FanPost

Pink Whistle: Bergen Broncos 38 Ridgefield Park 15 (sixth grade)

Waldwick, NJ - After a few Sundays working the Hoop Heaven Fall League finally-a girl’s game. A 6th grade meeting, this past Sunday afternoon, between Bergen Broncos and Ridgefield Park travel. You often arrive at the venue not knowing who your partner is. Got their early and about 15 minutes prior to tip my partner arrived. Thrilled to see the blue Ramsey High School pull over as I knew it was Brett Roscoe.

We worked together before and had two enjoyable games. Brett just stepped down after coaching the Ramsay (her high school alma mater) for 17 years. "It was just time for time off," she said. "There is always the chance to go back (to coaching)." She has been officiating about seven years and does an excellent job. Brett played at Niagara University in the late Nineties and early Two Thousands. Since I am an alum and former manager at rival St.Bonaventure we recalled the rivalry and days from our respective alma maters. We joke on how great it is for a Bonnies and NU grad to work together. As a former DI player she has a very good feel for the game and excellent judgment.

The first half of our game saw Bergen build a 16-10 lead. The second half was all Bergen as they rolled to a 38-15 decision. A few thoughts and observations.

RIdgefield Park had a big girl (for grade six). She was about 5’9". Stationed back to the basket at the high post she passed to the wing each time. She might have been better served checking the defense as one smaller defender stood between her and the basket. "She has potential," Brett said. "With the parents yelling instructions from the sidelines the poor girl was confused." She did rebound well and proved to be a main option on offense. Still, there is room for development.

Related to the prior item is practice time. Critics may be quick to call out a coach regarding the situation just noted. Before that it is better to ascertain how much practice time a team gets a week. Gym space may be at a premium and if a team gets say, one night a week, in practice it just isn’t enough.

Bergen had a tough combination to beat. They didn’t have size but there were five girls who could run the floor, put the ball on the floor and shoot. Indeed a luxury at this level. Their 22-5 second half advantage was largely due to transition ultimately wearing down their opposition.

Bergen did not run much half court offense. Not an indictment on the team nor coach. Rather this was a case of taking an opponent off the dribble. If you could not finish look for a weak side cutter. Simple fundamental basketball. Sometimes over coaching can be detrimental to a team’s success.

Some officials, as Brett, also coach. There are times though when an official trades in the stripes for the sidelines the personality changes. I asked Brett how many technicals she received in her career. "Three or four in about seventeen years," she said. By her admission and paucity of ‘T’s’ it was obvious she was more concerned over what her team was doing-not the officials. One incident stood out. "We were playing a very good team that had us by about fifteen points," she recalled. "My girl took a tailor made charge and the official came out calling it a block. I went crazy but still commented on the play minutes later, that got me a tech." The play and the game are well in the past. Regardless, time, score and situation resonate to this day.

An interesting thing about working with Brett is how she makes coaching comments to her partner during a time out. Not second guessing coaches but remarks on situations and the flow of the game. In a sense she is always thinking like a coach while maintaining control of the game.

The big girl from Ridgefield Park was hit with two fouls in the first five minutes. Brett knew and was able to ‘hold the whistle’ and be especially sure before calling any more on her. Moving on she did pick up fouls but did not foul out.

Game over and time to exchange pleasantries and add how much I look forward to working again with Brett. She shared my sentiments. Good teams need and search for a good chemistry. The same is said of an officiating crew-whether two or three are on the game. With Brett there is that chemistry and the result showed is us working the game in what proved to be a smooth and efficient manner.