Motivation is something that drives you from inside. But when it comes from outside, it can stem from a local team on the road to success.
Syracuse basketball is an easy reference, especially for boys high school teams. This year though, local girls teams are looking to the Orange women as a team they'd like to emulate.
“For the longest time I think everyone was motivated by the men's team,” said Skaneateles coach Bob Braunitzer of the Syracuse basketball program. “But now with the latest success of the women's team we're motivated by that.”
Cato-Meridian recently attended the Orange women's game versus Sienna, hoping to learn some of the schemes they run.
“I went to a clinic and Coach (Quentin) Hillsman was there and I was pleased with how he ran his offense,” Blue Devils coach Charlie Balog said. “So I decided to take the girls to a game so they could see how they run their stuff and see what they could pick up from it.”
Now ranked No. 22 in the nation, the Orange are 5-2 in the Big East and almost beaten that record by nearly upsetting No. 1 UConn at the Dome two weeks ago.
“Our Bill Delaney program took the younger girls to that game,” Braunitzer said. “I was unable to go because I was scouting Tully that day.”
The Lakers are planning on going to the Dome for another game this season, while Weedsport has been invited to watch Syracuse take on Marquette on Feb. 10.
“The girls asked me if they had to wear our Weedsport colors or if we could support the orange and blue,” Warriors coach Chris Vargason said. “I told them it was orange and blue day at the Dome so they could sport the orange and blue.”
Cato-Meridian already showed their support of the Orange, who are ranked for the first time in school history.
“I called the University up to try and arrange us going to the Dome as a school to recognize,” Balog said of the team's trip. “They told me all we had to do was wear orange and be loud. So the girls got orange wigs and dressed up and were very loud.”
Supporting the women's team has been easy, a lot of local coaches say, by the affordability of the ticket prices.
“The women's program is very smart with the ticket pricing,” Braunitzer said. “It's affordable to bring a bus down with your team and watch the game and show your support. Plus you're pretty close to the action so it's a lot more fun.”
While supporting Syracuse has been a lot of fun for local girls team's this season, it's also kept some teams grounded.
“Right now the biggest thing is to keep the players focused though, on our season,” Vargason said. “The Marquette timing is great. It gives us a little break from everything, but then after we can turn our focus back on to sectional play.”
This season, the Blue Devils are trying to build their program around fundamentals and compare it a lot to the Syracuse women's team.
“Unlike the men's team, they don't have big name players that can make impacts on their own,” Balog said. “They focus around their team and let them do their stuff together. That's what I'm trying to get started here.”
The Lakers also focus on plays and situations that are run by the Orange as they try to repeat their success from last season when they reached the Section III, Class B-2 finals.
“We will watch a game, and then at practice the next game go over situations that came up,” Braunitzer said. “After it all happens and the plays come up it all makes sense to us. We see it spilling off into the games and that brings a smile to me.”
One way or another, the success of this season's Orange women is something every local girls high school basketball coach can look up to.
“Watching them play as a team is great for all high schools to try and emulate,” Balog said.
“For the longest time I think everyone was motivated by the men's team,” said Skaneateles coach Bob Braunitzer of the Syracuse basketball program. “But now with the latest success of the women's team we're motivated by that.”
Cato-Meridian recently attended the Orange women's game versus Sienna, hoping to learn some of the schemes they run.
“I went to a clinic and Coach (Quentin) Hillsman was there and I was pleased with how he ran his offense,” Blue Devils coach Charlie Balog said. “So I decided to take the girls to a game so they could see how they run their stuff and see what they could pick up from it.”
Now ranked No. 22 in the nation, the Orange are 5-2 in the Big East and almost beaten that record by nearly upsetting No. 1 UConn at the Dome two weeks ago.
“Our Bill Delaney program took the younger girls to that game,” Braunitzer said. “I was unable to go because I was scouting Tully that day.”
The Lakers are planning on going to the Dome for another game this season, while Weedsport has been invited to watch Syracuse take on Marquette on Feb. 10.
“The girls asked me if they had to wear our Weedsport colors or if we could support the orange and blue,” Warriors coach Chris Vargason said. “I told them it was orange and blue day at the Dome so they could sport the orange and blue.”
Cato-Meridian already showed their support of the Orange, who are ranked for the first time in school history.
“I called the University up to try and arrange us going to the Dome as a school to recognize,” Balog said of the team's trip. “They told me all we had to do was wear orange and be loud. So the girls got orange wigs and dressed up and were very loud.”
Supporting the women's team has been easy, a lot of local coaches say, by the affordability of the ticket prices.
“The women's program is very smart with the ticket pricing,” Braunitzer said. “It's affordable to bring a bus down with your team and watch the game and show your support. Plus you're pretty close to the action so it's a lot more fun.”
While supporting Syracuse has been a lot of fun for local girls team's this season, it's also kept some teams grounded.
“Right now the biggest thing is to keep the players focused though, on our season,” Vargason said. “The Marquette timing is great. It gives us a little break from everything, but then after we can turn our focus back on to sectional play.”
This season, the Blue Devils are trying to build their program around fundamentals and compare it a lot to the Syracuse women's team.
“Unlike the men's team, they don't have big name players that can make impacts on their own,” Balog said. “They focus around their team and let them do their stuff together. That's what I'm trying to get started here.”
The Lakers also focus on plays and situations that are run by the Orange as they try to repeat their success from last season when they reached the Section III, Class B-2 finals.
“We will watch a game, and then at practice the next game go over situations that came up,” Braunitzer said. “After it all happens and the plays come up it all makes sense to us. We see it spilling off into the games and that brings a smile to me.”
One way or another, the success of this season's Orange women is something every local girls high school basketball coach can look up to.
“Watching them play as a team is great for all high schools to try and emulate,” Balog said.
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