Actually, the strategy here is to keep the ball away from the opponent as long as you can and make them put you on the f/t line. Since we're up 6, that's a "two possession" game. If we're up 7, the opponent needs the ball three times to tie or win. With 40 seconds left (or so, perhaps), that's a game we can't lose if we're up 7. But if we shoot and miss or throw it away up 6, now it's still a two possession game. And what I feared actually happened. They know how to move the ball......if they didn't, they'd get cut. So we shoot, miss, and they came down and got 3 - now we're up only 3 with 30 seconds left. But if my team can get on the line with 20 seconds left and hit one of two, we're still in business. Of course they missed both and we almost went into OT.

I think the difference is free throw shots. Any coach will tell you if you hit your free throws late, you'll win. I wasn't protecting the lead or playing not to lose, but the team knows if they hit their f/t, they'll win. Playing not to lose would be standing still with the ball, afraid to do anything.

Anyway, just because I'm retiring doesn't mean I don't like talking shop! Thanks, these are always fun. I'm sure some of the parents said the same thing.......I'm used to the criticism. . Some of the parents don't even talk to me. JFF past history - one wrote a letter to the AD saying I discriminated against short people, one said I was too loud and her son was scared of me, and one demanded I apologize to his son for yelling at his son "in front of everyone" because he took off his sneaker on the bench and flipped it in the air for 10 minutes like a toy. And that's just the mellow stuff!