GUT CHECK!!!

Unfortunately the Ribault Trojans loss 47-0 to the Trinity Christian Conquerors in what came to be a very dissapointing and embarrasing performance.Nothing seemed to work from offense to special teams the one spark was the kick return team which played particularly well led by the returners James Branch, Jante Boston, and Lakhalon Holland. So our record now falls to 2-4 with 4 games to go and the season will be on the line this week in our 2nd district game against the Jackson Tigers. This week of practice and leading up to this game is what I like to call a GUT CHECK where you can see who really wants it and has the passion to play as hard as possible, and if they are willing to do anything to win with the season on the line. From friends to family to fans to coaches are waiting for this team to play to their potential until the players decide they are going to play hard and everyone DOES THEIR JOB!! The season will continue to be like this so make a decision: Are you going to step up and show that u can step up and overcome all the odds and fight for your coaches and fellow teammates? OR do your own thing? All in all its time to move on and if you believe like i do true leadership will emerge and we will play together and not selfish.

WHERE'S THE EFFORT?

5 games into the season we are 2-3. Effort is the thing that is missing and the difference between 5-0 and 2-3.Now the players are goin to get a real gut check the one thing that should never take a play off is effort. The coaches are doing a good job with the gameplan the players need to go out and execute. The key to winning and losing is winning the battle of the trenches. As I see the lines have to come together separately and decide to control the line of scrimmage if it kills them. From quarterback to safety thus team needs its playmakers to step up a and make plays. So we can have our first complete game of the season. Its time to really beat a tea soundly nothing is going to be giving to you its time for the players to take it and determine how they want this team to finish. If this team is serious about trying to reach the goal of winning a state championship you have to commit your very being to this goal.Until that happens theirs no real chance of success.

TIME TO GET IT RIGHT

Yesterday varsity played our 5th summer league game of the year to a record of 1-4. To start off the total team effort was very much improved. One thing we have to do is learn how to play through adversity. Have to fight when your down or you are not getting your foul calls. To become a better team use this loosing as a tool so when we are in close games we know what not to do. But the thing is we have to start the game off better than we have the energy and effort needs to turn up from the start and not when we are down big and pressing. One thing I really enjoyed was the play that Rashard Morris had off the bench a lot of energy on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He was the only point guard who actually attacked the basket off the dribble and played really hard on the defensive end of the court played very confident I can only hope that this continues. Now one thing that needs to be improved is the stagnant offense, and being dictated to on the defensive end of the court. The bigs are playing extremely lazy and soft especially on rebounding. Especially on offense watching the ball rim off and not attacking the basket or boxing out. I wonder when someone will attack the basket consistently if I was asked who the best offensive player is right now I couldn’t answer it because no one is consistently getting to the rim. But now it’s time to look forward to the next game and put our best foot forward for that game. No one person can be the hero we have to play team defense and offense and have to get some consistency off the bench to build a rotation and become a cohesive unit. My last point is the team leadership needs to improve or else this season will be another heart-breaker every good team I have been around at Ribault had really good leadership in quite frankly we don’t have it.

WAKE UP CALL!!!

Summer league basketball season has begun to start on a rocky road but theirs still time to turn it around. The one thing that has been missing ever since varsities first victory is effort and intensity. The urgency of winning,battling for every possession, and attacking on defense instead of being attacked. For example, I was sitting down watching the NBA finals game 1 last night and on one possession Kevin Durant had a block on defense then scores a cutting lay-up on the ensuing fast break. This is telling you effort will make you successful and is the key to winning the only person that can judge effort is you and you, but you have to realize it all starts on DEFENSE!!! It's time to put up or shut up time to cutout the excuses don't blame it on the coaching or anything else do whats asked of you and if it is wrong adjustments will be made. Everyday is a new day, every moment is a new moment, every game is a new game its time for a new beginning get better every day. I see players working hard but another thing that needs to be showed is patience the players need to have time to know each others games and also for the coaches to recognize who works well together. One thing i see especially from the bigs is too much walking on the court specifically on the defensive end its time to exuberate all you have on the court if you really love this game you would be giving much better effort its time for a reality check. Look in the mirror and say is this what i really want to do if it is then play like you never have before having your next game better than the last, i don't mean in stats but in effort and smart plays. BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE ROAD TO LAKELAND STARTS NOWWWW!!! In all their are some positives in certain guard play and giving maximum effort at times but lets play hard for 40 minutes, and most of all take no opponent lightly.

