What does “First to 60” mean? A quick review of the winners and losers in NH high school basketball shows something interesting. The teams that win seem to be the ones that score more than 60 points in a game. Sure there are exceptions, especially in tightly contested games or defensive struggles, but as a general rule it seems to hold true. Could we do a statistical analysis and get specific number? Maybe. But even without seeing the actual games, it also makes sense (at least to me) that the first team to score 60 holds an advantage over their competition.
Deeper with “First to 60”
To start, by definition, if you are the first team to get to 60 points, you are also leading your competition which should be an indication that you have a good shot to win the game. On top of that, since most competitive (non-blowout) high school basketball games are in the 45-65 points range, if you get to 60 first the odds are that you are nearing the end of the game. Combining the last two points means that you are ahead going into the final minutes of the game… which is certainly better than the alternative, right?
What if you took the “First to 60” as your strategic approach?
How would it change your mindset and approach to the game?
It could shift your focus from the current score and put it on playing faster while looking for scoring opportunities. If you get down by 5 or even 10 points in the 1st quarter, not a big deal”. Down by 7 or 8 in the second quarter, still not a big deal, right? The third quarter gets serious and you should start to see your runway to getting to 60. Granted, you want to be “First to 60″ so defense is as important as offense.
It helps you keep the big picture approach and not get distracted by a short run by your opponent. It is important to react to changes during the game but a big part of momentum is your mental outlook. If you expect to get to 60 points before your opponent, you react to their challenges without thinking that “the game is over”.
What do you think?
I am sure there are many coaches or experienced players who can give reasons why this is a great idea …. or the stupidest thing that any high school basketball team could ever do. I welcome your feedback, especially the questions and criticism because it makes us think better and develop strategies that are more powerful. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts on the “First to 60” approach. Did I miss something? I can’t wait to hear what you have to say. [Please be sure to include a bit about your background – coach? player? parent? referee? all of the above?- so we can better understand your perspective.]