The Power of 'D'
Monday fun-day…
Our CV hoop heritage has shown that this @farside.comics cartoon is spot on!
In the 1994 state finals, for example, the Cougar girls used a high-pressure defense against Souhegan that sparked their offense and helped avenge their only loss of the season—and produced the school’s only girls’ hoop title thus far. The same year, it was Jaime LeFlem’s defensive steal of a last-second inbounds pass by Lebanon that led to championship-sealing free throws for the boys’ team. In 1986, a stifling defense that forced high-scoring Fall Mountain out of its comfort zone for much of the game helped propel the Cougar boys to the school’s first hoop title. And it was said of the undefeated state champion Peterborough High team of 1936 that “the local defense was impregnable.”
On a smaller scale, while there were critical 3-pointers, layups and foul shots in the final minutes of Friday night’s game, it was that same hand-in-your-face “D” by POG Jake Daniels (pictured) and his Cougar teammates that helped turn the tide.
Many things have changed in the high school game over the past 100 years, but some, fortunately, have not. Which is why we love hearing above all other cheers and shouts the chants of “De-fense, de-fense!” coming from our teams’ benches and spectators.
The voices of Conval’s hoop history are shouting it loudly with you.
(Photo: Friends of Conval Basketball)