It’s How You Finish: Wildcats Conclude a Season of the Comeback

“The best way to gauge a team is how they finish, and we finished strong!” Coach Galley told his team upon finishing Oak Creek Ranch School’s last basketball game against North Pointe in Prescott. “We might have started off shaky, but we’re a solid team of solid players. It was an honor to coach you all.”

Coach Galley’s speech couldn’t be any closer to the truth. After struggling through a 0 – 9 start, usually losing by a 20 to 30 point deficit, the team had to dig down deep to find a winning spirit both coaches Galley and Hansen knew existed. In the long run, through steady practice and dedication, the team whittled itself down to an outstanding starting five and solid bench that wreaked a vengeance on opposing teams. Twenty point losses became 20 point wins. A plague of turnovers that haunted the team in previous games were tamed by better ball-handlers and aggressive rebounders. As both coaches agreed—something clicked.

“Sometimes watching our players out there on the court was like watching the film Hoosiers,” Coach Hansen said. “Our bench wasn’t deep—in one game only having four players—but we stuck with it and basically wanted the wins more.”

“There were games when we unleashed Senior Guard Andre G.,” Coach Galley added. “We’d say, ‘Andre, run!’ and it was amazing to watch; drives, jump shots, assists, rebounds, steals—endless energy, that young man.”

Athletic Director George Ireland recalled a game where an opposing coach hollered onto the floor, ‘Andre, slow down!’ “Here was a team getting outplayed by one kid,” Ireland said. “But to not mention the aggressive rebounding by Eric L.—a first year player—and Senior Zach B. is to do them a disservice. There wasn’t a kid out there who didn’t get playing time and who didn’t contribute. Oak Creek defined ‘teamwork’ this year.”

In the end, the Wildcats won the last six of their games, ending 6 – 9. It’s in both coaches opinions that if Oak Creek Ranch School were to play the teams they lost to earlier in the season, the record would reflect a winning record. No matter, the team is a group of champions whose pride shines brighter than any trophy. It’s this trophy, buried inside the heart, soul and memories of the players, that matters most.

-Mr. Nathan Hansen