4th and 5th Grade Boys Bassketball

Well the tournament season is off to a rough start as the combined 4th and 5th grade boys team (due to lack of numbers) have participated in 2 tournaments to date. The Royals are 0-4 but are showing signs of improvement. Because of the mixed squad we are forced to play in the 5th grade realm at tournaments even though we have more 4th graders than 5th graders. Our youth and inexperience shows up in physical size and complexity of offensive schemes being run. We have been under-sized in every game we have played, facing kids on other teams that look like 6th graders or better at times compared to us. To this groups credit though they have never given up and continue to out-hustle most of their opponents. Because of our lack of size other squads tend to throw the ball over the top on us and their big guys (usually almost 6 to 12" taller than our tallest) have an easy time. We have led at half-time of 2 of the games but just have worn out in the second halves trying to defend the bigger kids. We have a couple weeks until our next tourney in Colo at which I'm sure the kids will continue to give it their all!