Slam Dunk

-By Jeffrey Kruczynski, 10/20/2003

As the color of the leaves change from a bright green to a beautiful shade of orange, we know that the autumn season is upon us. People are changing their attire in order to coincide with the temperature, as it descends from hot and humid to cool and comfortable. The fall season to sports fans, means basketball season is on the horizon.

A new era begins this season as Alfred Johnson was appointed the new head coach of the men's basketball team. For the past nineteen years, Alfred has coached basketball to hundreds of students and is an individual with rich experience in all NCAA divisions. "I am very grateful to Sister Francesca and Sandra Michael for giving me the opportunity to coach such a successful program." Last year the Tigers finished the season 18-12 including a heartbreaking loss to Huntington in the first round of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) tournament. With the season approaching, there are several players expected, by the coaches, to have big years. "I think Michael Wild (Senior) will have a tremendous year and his ability to pass the ball is one of the things that makes him a special player. He is a solid swingman and has the capability to be a good leader on and off the court." Ryan Haigh (Sophomore) is a young man that has impressed Alfred in workouts. "I like his work ethic and the idea that he wants to improve as a basketball player. He could possibly be the best shooter on the team. All Ryan needs is a little work on his defensive game and he could be a standout for years to come."

With a new coach, comes a new system. Alfred will institute an aggressive defensive scheme to force turnovers, which Holy Family can transform into fast break points. Coach Johnson plans to use full court, three-quarter court, and half court press with traps. "Of course we will look to get the ball in the hands of our scorers and capitalize from the free throw line. Our goal is to get to the line at least fifteen more times than our opponents", said Coach Johnson. He would like the team to be competitive on a daily basis and build a sense of trust with the players. If the Tigers can perform up to their potential, Holy Family will have a legitimate shot at winning the championship. "We are going to compete."

On the women's side, Mike McLaughlin is entering his ninth year as head coach at his alma mater. During his tenure, the Lady Tigers have been a very successful program. Last year Holy Family ended the season with a mind-boggling record of 30-2, but unfortunately the Lady Tigers lost to Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals of the NAIA tournament.

Mike described his team as, "well disciplined, hard working, easily coached, and self-motivated." One of the key players on this team is fourth year starter, Katie Baun. "Katie is a true point guard who works hard and is an excellent team player." Every year Holy Family has one of the hardest schedules in the country but the Lady Tigers show no fear. "We look forward to the challenge", said Mike McLaughlin. This year, the Lady Tigers look very big on the inside and should be able to shoot the ball from the outside without any difficulty. Once again, Holy Family will play solid defense and hopefully they can bring home a championship at the end of the season. LET'S GO TIGERS!