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BURG Sports Network is a national professional sports media company that covers high school athletics in Loudoun County, VA. We also cover collegiate and professional sports events on a regular basis. Our work has been seen by ESPN and has been nominated three times by the Best of Loudoun.
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Story # 51
Interview/Quotes with
Head Coach Adam Walsh
Head Coach Adam Walsh was hired as Shenandoah Head Men's Basketball Coach in 2017
Photo Credit : Shenandoah University
Question : Before we talk about the game tonight 2020, and 2021 has been kind of a crazy year, how do you how do you feel the guys have prepared for you for this upcoming season?
Answer :
it's been tough I think there's a lot on our guys, like it's mental health so big deal. You know, just trying to keep them ready, you know, individually they all got their own routines. Some guys were add more in person classes some guys had more online classes experience so the last really 12 months just about here has been different for all of our guys, we got so many new guys that couldn't turn in high school in person obviously come into college they barely have a class in person, you know it's it's all been different. I think the biggest challenge for us is just trying to deal with the adversity right like every day is different. quarantines other teams shut down. You know the testing protocols, and it's just staying adaptable, being ready to go from day to day and knowing that my team might have to change practice on the fly might have to change days on the fly. Change games, so it's it's all about overcoming adversity I think when you get to the,
to the root of it. Okay. And then as you just mentioned you know you have a lot of new guys, and you know,
Question : I'm going to be talking to Zack and. And he played at Mason. What is it like to have somebody come from a program like that, what has impressed you the most about Zach Garrett.
Answer : Yeah, I think, you know, last year for Zach It was huge just to get back in the flow right you know he was at Mason, got to practice a ton but didn't get a lot, you know a lot of live whistles and live game minutes, and that was pretty obvious first half of the year last year right. And I think once he got back in the flow of being a college basketball player he got comfortable. And, you know, he needed to get some games under his belt for that to happen. Daily is is nothing for him. I think that was you know no one we were getting a guy from a division one program. I know what those guys do on a day to day basis. I knew what we would be doing shouldn't be any different for him, and he's been obviously a key part of what we're building here since he got here last year and what he brings on the floor. Obviously a good player. We knew that part was coming. I think I'm challenging him to use his voice more and to be more vocal with the team because of his age and because of his experiences. But I think just overall we knew we were getting a high character kid and we knew we were getting a good basketball player that just hadn't hadn't played in a while. Right.
Question : And then one other guy to kind of mention new face he was a big kind of player in our area. Matthew Anderson, you know from Loudon County. What is he kind of, I know he hasn't played Super much, but for his development what has impressed you most with him?
Answer : He's been ready to go. Honestly, I was a little concerned that his body might not be ready. And I think he's been able to handle what has been thrown so far he's handled it fine. And that's been impressive, because he is so slight. But he also is very crafty and he knows where he can score. Obviously he's a good shooter and that should carry over for us because the high school life. Didn't matter to him. A year ago as a senior. He was shooting so deep that I knew he would be okay with the college lot. And so that's carried over, and I feel like we're in a good place with him being creativity, wise and what he brings IQ wise. You know, he can control the floor, he uses voice and we're challenged to do that on a daily basis.
Question : Okay. And then my last one for you. I know, obviously tonight you unfortunately didn't get the win. But um, what, what were you most proud of the guys tonight.
Answer : Yeah, so we've been down in numbers, we got two guys back today playing for us that haven't played yet. Jalen Williams was our first program. Rookie of the Year for the first one in program history and Jalen played the first game he's played in over almost a year and a half and he only played one game last season. So, basically, first game in almost two years. So get Jalen back, Dylan Elliott's a Division Two transfer, he played his first game tonight. And so, you know, those are guys that we expect to help us and it was good to get them back that did play tonight, so we're working on some stuff. And we expect him back to nothing, nothing major, but I felt better. Like this is the team that were closer to who we're supposed to be relative to our last game. Our last game was a game. We had to play it, we had to get it in. I don't think we were anywhere close to what we're capable of. And we were definitely a lot closer to what we're capable of being
tonight.
Interview with Shenandoah
Men's Basketball Player Zach Garrett
Zach Garrett played at George Mason University before transferring to Shenandoah University
Photo Credit : Shenandoah University
Question : So, I was just talking to coach, you know, I, you know, I've been covering you since your high school days and you were at Mason. What's been the transition like for you since you know coming from Mason to Shenandoah.
Answer : Oh, it's been an adjustment, um, you know one It took me a while to get used to it at first but you know once I feel like I got there, you know I was good. I was just, just like anywhere you go play basketball and I was just watching. So, I mean I came into a great you know gray spot with a great group of guys and you know i think that you know we're still trying to get the pieces together but you know hopefully it's something that will be complete, something out continues to grow you know even after I move on from Senate Build. I'm excited about the progress even after I'm gone.
Question : And then you know as we were talking to coach you know on, you know on the Shenandoah roster. Matthew Anderson he's from Loudon County, you know, there's Jalen Williams he played at Potomac, and you know against you guys tonight on Roanoke, you know, Trent Dawson played at Loudoun Valley. What's it kind of like to see you know some guys you know from your area or you kind of like here you know going up against when you were in high school.
Answer : It's great. I think a lot about, you know, as a place for basketball. And I think that a lot of the guys that come at an area that were just as good as a guys you can bring from anywhere else, you know, it's always fun going up against guys I used to play guys. And it's also fun, you know, playing with playing with guys like to play. You know the energy he brings you know when you know it's been it's been great and you know I can't wait to see it, play with him when he gets back out on the floor.
And then you know obviously tonight unfortunately you guys came a little bit, a little short against Rona, but for you.
Question : What are you most proud of that you guys did tonight, even though the season so early for you guys.
Answer : I think just fight. I think, you know, even some parts of last year and years pass you know you know teams are going wrong, that you know what I've kind of heard that you know we will kind of just shut down but you know tonight you know we fought Amir and Cronos, you know, I believe that we're a better team than that, you know, even though we lost like I have 100% confidence in that. And you know what, it didn't roll our way tonight but you know I love the fight. Each and every one of us tonight and I think we do that every game and I think we're going to be a scary team, you know, from here on out. So that's what I'm most proud of is our fight.
Question : My last one for you. You're gonna play Randolph Macon college you know another local school but you guys are gonna play at home. What, what's it like to play it Shenandoah, you know, that kind of you know atmosphere, versus you know when you had your practices at Mason, what's it been like, you know, having home games at Shenandoah.
Answer : I mean last year. What do you say what this year would have been great, you know, just kind of that that atmosphere, being out there on the court, you know, fans screaming and cheering for you. It's a great feeling. And even when we don't have fans now you know our backs you know I think our bench does a great job. We all have loved ones watching from home, but you know continue to give us a love and support you know even though they can't be here, but you know as far as you know the difference in experience it's, it's been a lie you know from, from just practicing on a lot of live audiences you know it's been a lot but it's been fun. And you know it's something I missed you know those two years I didn't really get to play nicely. So you know it's been it's been it's been fun. You know, getting back to it you know I love playing basketball. So, this is a lot of fun for me.
Interview by BURG Sports Network Owner Michael Ferrara
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