Greenville Indians Continue to Fight Despite Hardships
Submitted by Greenville High School Head Coach J.C. Eaglesmith
The Greenville Indians started the season with a nine player squad described as “comparatively inexperienced & vertically challenged.” After battling through two tourneys against mostly more experienced & taller opponents while going 1 – 5, four of the most skilled players (3 Starters) decided not to continue. This left the Indians with only five players & two practices to prepare for the next tourney.
When one of the remaining five players was not able to travel, that tourney trip unfortunately was cancelled. The five player squad courageously faced opponents, of course without benefit of substitution, and came to be respected for their determination & hustle as the “Die-Hard Five.” The Indians celebrated when a sixth player was recruited from on the Greenville campus and came out to assist the team. But then, one of the original five sustained a season ending injury away from the Varsity basketball program and the Indians returned to the “Die-Hard Five” status. It is remarkable that the Greenville Boys Varsity Basketball team continues despite obvious limitations & extraordinary obstacles, and continues to take-on their scheduled commitments every night with determination, hustle, and without excuses. Interscholastic high school sports emphasize the building of character & sportsmanship.
The Greenville 2008-09 season has been one of overcoming hardships which many, many other more fortunate programs may not have been able to either adapt, or carry on. Supporters, administrators, officials, referees, and opponents have registered their respect & admiration for the degree of intensity & honor with which the Greenville team competes night after night. While these attributes may, or may not be aspired to in programs that measure success in terms of ‘winning’ and even ‘winning with honor,’ Greenville exemplifies the same lofty goals in their many defeats, i.e., while ‘losing with honor’ and apparently averting the degree of impact of disheartening ‘defeats’. The focus truly centers on ‘honor,’ and while winning and/or losing will always remain paramount, our schools, society, and world could celebrate the focus on ‘honor.’
One fact stands out regarding the student-athletes continuing to represent the Greenville Indians, be it their “Die-Hard Five” I, II, or III versions, is the way they exemplify the true spirit of highest intended outcomes from participation in interscholastic athletics.
Coach J.C. Eaglesmith summarized; “There are undoubtedly not many who have experienced anything like this season at Greenville. Like I have said, “I’ve played on & coached high school & collegiate undefeated Championship teams. We were ‘successful’ because of our ‘All for One – One for All’ bonding. Oh sure, we ‘won’ but the real victory is in the sense of cherishment in the way we played & unconditionally loved the game, and thereby each other. Now that includes opponents to a degree… (chuckling) at least on the court!
Teammates & opponents, those still with us, continue to relate to each other with respect. Time has not defeated that value of respect, all from the conduct honor. Plain & simple, when success is defined only as winning, even though it thankfully often produces instant motivation & copious esteem, it should not be awarded, nor confused with, the spirit of honor required to reach down deep inside to compete when the Big-Shiny score-board is not in our favor. I don’t believe you can coach that- if it’s there & brought out, you can build on it, but I don’t believe you can coach that like, skill and acquisition of techniques.
So look, what we’re talking about fleshes out to be the indomitable spirit of honor, and it humbles us to witness it manifesting in our players – some have it, some don’t, but we all should cherish it as good medicine in life. I’ve never been prouder of a team than the one that honors me now by calling me “coach”, they will always be winners. Now, don’t go getting the wrong idea, or anything – because we’re preparing to go down to Elk Creek and play with our style of intensity – who knows, what the Big Shiny will show! Thanks, we are all related.
(1/17) Elk Creek 49 Greenville 41
(1/19) North Tahoe 62 Greenville 31
Posted: January 21st, 2009 under GHS Boy's Basketball.
