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I'm a big basketball fan. I spend a vast majority of my waking state playing, coaching, watching, or talking hoops. I try not to let it interfere with work.
The basketball team that I loved as a child, the Philadelphia 76ers, with their legendary players like Wilt Chamberlain and Dr. J, continues to play a major role in my sports awareness and I still root for them from afar. Since living in Fairfield, I've also contracted a mild case of "Hawkeye fever" and try to catch Iowa games whenever I can.
But, to be perfectly honest, whatever emotional attachment I may feel to those teams, it does not even come close to the fun, excitement, and sheer enjoyment I experience while watching one of my kids playing basketball. And this year, the air is heavy with anticipation as not only I, but also the entire Maharishi School community, prepare for a new Pioneers basketball season. New basketball seasons, you see, are just like the Absolute--full of infinite possibilities.
The Field of Victory & Defeat
If you've ever been out to any of the Pioneers' home games at the Maharishi University of Management Field House, then you have experienced a taste of what I'm talking about. If you're lucky, you may have witnessed the uproarious celebration of a Pioneer victory over some brawny lads who represent a rival southeast Iowa high school. Or you may have suffered, along with the rest of us, the excruciating agony of a close loss to a worthy opponent that "we shoulda beat." So much for the transcendental equanimity you've spent all these years cultivating.
It does seems like we've had more than our share of "shoulda, woulda, and coulda's" over the years, but you've got to admit, win or lose, it's clean, wholesome, All-American fun.
The Coach
Harley Carter has had the all-consuming job of mentoring the Maharishi School boy's basketball team for three seasons now. Last year's team finished 7-13 overall and their 6-6 conference record was good enough for third place out of seven schools in the Western Division of the Southeast Iowa Superconference. He firmly believes that this year's Pioneers are about to take it to the "next level," that proverbial basketball nirvana that all coaches strive for. This season, he senses that his boys have got something special.
"We probably have the most talented group of young men coming out for basketball than we've ever had before," says Coach Carter, his eyes twinkling and his smile growing wider. "We've had some pretty good athletes over the years, but I think we have a larger number of pure basketball players all coming into their own at the same time. They're more focused than ever. I really think we have the makings of a very successful basketball program for the next several years."
"The key to our success will be to work hard in practice, play tough defense, and play a more up-tempo offensive game," says Carter. "If we can focus on those basics and let our team's talent take over, we will win a lot of basketball games."
This is somewhat similar to the advice on winning I have jokingly given to my sons and their teammates over the years: "The key to winning is to score more points than the other team." After many years of observing a variety of sporting events, I guarantee that it works every time--except in golf.
The Players
The 1999-2000 edition of the Pioneer basketball team features only one senior, but he's a good one. Guard Paul Strubell, who is also an all-state soccer player, averaged nearly 12 points per game for the Pioneer hoopsters last season. Paul is joined by several younger players, who have solid varsity experience.
Returning starters include the front court tandem of 6'3" junior Ben Stone, who contributed about 8 points per game, and 6'4" sophomore Zach Silverman, who averaged more than 9 points per game last year. (Zach is the second son that I've contributed to Coach Carter's cadre of cagers.)
Juniors who are expected to contribute mightily to the Pioneer effort this year are forwards Josh Meade, Willie Mullenneaux, and the Lisefski twins, Alec and Benek. Rounding out the varsity squad are three speedy guards, juniors Danny Duszynski and Brandon Au and sophomore David Dannemann.
The 1998-1999 campaign ended for the Pioneers when they were defeated by conference rival Van Buren in the second round of the post-season district tournament. It was then that Coach Carter decided to take the entire team to Des Moines to watch the Iowa High School Championship Tournament. Just as he had hoped, the boys enjoyed the fun and hoopla of the state tournament. They studied the top high school teams in the state and they met players who had won basketball scholarships to colleges like Kansas, Purdue, and Northwestern. The coach wanted his boys to have a vision of the possibilities and set a goal for this coming season.
Many of the Pioneer players were inspired to attend a variety of basketball instructional camps over the summer and were anxiously awaiting practice, which began on November 15. "I think this team is ready to go to the next level," says Coach Carter, "I know I am."
The Pioneer faithful, fanatics as we are, are also confident that the team will improve dramatically on last season's 7 wins. The attendance at some of last year's home games approached 800 and MSAE has brought in 250 additional bleacher seats this year to accommodate the growing Pioneer fan base. The fans keep coming back because the atmosphere surrounding high school basketball is great family fun and the Pioneer games have been very exciting to watch.
So it appears that the Pioneers and their fans are poised for that elusive "next level"--the first winning basketball season in MSAE history. When you come out to a game, you'll definitely sense that there is something special in the air that surrounds this Pioneer basketball team. To a dad getting ready to cheer on a son and his teammates in yet another exciting Pioneer basketball season, just call it basketball bliss.
