I was there cause I love to write, basketball is one of my favorite sports, and I was invited by Coach Smisek to do a Hoops blog for his team. I also knew this would be a new challenge and a tremendous opportunity for me. Call me an “amateur sports journalist!”
When I worked for the San Antonio Express News, I would often drive by the St. Anthony campus on the way home from work and would always try and get a glance beyond the gate; but to no avail.
So, yeah, I was super pumped up since last Wednesday marked the first time I have ever been beyond the gate at St. Anthony Catholic School (actually, this was my first time at any Catholic School). Plus, this was my first High School basketball game I have attended in a long time; the last one was a Clark playoff game while I was attending UTSA. Don’t laugh, but when my wife asked me how long the game and quarters are, I answered, “NO CLUE!”
I actually had to ask one of the students hanging outside where the gymnasium was cause nothing I saw on the campus resembled a gym; he pointed to a brick building and I was like really! It was kinda what I expected the gym to look like…I wasn’t expecting a state of the art facility with a HUGE marquee and enough seating for 10,000 fans! I saw it and was just trying to find the entrance and found myself in a construction zone (there is a new gym being built next to the current gym)!!! One of the construction workers saw me and we both had a good stupid laugh; he pointed me in the proper direction to get to the entrance of the gym…finally!!!
I was really nervous as I approached the entrance (I didn’t go in right away); I mean, this was a brand spanking new venture for me and nobody knew who I was. As I opened the door, there was no ticket office or a lobby full of trophies; just a very nice gal sitting on the last row of the bleachers taking money. She saw my TSRN media pass that was hanging around my neck and said no charge. I had to wait till the quarter ended (the JV team was playing) to find my seat. And, once I found my seat (which just happened to be on the stage behind the basketball hoop next to Coach Smisek) and took several deep breaths, I felt very comfortable and was ready to go!
This was my first time meeting Coach Smisek and he looks the Cake Boss (that is a compliment)!!! We chatted for a few minutes during the JV game. I also met Alejandro Calderon, Director of Enrollment/ Director of Alumni Relations. Both Coach Smisek and Alejandro Calderon were extremely friendly and made me feel at home.
Coach Smisek invited me goto the locker room. Man, at first I was like that would be swell but a few minutes later I turned that offer down. I didn’t want the players to start thinking of me and my words; they gotta play a game!
The gymnasium St. Anthony plays in is called the Hive because the mascot is a Yellow Jacket. It is very small and really old fashioned; nothing fancy. There were 3 rows of bleachers seats with no backs on both sides, a stage behind one of the hoops, and the locker rooms and bathrooms behind the other hoop. In the left corner next to the stage was a teeny concession stand. It passed my ordinance as it had the necessities to survive; food and bathroom!
I didn’t realize how good the St. Anthony athletics has done in the past…there were a bunch of banners celebrating all the accomplishments. Coach Smisek and Alejandro pointed out there banners that they represented. Pretty cool and WOW!!
I eventually migrated from the stage to the first row of the bleachers across from the St. Anthony team. I wanted to sit in the stands amongst the fans. And you know something, it was really enjoyable for me!!! Everybody I met was extremely friendly and chatty.
In my BLOG post I wrote on January 4th, Coach Smisek told me that the Yellow Jackets team are led by Seniors, Jackson Becker and Khalil Howard. He also mentioned San Marcos Home School is a very good team as they are well coached and have big and strong players.
He provided me a roster for both teams which really helped me throughout the game. During the game, I didn’t keep track of any stats; I watched and wrote notes about the game and the players. As the game progressed, I was getting more familiar with the St. Anthony players which is good cause I got 2 more St. Anthony games scheduled.
I didn’t really pay as close as attention to the San Marcos Home School players, but one thing I did notice about the Panthers was the fact they were indeed bigger and stronger than the St. Anthony players. Don’t you think it is awesome that even if you’re home schooled, you can still participate in athletics?
Brandon Brewer led the Panthers with 19 points; his dad was the coach. I am assuming that Adam and Andy Bryant are twins; they both started for the Panthers. There was another pair of brothers (not twins cause that would’ve been really weird) for the Panthers, Ethan and Reid Dedear (there dad was also a coach).
I was clapping for St. Anthony and was talking to myself when I saw a great play or a great shot; I can be bias since I sorta represent St. Anthony!
I never played any sports, so I gotta question for the players….How do you deal with all the voices during a game? Are yall familiar with Coach Smisek’s voice that you drain everything out and focus on the game? I heard Coach Smisek, the opposing coach, the officials, lots of fans, and the Austin St. Michael scouts behind me! I even heard Coach Smisek during time-outs and I am fairly confident the opposing head coach could hear him also. If I had a hoard of people talking at once to me as I sit in my cube at work, I would have a mental breakdown!
The halftime show was very LOUD as 5 members of the St. Anthony band banged there drums. I am spoiled as I am used to seeing bands from both schools during halftime for football games. The San Macros Home School Panthers didn’t go anywhere during the halftime; they sat on the beach and stared at the band. Hey, I am glad they didn’t play Gagnam Style! Watch em play it next game.
Man, I was really impressed with Jackson Becker; dude had 26 points including the games first points. He scored from everywhere.
Khalil Howard picked up 2 really quick offensive fouls in the first quarter (both were questionable calls) and only had 4 points. I could tell just by the way Jackson and Khalil played that they were the head honchos.
I liked Freshmen, Brandon Armstrong; he had 15 points. He hit some threes and had some nice drives to the basket.
David Wright, the big man, battled for rebounds and blocked shots. Along with Wright, the rest of the Yellow Jackets scored 25 points…Matt Caffey, RJ Chavez, Jax Chavez, and Stephen Wallace.
The team played very well together…gotta give credit to practice and the coaching staff.
When the final buzzer sounded, the St Anthony Yellow Jackets got a 20-point win; 70 to 50. The game was really close for the first 3 quarters and then in the 4th, it took San Marcos Home School 3 minutes to get there first points of that quarter (free throws). Nothing was going in the hoop for them and St. Anthony took advantage by making their shots count. St. Anthony’s record is 15-8.
I am used to a 2 ½ hour High School football game, so I was very happy to be in my car at 8:20pm (just 80 minutes after tip-off). I was so excited when I arrived home that I couldn’t stop talking about the game and I had to show all the pictures to my wife. But, don’t worry, she is used to this state of mind from me (she has already been thru 6 High School football seasons with me).
Next Wednesday, January 23rd, I will be at Antonian as the St. Anthony Yellow Jackets visit the Antonian Apaches for the first TAPPS District 2-5A game. I am planning on dragging my official photographer (it’s my Dad) to that game.
On Wednesday, January 30th, I will be at the University of Incarnate Word for another TAPPS District 2-5A game between your St. Anthony Yellow Jackets and the Central Catholic Buttons.
These are the only three games that I have scheduled to attend and blog about, but I would definitely consider attending more St. Anthony games; all I want are comments (I reply to all) and new Twitter and Blog followers!
