Follow the underdog blueprint. One seed Catholic Memorial takes a four point lead into the final frame. Sixteen seed Winchester takes care of business.
1. The first play of the quarter serves as an ATO. Coach John Fleming cooks up a beauty with baseline double stagger for a three. "Putting your team in position to win." Note how Winchester is taking the crowd out of the game.
2. CM isn't going 'quietly into the night'. Attacking the basket is still an important part of the contemporary wisdom of threes, free throws, and layups.
3. Elite spacing, filled corners, "drive and dish" and shot making with brilliant multiple actions. And the bench is into it.
4. "Stops make runs." Notice how Winchester converts seamlessly to defense, fully engaged, not celebrating but playing both ends. "Force to tape" action leaves the driver with no place to go. The defense was elite with the 'help side' in great 'shrink spots'.
5.Fundamentals carry the day. Winchester sets up a wing exchange out of the 1-4 high and the defense initially shuts down the drive. But a wing ball screen opens the pick and pop and more shotmaking gives the underdog the lead.
6. "Never bring a gun to a gunfight. Bring a tank." CM powers inside and Coach Fleming is unhappy about the lack of a charge.
7. "There's no restricted area" or is there? As a matter of practice, I think there should be. But again CM gets the call.
8."The defense never rests." Set play with fast break off the free throw and Winchester shuts it down. Note the time and score. CM has 55 with over four and a half minutes left to go.
9. Coaches teach "no direct drives" but stopping it is another matter. You decide.
10."Great teams don't beat themselves." Don't underestimate the importance of reliable inbounding. Here's a "what was that?" moment that's a wasted possession.
11."Great defense is multiple efforts." Winchester stops transition, contains the ball, contests the shot, blocks out, and ends the possession on the glass." That is textbook execution.
12.Excellent teams are opportunistic. They convert from offense to defense and defense to offense. "Chance favors the prepared mind" and Winchester exploits the Golden Moment.