff ranks the teams entered on the field and tries to create competitive brackets throughout.
The two sides "meet on the middle" or the team moves onto a different event.
Better to have Brea in the field than not in my opinion
That sounds reasonable to me. Obviously those running the WCJ are doing a good job and we are all very fortunate to have the tournament right here in our own backyard. But of course you can find anything your looking for in any person or any organization. I think it's better to focus on the positives which there are too many to count. Thanks Clay, Harold, and the many others who have helped make the event a consistent success. I will have to see what it is I can do to help because we really are all winning with it providing a platform for so many young athletes.
Cheers and Happy New Years !
Thanks for the kind words -- Jeff Sink of Brea actually asked, very late in the process, to be moved up, but at that point any move would have required negotiations with multiple other coaches on matchups and overall bracketing, and we simply didn't think we could make it happen. One reason was that we were dealing with multiple teams dropping out after Thanksgiving (the last one the Friday before the tournament began).
We're thinking about tweaking the process next year to put the brackets out later but, among other things, that means the brackets wouldn't be in the program because of deadline issues.
We're thinking about tweaking the process next year to put the brackets out later but, among other things, that means the brackets wouldn't be in the program because of deadline issues.
Sounds great. I think since 95 % of the folks who pick up a program will have a smart phone you could consider printing in the program under the bracket's section.... "please go to WCJ official website for possible last minute changes to the schedule".
It is never going to be 100 % perfect. All you can do is continue to tweak it each year in an attempt to improve an already very impressive event.
