Our season started out very early in April (2006) with background work in weights training, One-on-One & scrimmage games. We identified the players’ weaknesses and worked on them on an individual basis. One of the main faults was in the Psychological area, which I identified early. I included ‘Psychological Preparations’ as a very important part in my programme.
Both the A & B teams qualified for the Quarter Final round. The ‘B’ team did not win any of their three quarter final games. The A team on the other hand lost their first quarter final game to St. Catherine High but rebounded to beat Meadowbrook & St Georges (who beat us in the qualifying round) to advance to the semi-finals. We lost to the eventual winners, St. Jago, by 5 points in the Semifinals. We qualified for the All-island competition by being in the top four in our conference.
All –island
Our first game; we journeyed to Montego Bay to play Muschett High whom we destroyed by beating them 77 to 51.
Our second game would turn out to be a classic game of the season! It was against St. Jago High (remember St. Jago?). We scored the first basket of the game then it was all St. Jago (deja vu?). Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did-- the second quarter we went scoreless. By the third quarter we had dug our selves a very deep hole of some 20 points. The team then played their best quarter of the season to come back 20 points to win by one point in the last ten seconds of the game! (Yes, glimpses of KC of old!).
Our third match, we journeyed to Mandeville to play Manchester High. We knew that by winning that game it would put us into the semi-finials. It is never an easy task playing a team at home. The game was a very good one from the first whistle - a sea saw affair until the third quarter when we opened a small lead. Early in the fourth quarter our captain fouled out of the game but there was no stopping us as by then we had seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Our slim lead grew by the end of the game to 19 in the midst of packed venue of non- stop cheering from Manchester supporters. The final score was 63 to 46.
All island Semi-Finals
We played Manchester High again in the semi-final, this time at the National Stadium courts. We totally dominated the game for three quarters but in the fourth quarter nerves seemed to set in and Manchester began to eat away at our large lead but we were able to hold on and secure victory in the end.
YES FINIALS!
Kingston College vs. Belair
School was suspended to accommodate the World Cup Cricket at Sabina Park. This caused a lot of unforeseen problems:
few team members at training sessions
Access to training venue limited
Transportation
Also with newfound success came over confidence and complacency marching into our camp!
I instructed the team to assemble at the National Stadium courts at 2 ½ hours (1:30 pm) before the game would be played. (Game time: 5:00 pm).
Then the mother of all problems was yet to reveal herself to us, but showed up on our doorstep just before the finals.
On the Morning of the finals, I went to KC to collect lunches and other items for the team. At about 1:15 pm I headed off to the Stadium. Some minutes after I arrived several of my players came to the venue. I wanted them to make full advantage by doing some shoot around to get ‘acclimatizde’ to the court; but the venue was locked up so I decided to go up to JABA’s office to get someone to open it so we could warm up. On reaching the office, I saw Mr. Remmike the coordinator of Schools basketball. He informed me the venue had been changed to the U.W.I. bowl in Mona! With new time of 4:00pm!
I then called Mr. Channer our Sports Master and informed him about the situation!
He sent the school bus to get us at the stadium. All of my team members were not there when the bus arrived so came we decided to wait on everyone. Then came the President of JABA (the basketball association) Mr. Marlon Nattie (KC old boy). We went on to have some heated conversations geared at informing the school (KC) of change of venue. He told me that the short notice was due to the fact they were watching the rain on a day-to-day basis. He then proceeded to UWI.
While we were still at the Stadium I began to get calls from him that we were late and should get there as soon as possible. I had decided that we were not going to show up for the game, but the calls began to get plentiful and so I changed my mind.(BAD)
When we reached the venue we were not allowed to go through our usual warm up routine. We lost the game by 10 points under some of the worse officiating (refereeing) I have seen in a long while playing in a sea of Belair Supporters with no KC faithful around!
A few days after the finals, I was to find out that Belair knew of the venue change the day before the final game!
I know that we will do our very best to make it back next year.
To Head Master
I am using this medium to tell the Head Master Of Kingston College to inform ISSA & JABA in a formal letter; that We (KC) the basketball fraternity will not take part in any match or game or finals without two (2) days notice to the school in writing via fax or other means. (PLEASE!)
Very Important
Our new Head Master: Mr. Hemmings
Played a very important part in our part in our “Psychosocial Preparations.“ He came and had motivational talks with the Basketball team in Pre-season and was present on many of our games to give the boys pep talks and take part in prayer before the games! My hat off to you Mr. Hemmings! It is a welcome change, thanks to you sir.
Basketball Infrastructure
We at KC need to look long and hard at the facilities available to train our young men. We have fallen far behind with infrastructure compared to our rival schools, and I speak for all sports. If we look at the surface of the court that we train on at North Street it is sheer luck that we are given home matches; it would not be given a pass mark if it were inspected. Take a look at the hard courts next door to us at St. Georges.
Melbourne the key
If we are to move forward in this game we need to look at the Melbourne factor. Once there was a court there but long have those times gone. We have to get this court in working order by resurfacing it and placing rims on the support. Basketball needs to be a part of the school P. E. classes just like football etc.
When these courts are upgraded they should be fenced to keep out or control the student population so no one can use it as a hideout from class and to keep it in good working order.
Funding
Our A & B teams played the vast majority of the season without gears The B team actually played in the old hockey uniforms! History must not repeat itself.
Highlights in the season
* The All island rematch against St. Jago High.
* Our first game of the season against Excelsior A team, we were leading 68 to 8 at half time and the Excelsior Coach pulled the team (did not finished the game).
* The demolition of the then unbeaten Wolmers by KC A team in the first round
* The Quarterfinals game against St. Georges, which we won after losing in the first round to them.
AIM & OBJECTIVES
For 2007- 2008 Season
To win in the ‘A’ ‘B’ & ‘C’ leagues (a clean sweep of all basketball titles)
THE PROGRAMME
Started May 14, 2007
FIRST QUARTER
A & B Teams
One On One Games
Identifying player weaknesses & work on these areas
Psychological Preparations
Strength & Agility training (weight training included)
SECOND QUARTER
(July – August 2007)
During this period we will concentrate on:
Weight training
Running Stairs & Sands
Skipping, Jumping & power Drills
Technical training (catching, shooting, passing drills)
Psychological Preparations
One On One & Scrimmage Games
Players will be encouraged to attend basketball camps put on yearly by visiting coaches from the USA & Canada who are looking to recruit talented players for colleges.
THIRD QUARTER
August – September 2007
This period
Weight Training
Running Stairs, Sands & Hills
Skipping Jumping & power drills
Psychological Preparations
Working on “Defense“
How to Defend
One on One defense
Team defense
1. Full court games (included Practice games)
2. Fast breaks
3. The ‘Plays’ to be used in offence
4. Team Unity
5. Speed Drills
6. Boxing out
FOUTH QUARTER
October – November 2007
Competition should begin around this time
Working on the cohesiveness of the team from Defense to Offence
Transitional Defense
Man to man & Zone Defense
Reinforcing The Offensive ‘Plays”
Practice games
Team Unity
Speed Drills
Shooting Drills
Boxing Out
Psychological Preparations
We will be working to get our KC supporters out to support us at games so we too can have an extra “MAN’ in our corner!
We can achieve our Aim
“The Brave May Fall But Never Yield”!
Coach Jackson can be reached by Telephone: 876-454-8148 or email: apj27@hotmail.com
