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SIERRA VISTA — The Buena Colts confessed that they went into last season insufficiently aware of the importance of power points in early season games. They struggled early on and could never quite recover, finishing strong but narrowly missing the playoffs for a third straight year.
This season, it may have been the inverse that caused another early season slump and late season charge that almost certainly will leave them short of the state tournament again.
“You don’t blame the kids for watching (the power points), but the kids would just about watch them on an hourly basis if they could get in front of a computer,” Buena head coach Bill Wright said.
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As one close pre-region game after another slipped away, Colt players could log on to mesasports.org and see themselves falling into a deeper and deeper hole. It’s possible that their much improved play over the last week may have been aided by the acceptance that they’d lost too many, and the pressure of making state was behind them.
“We just want to go out and continue to have fun and play hard and enjoy the game,” Wright said. “We’re just making sure we do the little things right and are enjoying it. Especially with this group of kids, with 11 seniors who have worked so hard the last couple of years.”
But by virtue of their last two wins, the Colts have climbed to No. 19 in the Class 5A Division I power points rankings and could theoretically make state if they win their final two games this week and get a whole lot of help.
Today, the Colts host Mountain View, trying to avenge an 8-5 loss in Marana on April 10. On Thursday, they close the regular season hosting Flowing Wells, seeking a season sweep after beating the Cabs 10-6 on March 29 in Tucson.
While the Buena baseball team seemed to pick up strength in last week’s schedule of three region road games, the Buena softball team, ranked No. 2 in the USA Today poll, ran out of gas in the final game of the week, losing at Sunnyside 2-0 on Friday.
Meanwhile, across town at Flowing Wells, Salpointe Catholic lost, 4-1, leaving a three-way tie atop the region standings with Buena, Sunnyside and Salpointe tied for first. If the Colts win out, their superior power points rating over both teams would give them the region crown.
Today, Buena hosts Flowing Wells, which the Colts beat by a slim 2-0 count on April 5 in Tucson. On Thursday, Buena closes the regular season at home against Marana Mountain View before opening the state tournament Saturday at home at 1:30 p.m.
Wiillie wrote on Mar 2, 2009 7:42 PM: