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“The second string really make things happen in practice. They are just as good if not a little better than most of the teams we have played this year. It is like playing three or four games a week when you figure in the practices that we have.” -- Steve Volin
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| “If there’s one factor that’s going to be to our benefit, it’s the people we have to beat heads with in practice each and every day. The thing that keeps the coaches optimistic is that we know we have some real wars gong on in practice.” -- Coach Anderson |
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Armed and Dangerous |
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| War |
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As the 1990 State Tournament approached, Randy Hoffman commented on the strength of the Wahoo team: “Practice is a war.” For those privileged to be in the gym to witness some of the scrimmages, they would have added that practice was “excellent high school basketball played at a very competitive level.” Even opposing coaches recognized the unique competitive character of the 1990 Wahoo team. Schuyler coach Steve Peterson: “They must have some vicious practices with all those guys coming in there.” Ashland coach Bill Parr: “it’s an envious situation in terms of the kids they have coming off the bench.”
Those competitive practices were probably necessary for the 1990 Warriors to reach their ultimate goal of a 3-peat. As the Wahoo varsity rolled to victory after victory, opposing coaches heaped praise on the team. Elkhorn MM Coach, Jim Kane: “They just do an awful lot of things well. I just didn’t see any weaknesses.” Platteview Coach John McGill: “They get you with people at 6-5 and 6-4 on the wings. They bring in guys who are 6-5 and 6-7 off the bench and they play tough defense all game. And they can shoot, too.” Even opposing players were complimentary. Blane Rump of Fremont Bergan: “This is the best team I’ve ever played against.” Such plaudits could easily go to a young man’s head, but the starters on the 1990 team couldn’t afford to let that happen -- there was somebody eager, and possibly able to take their spot. The competitive practices also were contributing factors to the blowout wins. When the reserves got in the game, they didn’t know how to take the foot off the pedal. As Syracuse Coach Leon Bose put it, “They could quit once they get ahead, but they don’t. That’s what makes them an exceptional team.” With all the talent the 1990 Wahoo team had, it would be easy to assume that all Coach Anderson had to do was unleash his team and then sit back to make the tough decision on when to “call the dogs off.” But such a lot of talent can also lead to discontent. Seniors don’t want to sit the bench. Players dominating opponents in junior varsity games and scoring 20 or more points are impatient to get onto that varsity court. Many times during the ‘89-’90 season, it must have been hard to take for a player to be going to the bench early in the game due to the score, or sitting on the bench waiting for that opportunity to play. It was tough to face aggressive competition night after night in practice. It was tough to compete aggressively every night and still remain a “reserve.” When Wahoo was first listed in the World Herald in the All Class ranking, Coach Anderson commented, “We just have a lot of kids who can play. That can be a headache or a blessing. Because we have so many, you can’t give everybody enough playing time.” Those nightly wars at practice and the mental toughness produced by limited time on the court ultimately produced a team capable of reaching the highest of goals, a state championship, a third consecutive state championship. Coach Anderson: “I think the state championship was won in our gymnasium from 3:30 - 5:30 in practice.” The 1990 team was well armed and as opponents would soon find out, also dangerous. |