Day 4: Bowling, cricket and condolences

René Rougeau

Saturday, June 28, 2008 | 9:12 a.m.

(Filed at 10:53 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, Sydney time.)

Hello everyone, I apologize for not getting everyone an update on what’s been happening the past two days. We have been taking in all the sights of Sydney to the best of our abilities.

I’m sure everyone is asking what in the world happened in the first game vs. the Sutherland Sharks?! Not making any excuses, but each player on our team was no doubt jet-lagged. Just completely out of it.

I used to think the Thomas & Mack Center was cold until we walked into that freezer of a gym Thursday night. LOL. You know it’s a rather icy environment when everyone is bundled up in coats, sweats and hoodies. Around the third quarter we finally picked it up and took the lead. We looked to be in control for the rest of the game. I think we might have gotten a bit too comfortable even though our lead was only five.

That’s when things started to turn for the worse for us. It seemed like our focus wasn’t in the game and we just fell apart. We made comebacks and I thought we played good defense, but it was not enough.

On the way home I sat and thought about how I could have helped more and told myself that I wouldn’t let that happen to our team again.

The next day, after a good night’s rest, Kendall Wallace, Wink Adams, Scott Hoffman, Mo Rutledge, Matt Shaw, Tre’Von Willis and I all went to Darling Harbour to get some lunch and go bowling.

There was quite a bit of trash talking going on so we could only settle one way. I’m not going to say any names, but I have to give it to Wink as the best bowler on the team because he eventually beat us all.

He bowls all the time though. He’s a regular at the sport; he even talks about going pro after his basketball career is over. I’m not the best bowler but I did a good job hanging with the guys, especially since I haven’t bowled since last summer.

It was a fun time for us and I felt like all the guys were really coming together as a family, seeing that it’s just us out here by ourselves.

As we bowled and were having fun, we were also talking about the upcoming game (Friday night), and how we really needed a win because we knew what to expect and that it’s only going to get tougher each game.

Everyone definitely seemed more focused and prepared the second time around.

Our trip over to the gym was one that I will never forget because it took forever just to get there. I kid you not when I say that the bus ride was literally two hours long. We left our hotel around 4:30 p,m. and did not get to the “Snakepit” (the name of the gym) until 6:45 pm.

I think that was the farthest I have ever driven just to play a basketball game. I huddled all the guys up and reminded them about the previous game and how we really needed a win because it would be the longest drive back ever if we didn’t win.

The court was on the same level of the previous gym we played in and I definitely have a great appreciation for all of our facilities back in America. The team we were playing was bigger and better than the previous team we played just by looking at the big guys on the other side of the court from us. These guys were not only bigger than us; they were much older than us also so I had a feeling it was going to be a very physical game, which it was.

I thought we were playing rugby for a minute, that’s how physical it was!

Guys were hitting shots early and playing much better team-ball from the start, so I had a good feeling we would win because everyone was locked in and focused and hungry to win that night.

We finally picked up a good lead, which we had talked about before the game and we were in control the entire game. I was very happy to see my fellow senior Mo Rutledge really get things going and once he started, no one was going to stop him.

He was a beast on the boards, he was hitting shots from the outside and finishing down low as well. I can tell that his confidence is higher than ever and that’s a great look because as seniors we need to set the tone for our younger players.

Wink played well as usual and showed his leadership through his game. While I’m the more vocal one on the court, he just lets his game do the talking. Seeing Wink play hard makes me want to play even harder, too, because one player alone cannot get the job done.

Unless you’re Michael Jordan, and even he needed help to win.

Tre’Von stepped his game up tremendously compared to the previous game. He was aggressive, played great defense and did a good job of the running the team from the point guard position.

Kendall was hitting big shots and running our team well also. The more we play, the more confidence he gains.

Joe Darger was doing his usual banging and hitting shots for us even though it seemed he had Vaseline on his hands because he couldn’t hold on to the ball, LOL.

I still love you Joe, you know you’re my boy! Ha-ha.

Beas is getting better every game and getting used to our fast-paced tempo. These games are very good for him and Tre because they are getting used to playing with the returning players from last year’s team.

As Beas’ roommate, I try to talk to him before, during and after the game, just to make sure he’s comfortable with the system and also to see how he feels out there playing.

There was a specific play where one of the big guys was looking to set a monster screen on me and Beas had my help. The big guy gave Beas a nice shove in which they called an offensive foul on him and it was our ball.

I saw Beas talking a little trash to the older, bigger guy, and it was good to see that he wasn’t going to back down from anyone. Good Job Beas! I love it!

No one is going to walk over our team, especially not on my watch! Even though Matt can’t play, his presence is still felt because he’s always talking to us on the court and letting us know what we need to do better.

Thanks coach Shaw.

Scott did a good job of hounding the point guard while bringing the ball up and was looking for his shot, which is what I want him to do. As an upperclassman, Scott will get his chances to play and I have a good feeling that he will hold it down while he is out there.

Scott and I are the only two players left from the team that were here when coach Kruger first arrived, so for us to have key roles on the team is a great feeling.

Scott just found out this morning that he lost his grandmother, which is always hard to deal with. I know exactly how he feels for I have lost all of my grandparents. My prayers are with him and his family, and he knows he can always talk to me.

I would like everyone to send Scott their condolences and help him get through this tough time.

Whatever I can do to help the team win is fine with me, whether it’s rebounding, defense or being aggressive on offense. As a senior, coach looks to me to be one of the leaders for the team, meaning I have to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Even though it’s only summer, this tour is very important for our success this upcoming season.

It’s Saturday morning as I write to you, and we have our final game in Sydney today. Mo and I bought these calling cards for a great deal so now we are able to talk to family and friends back home.

It is always good to hear the voices of the close ones to us because I feel that’s what keeps us going at times. My girlfriend, Celene, is someone I talk to about everything so it was very good to hear her voice. I also talked to my mother and father back in Rancho Cucamonga, (Calif.) and with my best friend, Jason McClure back in Rancho.

Oh yeah, how could I forget. I think I’ve watched enough rugby for the rest of my life! I am a big fan of cricket now - I can’t get enough of that sport.

I’m anxious to play today even though my body is drained from the time change and the two consecutive games we’ve played. But you can never get tired of winning.

We take off for Brisbane on Sunday, so I will talk to you all once we land in Brisbane. Wish us luck! Hope everyone has a good day and God Bless.

Go Rebs!

- #24 R.R.