What’s wrong with the Hawks?

  • February 4, 2010
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What’s wrong with the Hawks? Consecutive blowouts to state power Cleveland Benedictine and Tuscarawas Central Catholic may have many local fans of Hiland Hawks basketball in a tizzy. Getting blown out back-to-back after 33 straight wins and about 40 years worth of consecutive victories in Inter-Valley Conference play can put the fear of God into anyone. Now, on the heels of two awful showings, local armchair coaches who “know the game” dole out their expertise as to what’s wrong with the Hawks at every street corner, place of business and restaurant table in town. As a sports guy and a coach of many various types of teams from volleyball to biddy ball, let me offer this sage advice as to how to fix the Hawks: Don’t worry about it. The Hawks will be fine. All will be right with the world, and Hiland skipper Mark Schlabach will right the ship without the insightful, philosophical advice of the masses. Here’s the deal: Every team goes through rough stretches. This is one of those stretches. Throughout the course of any season, teams make adjustments, teams suffer injuries, key players struggle with shots and the ball doesn’t bounce their way. Couple the Hawks’ shooting struggles with the adjustments being made defensively against them, along with the fact that their last five games — Malvern, Garaway, Benedictine, TCC and Strasburg — were against some pretty quality opponents, and you’ve got the making of a mini-losing streak. Hey, it happens to the best of teams. That’s what makes last year’s 20-0 romp through the regular season so special, and so unique. Hopefully the team’s fans haven’t gotten so jaded and arrogant as to think they should win every game. So, as all of you armchair coaches sit in your booths in the restaurant and talk about how to fix the Hawks, just take a step back, exhale and let the coaches coach and the players play, and things will work themselves out just fine. Sometimes it takes time to adjust to adjustments other teams make to you. The season is an ongoing chess match, and now it is Schlabach’s turn to make his move. I’m sure that when the time comes that Schlabach needs the advice of Joe Fan, he will come knocking on all of your doors. Until then, how about you just show up and support your kids, your coach and your school.


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