Bulldogs.

I have made many friends from other teams over the eight years of my basketball career. A very close friend i keep in touch with happens to be from Ottumwa. Last night our game was against the Outtumwa Bulldogs. [[Keep in mind Ottumwa is a 4A school and Washington is a 3A school.]] 

Before our game last night, a few of my friends from Ottumwa and I were catching up all buddy-buddy. In the back of my mind I was about to be a complete "rip" to them in a short amount of time. Like Coach Long always says, "you can be friends before and after the game, but during the game they are your enemies." 

We huddle before our game and we all get a chance to say something inspirational to pump everyone up before we go out and take care of business. Keeping tradition alive I always say are you guys ready to let the dogs out? But this time we were trying to cage the bulldogs. All of us were roaring and ready to go.

We gave those Bulldogs a run for their money. They came to our gym, cocky, thinking they didn't even have to try at all to come out on top. But, long story short, we lost by seven. Even though we lost, it says a lot for our squad seeing they are a class larger than we are. We play the Mount Pleasant Panthers Friday night who lost to the Bulldogs just short of thirty. Many have commented to coach about how they love coming to watch us play because down by 20 or up by 20, we never give up and keep fighting.

Of course we are all bummed about the loss, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We learned and took a lot from that game, sitting through hours of films, and sweating through hours of practice. Hopefully it will all pay off for the game Friday night that really matters.