Eldon Email

Post date: Jan 5, 2017 8:37:45 PM

Hello all,

I wanted to send out an update on the Eldon Tournament. I have never been to this tournament as a head coach, so I attached Kevin Schultz’s (boys coach) email to make sure all the important stuff was covered.

It really is a fun event for the girls. Lots of time together and lots of basketball. I figured with all the seniors we have, they would enjoy this much more than the traditional tournament we are normally in.

On the way back home, the girls can ride with their parents if they want. We will have a charter bus.

Let me know if you have any questions. I have attached the girls bracket and another attachment with information.

From the Boy’s Program:

I wanted to send you an email about the Eldon Tournament coming up January 26th - January 28th. I have attached the official bracket and letter from Eldon's AD so you can see what he has to say. We will begin tournament play at Eldon High School at 6pm on Thursday, January 26th. (Check the Bracket for Girls)

In regards to lodging, we will be staying at the Cross Pointe Camp and Retreat Center in Rocky Mount, right off the Lake. Most of the time, parents usually find a place to stay on the Lake and make a weekend getaway out of it. It's a great time for us as a team and for you as parents to get together and enjoy the last month of the season, especially the seniors.

Players will need to bring all basketball gear with them...practice gear, uniforms, extra socks, shoes for basketball and for leisure, etc. We are basically staying in a hotel, so there will be everything there that a hotel would offer. There are no rooms available at the Retreat Center because all out of town teams are staying here.

All food meals will be provided by either Eldon High School or the Mustang Basketball Program. The hotel will serve us breakfast and lunch, and it's much better than any school lunch would provide. Kids usually have a choice between grilled chicken sandwiches, pizzas, cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, etc. The food is good. Breakfast is a full breakfast as well, so meals will not be an issue for the kids. I will make a trip to Costco and pick up a case of water, gatorades, fruit snacks, granola bars, etc. for the kids as well. I definitely recommend that whatever your kids want to bring for themselves, they better bring enough to share with others. Last year, Branstetter's chocolate chip cookies were probably gone before we reached Highway 40.

When we get down to Eldon, we will stop at Subway and pick up pre-ordered sandwiches for the kids (boys and girls). This way they will have something of substance to eat when they get down there before they play. They will be given a meal at Eldon HS after their game as well.

The kids will get out of school after lunch on Thursday, so they will not report to their 5th hour class. We have a chartered bus (Vandalia Bus Lines) to take us and the girls team to Eldon. Kids need to know that they are responsible for all missed work. When we are down there, we will feel like a true college team. We practice in the AM, have team meals, games, study halls, film sessions, and walk through sessions before each game. This has always been a lot of fun every year, and it is basically 48 hours straight of basketball.

I have no idea what time we will be getting home on Saturday night, but I am hoping it will be after we win the championship at 7pm on Saturday. Usually, it has been around 11:30pm.

The basketball at this tournament is very good basketball. We have been involved in some unbelievable games in this tournament in the past. Three years ago, it took a full court play with 3.2 seconds left on the clock to win by 1. 2 years ago, we were down by 14 with 4 minutes to go and sent it to overtime on a last second shot and ended up winning in overtime. Last year, our game with Smith Cotton was truly one of the best all-around high school games I've seen and was won by an offensive rebound and put back with 6 seconds to go. Even better than the wins was watching the boys all interact and grow closer. Needless to say, we are definitely looking forward to it.