VARSITY ATHLETICS

August 14, 2007

SURFING, SCHOOL AND BASKETBALL

By Conrad Mason - Senior Center - Tarpon Springs, FL (Berkeley Prep)
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

This morning we woke up around 9:30 a.m. and had a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Then a group of us headed out to the beach to check out the water. Some of the guys stayed at the hotel to sleep more and came over to the beach later. The water was pretty cold, but not bad after a little while, and we spent a good hour straight in the morning body-surfing and swimming. It was a great beach because there was practically no one there, and the waves were huge. Ten-foot waves would come along every few seconds and bowl you off your feet if you weren’t paying attention.

At one point the lifeguards of that beach told us to stay in a certain area, and only in water up to our knees. So that was a funny joke. We were back out farther in five minutes, now with boogie boards to ride on. Around 1:00 p.m. everyone went back to the hotel to get ready for lunch, so Rob Skuski hung up his speedo for what I’m sure will not be the last time.

After lunch we went back to the hotel and relaxed for a while. Around 3:30 p.m. we left the hotel to visit a school for learning English. That turned out to be pretty cool. We met all the students who were there, taking pictures with them and talking to them in English. One girl told us they never meet people who can speak English because they are in the middle of nowhere and no one comes to their town. Most of the students were pretty shy but after a few minutes, there were a bunch of groups of players and Brazilians talking and mingling and taking pictures. They told us the school is only for learning English, so they go to a normal high school and then come here afterwards to take English classes. The students were mostly between 15 and 18, and usually went to the school for about five years.

After taking a few group shots we left the school for the gym to play Praia Grande. Our first game in Brazil was a tough loss but we got better at their style of play (and officiating). We really had no idea what to expect going into the gym, but we left knowing we were competitive with them. The other team was very friendly, shaking hands with us and chatting in what little English they knew after the game. Despite losing by about 13, I had a great time in the first game and look forward to the next couple of games.

After the game we went to a pizza restaurant attached to a shopping mall where the Praia Grande’s coach hosted us for Brazilian style pizza. The toppings were different, but very good. One had onions, hard-boiled eggs, peas, and salami. After we finished eating the pizzas that kept coming out, we got on the bus and headed back to Guaruja where our hotel is.

All in all, it was a great day filled with sun, sand, the heat of competition, and Rob Skuski running through the water in a speedo.

PRAIA GRANDE 92, CASE 79

Junior forward Brad Sutton (Findlay, OH) scored a game-high 18 points Tuesday evening as the Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team lost an international exhibition game 92-79 to Praia Grande in Praia Grande, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Spartans travel to Santos tomorrow to face Santos Basketball Club at 5:00 p.m.

Senior guard Brandon Bradford (Detroit, MI) added 15 points. Praia Grande, who had 3 players score in double figures, led 54-40 at the half. The Spartans outscored the Brazilian second-division team [Sao Paulo State League] 22-19 in the final quarter.

CASE POINTS: Antwain Coward 6; Steve Young 4; David Klink 2; Steve Martin 4; Chris Deighan 6; Jonathan Radke 2; Brandon Bradford 15; Rob Skuski 8; Kevin Vick DNP; Anthony Durr 7; Brad Sutton 18; Mason Conrad 7.

Posted by: Creg Jantz August 14, 2007 11:54 PM | Category: Brazil

Posted by: cnj4 (Creg Jantz) August 14, 2007 11:54 PM | Comments (3) | Trackback