The start of something great

The first week is in the books and I have to say I felt pretty good about the first week,but I loved yesterday especially because they put the pads on and we got a feel for who the hitters were and who could take a hit and get right back up.and I felt like there was a very high level of intensity and after every practice I will give you my surprise of the day, best quarterback, and defensive player of the day.but it is still the first week and we have to build off of it. Surprise of the day- Bertram Pratt,and I think he surprised a lot of people by going out dere hitting somebody. Quarterback of the day- Rashard Youmans,to me he was very accurate had.control of team and went through progressions very. But the quarterbacks should be on alert because young qb hardomen is looking to grab that #1 spot but I think it will come down to the end because theirs 4 good qb's and I feel like this is going to b a great competition all spring. Defensive player of the day- Miguel Marquez,he has everything you want out of a db and will allow our defense to be very versatile. - Randy Moss

A GLIMPSE OF WHAT THIS TEAM IS... OR COULD BE?

So Ribault is off and running getting back to its winning ways with their first 2 game winning streak of this season. Not only did they win the game but the victory over Bolles was a district win where the final outcome was Ribault 58 Bolles 47. This game was really a total team effort lead by senior power forward/center and the game MVP:Raynard Felton who scored 22 points tonight and was very aggressive in all facets of the game, but you really have to credit the guards for getting the ball inside and some very impressive interior passing by the bigs. This win was a result of hard nose defense and running the offense by swinging the ball and having patience. This game started off as a pretty close game but eventually Ribault started running away after Bolles basically got tired from the speed of the game and was being harrassed on the defensive end. Furthermore, the key stat of the night is the Trojans were 8-of-9 from the field in the 3rd quarter which is just a product of being efficient and taking high percentage shots. During the game the Trojans penetrated the lane quite often and either had a good finish or just a smooth dish to setup an easy basket. So not only did the efficient offense propel us to a win but also knowing what to do whether its making threes or making layups this was a near perfect game besides some turnovers and bonehead plays.These 2 wins can be the start of something special but it is up to the players to continue to work and play hard. So in the midst of this teams peaking success i will be there every step of the way I am your senior correspondent Randall Moss. My next report will be live from Tallahassee,Florida... I am signing off until next time GO TROJANS!!!

TROJANS EMPOWERED BY A SONIC BOOM

So this is what a win feels like. Been missing this for about a month now thanks to a late game Sonic boom by point guard Keyon Anthony. The Ribault Trojans beat the FAMU baby rattlers 71-69 when was the last time Ribault scored 71 points in a game... Exactly this season has been trying but the team is really starting to click. Furthermore, by slacking on defense Ribault made the game harder than it had to be at the end of the first half the score was 32-19. As all teams do you try to coast to the finish line at one point in the 3rd quarter the Trojans had a 15 point lead but it eventually dwindled down after some key players got into foul trouble and we got lazy on defense. This game was different than any of the others Ribault played together, patient,and as a team. Good things happen when you swing the ball consistently on offense and when you attack on defense. Which we did a fairly good job with in the first half but truthfully this team has alot of work to do and if it will continue to get better the guard play has to step up evn more on offense and especially on defense. You have probably heard this before but truthfully the Trojans go as far as their guard play will lead them. Turnovers are a bit too many and they are silly passes types of lobs and other sloppy passes that are uncalled for you cant be in a rush everything in the game of basketball needs to be done precisely and with meaning. If this team can limit the turnovers and play together these bunch of players will be hard to stop. Their was very good improvements by alot of players one in particular is Keeshaun King who to me had his best overall game knowing when to shoot and take it to the hole but the biggest jump to me was on defense which is mostly effort and just competing on a possession by possession basis . When you think about the scoring it was evenly distributed because of the moving of the ball and just the patience that was exhibited on offense. In essence, when you reflect on the games hero Point Guard Keyon Anthony played a pretty good game besides the foul trouble he s a very high iq player to me he knows when to move the ball, when to shoot, and when to take the ball to the hole. His defense and hustle i compare to only Aaron craft of The Ohio State he is always hustling the fastest and hardest working player on the court. Breakout game?... only time will tell. So as long as this team continues to grow together and play the best they can every night this game will just be the stepping stone for something great. Get ready because HERE WE COME!!! The next victim...i mean opponent on the schedule is the Bolles BULLDOGS start with this game one day at a time. Remember we are a family now lets team together and SHOCK THE WOOORLD!!!