In 2014 both Salesian and Miramonte advanced to the open finals with Salesian winning at SI and then at St. Mary's Berkeley. Miramonte had an equally tough road with beating St. Mary's Stockton at St. Mary's and then Carondelet at Carondelet.
So there is a chance based on history that someone could upset Mitty but again those two teams had players like Mariya Moore and Sabrina Ionescu among others. I am not certain that talent will be laying in wait in the bottom half of the open seeding.
Good points. But let's start off with getting a few misconceptions straight.
First off there is a quite a difference between good and great.
To my knowledge, there is not a
great player or a great team in high school girls basketball
IMO . There are a few levels that separate the good and better teams/players out there. Again that is in my opinion.
Based on my standards and my perception.
Mitty and Clovis West, are two good teams with quite a few good players (with the potential to be great) playing at a level or two higher than other good teams like say a Carondelet. What separates them is not just the personnel but their
standards. Their
attention to detail and the fact that
they don't accept or overlook any and everything. Just as players can get better, coaches can get better. The best coaches work to improve their coaching knowledge and ability. They are not going to continue to just stay the same. They will not be satisfied win or lose with just doing the same things (that aren't working and aren't acceptable over and over again). And that is why they continue to improve.
They set the highest standards for themselves and their team.They then take a more critical look at their team. And changes are not talked about but implemented instead. Standards can be increased. And "
everyone" has room to improve.
The first and most important rule in my "Win Anyway" philosophy is
don't beat yourself. If your focus is on you and your improvement, your gonna get from point A to Point B much faster. So there is no need to put the focus on beating someone else.
Some teams should be given an award in beating themselves as they do it so well it should be recognized.
Based on what I saw last night and continue to see(unless CW is placed in the North) Mitty is clearly coasting to and winning the Norcal championship. Both Carondelet and Salesian, two of the top teams in Norcal, and everyone else, look to be very long shots at upsetting Mitty unless they make some changes in their approach. Especially Carondelet. I can't speak on Salesian and others. I haven't seen them or their potential as much to have the best grasp on their habits or potential. But I have seen Carondelet. I've already talked about Carondelet's need to improve its half court offense and ball movement.
Edit......... because some want to make a mountain out of a molehill.
Carondelet's coach has been working at teaching all players how to as he puts it "row the boat in the same direction". So his expectations are pretty clear. I agree with him on the need for team unity.
Why did Mitty get better and become a top team?
Mitty and Sue Phillips did a superb job recognizing the need to make a few adjustments in the positions and roles players played instead of staying the same. That again (coaching) was the big difference maker. Sure Mitty would have been fine with the starters they had and the player(s) they had playing point guard and other positions. They were winning the way it was, but she
set higher goals, and needed to change to get better. Sue recognized the upgrade the team would have by doing what was in the best interest of the "
team" so she made the switch based on skill, team need, and personnel. That made them elevate a level or two from where they were. Before that minor adjustment( with the same personnel) they were a good team about on the Carondelet level. But
she took the "same roster" and did what was best for the team and that made all the difference.
She made a better team out of the same roster. That again is good coaching and it can't be down played. It started with putting in place higher standards. Then setting higher goals. Then implementing the changes not talking about them.
If Carondelet wants to move their play up a level or two it won't be by ignoring where they are weak and just assuming it will fix itself because guess what.... it won't. If they however are willing to take a critical look at themselves and not accept anything less than the best from and for themselves, they can and will move to the next level. They have the roster to easily fix their weaknesses. But the
standards have to match the level of play you desire. I think the coach has been doing a good job and so has the team. But they haven't won state or the Nike TOC, so they can't be satisfied. To get to the
next level they must
both continue to get better. To get better "
change" has to take place. Just food for thought coming from
my opinion.
