Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 | 7:27 a.m.
Story and Photo By Sam Morris, Las Vegas Sun
After leading Green Valley by as many as 10, the Durango basketball team hits the locker room at halftime with a 3-point deficit. A calm pervades the room where one might expect a fire and brimstone speech by coach Deshawn Henry.
"Listen up, gentlemen. First and foremost, we are not implementing what we practiced. We have to execute," Henry says to his players, launching into a five-minute speech about posts, screens, backside rotations and taking charges.
"The other thing we talked about was to move: Move, move, move. We've got somebody with the ball and the others are just watching him. Move."
Two quarters later, the Trailblazers and their fans shriek in anguish as a last-second shot from the perimeter by Durango junior Marcus Falley bounces twice off the rim before hitting the floor and leaving them on the short end of a 58-57 score, their second 1-point loss of the season.
After the game, Henry talked about his approach to halftime speeches.
"My approach varies on the game, but not necessarily because of the score. It varies because of the team and the energy you sense from them, and you really have to gauge what they need. I felt at today's halftime I didn't need to motivate them, so we tried to correct mistakes," Henry said. "Sometimes they need a cheerleader and sometimes they need a good talking to.
"Dealing with young men, emotions run high and low, so you just try to get them on an even plane."
archive
