Check this out fellas!

Looks like sometime next week for the team gathering - NOT this week

End of the year Pizza

Hi Everyone!

I'll have some info soon about an end of the year pizza gathering.

Coach K

What is so special about this basketball coach at Bishop Barres High School?

Watch the video. Then click on the comments to get the answer.

Individual Player evaluations

The guys have been asking for additional feedback on their skills. We went over some of this a couple of months ago in practice and now its time to update it. All the guys have improved some aspect of his game this year. These are my thoughts and I offer them in order to give the guys something to work on at the end of this season and in the off-season. I'm writing this without the benefit of a discussion with the other coaches. They would probably add some good insights and tweak my analysis. 

- Coach Kloska

Anthony Blum
Strengths: athleticism, hustle, always knows the plays, shot blocking
Areas to work on: making short shots, quickness, big man moves underneath, shooting form

Timmy Greci
Strengths: quickness, ball-handling, hustle, always knows the plays
Areas to work on: shooting form, free throws, defending quick point guards who have good skills

Dillon Heimann
Strengths: focus, posting up underneath, getting to the right spot on the court, rebounding
Areas to work on: power lay-ups, big man moves, quickness

Noa Kakalia
Strengths: defensive effort, overall competitiveness, hustle, being in the right place at the right time
Areas to work on: Shooting form, shot selection, quickness, upper body strength

P.J. Ernst
Strengths: physical strength, competitiveness, taking the ball to the basket
Areas to work on: ball handling, seeing the court, passing

Michael Kloska
Strengths: looking to score, knows where to be on the court, ball handling improvement
Areas to work on: ball handling, upper body strength, shooting form

Stanley Bucynski
Strengths: Hustle, interest in the game, competitveness on defense
Areas to work on: ball handling, mental concentration, just play more basketball to improve "feel"

Kenny Derucki
Strengths: size, rebounding, effort, setting screens
Areas to work on: shooting form, ball handling, focus, coordination

Jeff Shindledecker
Strengths: effort, shooting bank shots, knowing where to go
Areas to work on: ball handling, quickness, free throws

Jordan Eperjesi
Strengths: effort, competitiveness, team player
Areas to work on: focus, ball handling, shooting

More action photos with commentary

Click on each photo to enlarge it.

Anthony skies when taking the ball to the basket. Beautiful athletic form! But notice that he is on the left side using his right hand and elevating with his right knee. Anthony, will need to improve his ability to shoot proper left-handed layups. In high school, there will be guys who will be able to block that shot unless he uses the correct form.

P.J. always makes things happen on the court. Here, he is taking the ball to the hole. However, notice how his eyes are looking down. P.J. knows he needs to improve his court vision by looking around when he  dribbles. There could be someone open in the lane for an easy dump-off pass.

Kenny has really set some good picks this year. Here, he and Timmy execute our play called "Left" to perfection. Notice the textbook screen on Kenny's part and the great use of that screen by Timmy. Timmy is successful using screens because he sets up his defender for them well and he often gets very close to his teammate who is setting the pick.

Note that the Grecis are rapt in attention at the game. They all exhibit great bleacher sitting form. The handsome man behind them is also positioned well, but seems to be distracted by his Blackberry. He was probably texting home to report that his son scored another basket!

My apologies to the players not pictured. I tried to find some photos of Jeff and Jordan but I could not.

Blazers vs. St. Joe Mish

Timmy, Michael and Noa are demonstrating proper defensive position. Dillon is in the right place, but is standing way too tall. He needs to bend his legs and get lower when playing outside the lane. Otherwise, quick offensive players will blow by him. Stanley has gotten beat. This happens to everyone. Fortunately, Timmy and Michael are there to help.

Dillon snagged a great rebound and passed the ball out to a guard - just like he was supposed to do!

Blazers vs. St. Thomas Spartans

Although Timmy made this basket, notice how well positioned Anthony is. He is boxing out his defender perfectly! Had Timmy missed this shot. Anthony would have been in perfect position for a rebound.

Michael is not the guy who is supposed to take the ball out underneath. But I think what happened on this play is that he stepped up and did it to avoid a violation. That was good. But since we don't practice with him taking the ball out, he was not prepared and commited a turnover. This is why it is important for everyone to remember his assignments. Turnovers are bad. Very bad.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Tournament Schedule

We will have regular practices this week. Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Matt's.

