8th grade hits low point in latest loss

CYO instituted a new rule this season, which stated that at any time in the 4th quarter, if a team led by 25 points or more, the clock would not stop.

The 8th grade boys became the first of any St. Mary's team to experience that as their season may have hit a new low in another blowout loss, this time their score doubled 48-24.

At one point in the 3rd quarter during a timeout, one of their four coaches, Tiffy, clearly heard in the entire gym, asked the team if they "wanted to play."

They replied yes, but their body language, execution and effort all begged to differ.

They were slow to every loose ball, awful getting back on defense and had no regard for taking care of the basketball.

To their defense, they were playing without Brendan and Brandon Khuu, both who will most likely be out the remainder of the season with lower body injuries.

Christian, who has not practiced with the team all season, or played a single game in about a year, dressed as the fifth player and was thrown into action and scored 2 points in his debut.

As expected, he was a little rusty and took some time to adjust to the right positions on the court.

But their problems go far more deeper than having a new player midway through the season.

From top to bottom, something is just not right.

For a team so talented, they aren't clicking and at the halfway point in the season, they look completely out of it.

Shoulders slumped, feet dragging, uninspired chants in the huddle, it seems like there are players who don't want to even be there.

One player who does is Justin, who scored 15 points in defeat, but because of his limited size, it's hard for him to take on a team all by himself.

Aside from all the basketball deficiencies such as not moving your feet on defense or boxing out, their team chemistry is probably the one thing that hurts them the most.

There's no positive energy from players on the court and no communication.

In their last game, Justin was blind-sided by a screen because nobody on the team called out a screen. Again on Sunday, screens were set by the other team and not one player called it out.

After free throws, players don't slap high fives, and instead just blankly stare into the abyss, waiting for the clock to tick down.

And if this trend continues, the clock will continue to tick when the 4th quarter comes around.