The Sinclair basketball team traveled to Washington D.C. early morning on Thursday, Oct. 29 to kick off their season with a game on Sunday against Navy—or at least they were supposed to. According to Coach Price, Navy is playing varsity players on their JV team. Due to NCAA rules, Navy can only have so many dates because of it, thus, making their game not count toward the regular season. Price had just found out about it on the 26, less than four days until they made their trip.
Price had been preparing for this game by getting tapes on the team and practicing for their season opener. This game could have been pivotal had this been a regular season game and they’d won.
“The only thing this game could have done was help us in the national rankings. Because if we beat them, it’s a big plus. If we lose to them, we are supposed to lose,” said Price.
On the bright side, it isn’t all bad. Sinclair still got to play a scrimmage against Navy on November 1.
“We’re still going to see some NCAA Division I varsity guys. Because it is a scrimmage, it is a closed scrimmage. No one can get in,” said Price.
In a closed scrimmage, only coaches, the team and the school administrators can get in. Price said that the team will put clips up on YouTube, but other than that, there isn’t a way for the public to see what is going on. After each half, the score will be wiped clean and start over. I asked if Price is still going to keep score, and without hesitation, he said “absolutely.”
Their four days away from Sinclair was not wasted. Outside of their scrimmage, they got an opportunity to do some sightseeing and experienced a few learning opportunities along the way.
“We’re going to go on some tours. We actually have a community service project while we are down there. We will also go see the Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Hospital and see some of the sights,” said Price.
As a community college, players come and go frequently. Which is the goal, but sometimes it is hard to build a quick connection to their teammates and that is something they got to work on during their trip.
“This is a great bonding experience—to start the season on the road, get to know each other, to get away, the mini-camps. This is kind of our way to start the season and rally around what we are trying to do, and kind of hone in and get ready for the season. When you put guys on a bus for nine hours, they’re gonna get to know each other,” said Price.
With the few scrimmages they have played this year, players are still trying to know their role and get ready for the season. Sinclair has returned from D.C. with a 78-68 victory against Navy. Though it doesn’t count as a regular season victory, Price and company still learned valuable lessons along the way.
Matthew Summers
Sports Editor