I received the tourney schedule. Here it is:

Game 1: Saturday, February 6th at 10:15 a.m. at St. Pius' gym. Our opponent is St. Joe SB Blue A.  Please arrive at St. Pius at 9:30 a.m. We will certainly win this game and then play again the following Saturday.

Game 2: Saturday, February 13th at 10:05 a.m. at St. Monica's gym. Our opponent is the winner of St. Bavo vs. St. Pius.  After we win this game, I will announce the next one.

Blazers Win Again!

We beat Holy Family this morning, 25-22. This is our third victory of the season!  Way to go Blazers!

Blazers vs. St. Anthony at St. Monica's gym

Blazer's Win

We won yesterday!  Lost a first half game to St. Joe Mish and then defeated St. Bavo's. This is our first victory of the season and the first victory these guys have ever experienced in ICCL basketball. Great job guys!

Christmas Holiday Tournament

Tomorrow we have our first tournament game at 11:10 a.m. at Corpus Christi. We should all plan on being there at 10:30 a.m.


If we win, our next game will be on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. at Corpus. We would need to be there by 2:30 p.m.

If we lose, our next game will be Sunday at 4:15 p.m. at St. Bavo. Arrival time would be 3:30 p.m. This is different than what the schedule says, so please disregard the schedule. A league representative has called me and discussed this with me.

We WILL play in the holiday tourney this year

Hello Blazers:

I don't have the schedule yet. Nor do I have the Christmas break practice schedule. But we will practice and have games over the holidays.

All the Best,
Coach K

Practice Tomorrow!

I've gained access to the Holy Cross College gym for a practice tomorrow from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. This will be announced at school today on the public address system at the end of the school day. Please help me spread the news.

Directions to Holy Cross College Pfeil Center

This is the gym we will practice in tomorrow morning:

Heading north on S.R. 933 / Bus 31 go past St. Joe H.S. At the first stoplight, take a left. (The WNDU building is on your right)

Go straight until you hit a stop sign. Take a right.

Go straight until the next stop sign. Take a left.

Follow that road all the way around to the back of campus. It will take you to a parking lot. On the south end of the parking lot (the furthest point away) is the Rec Center. It has a balcony and looks like this:

Drop off between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Pick up at 11:00 a.m. sharp.

As a Man Thinketh...

Every player is required to memorize this poem. P.J. Ernst already has it down pat!

As a Man Thinketh…

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you’d like to win but think you can't
It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a person's will.
It's all in his state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise;
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the one who wins
Is the one who thinks, “I can!”

Gentlemen, never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up!

Welcome to the Team!

Dear St. Matthew 6th Grade Boys Basketball Players,

Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year: basketball season in the great state of Indiana. You have been blessed to be living in the premier geographic location for youth basketball in the world. Being part of a team is a serious commitment. It requires effort, dedication, self-discipline and docility. (If you don’t know what docility means, it means possessing an openness towards learning.)

You may forward the link to this blog to your family and friends if they want to follow the progress of our season.

Here are our primary objectives for the season:

• Learn the skills necessary to play the game of basketball well.

• Practice the virtues of teamwork and an excellent work ethic.

• Develop moral character and build self-confidence.

• Win as many basketball games as possible.

• Have FUN!

Boys, we’re not going to treat you like a bunch of sissies. We’re going to expect a lot out of you. We expect the following:

• You will show up to every practice on time. It is NOT your parents’ responsibility to get you to practice on time, it is YOUR’S. You need to make sure you are not late. If you are late, there will be consequences, even if you have a good excuse.

• You will show up with a great attitude, ready to play.

• You will listen when the coaches are speaking with your eyes on us.

• You will hustle.

• You will be good examples of scholars and citizens at school. That means you will always get your homework done… and done WELL. It also means that you will respect your teachers and fellow students.

• You will be obedient and pleasant to your family at home.

• You will keep a positive attitude, even when the going gets rough.

Here is the roster.
It appears to be 10 very excellent young men.

Anthony Blum

Stanley Buczynski

Kenny Derucki

Jordan Epergesi

Partrick Ernst

Timmy Greci

Dillion Heimann

Noa Kakalia

Michael Kloska

Jeff Shindledecker

Players - Please watch this video

Code of Ethics for Coaches

You may want to review the code of ethics by which coaches must abide. Click the headline for access to this pdf document.

Emergency Medical Authorization

Click the headline to access this pdf document.

Parent and Player Contract

Click the headline to access this pdf document.

Click this headline to read a copy of the official ICCL basketball rules

Parents especially - please know and understand the rules. They are provided in a pdf format. Many thanks!