Joe’s Take: Finally, Trinity Balog’s D has caught up to her O
Trinity Balog Trinity Balog 5'7" | SG Parkersburg | 2024 State WV scores points. Everyone knows that. Her offensive game allows her multiple ways at putting the ball in the basket. But just because she tallies buckets doesn’t mean she…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTrinity Balog Trinity Balog 5'7" | SG Parkersburg | 2024 State WV scores points.
Everyone knows that.
Her offensive game allows her multiple ways at putting the ball in the basket. But just because she tallies buckets doesn’t mean she owns an awesome defensive game to match.
So, what about her D? Is it up to par? It is now.
After several talks and realizations with her father Greg, Balog’s game sits at a more balanced place than ever before. Perhaps her offensive game is still ahead, but the gap has considerably closed.
There’s even a chance she may seal it up for good. Her improvements are always coming and never stopping.
“She’s training daily working with ladders and the Vertimax,” Greg said. “She bursting off the rubber bands to improve quickness and lateral quickness.” And, it is all paying off.
In turn, she’s no longer the player who people say about “If she just played defense, she would be a better player.”
She’s no longer taking plays off, but instead having fun and even enjoying slapping the floor and settling down in her stance.
Thanks to her attitude, she’s no longer getting burned by defenders. She’s moving her feet and keeping up with just about everyone.
Try telling that to the players and coaches she’s fought alongside the last few years, and they might chuckle and be non-believers.
Yet, it’s all out there for everyone to see.
Revamped and refilled with another sense of purpose, everything’s come together in some pretty unbelievable ways over the summer.
Instead of leading the offense, she’s led both sides of the ball for her AAU 740 Thunder squad. Confident and stronger, she’s taken the lead and has not let go. Teams have even gone so far as moving their entire offense away from her side. Opting instead for playing and generating points from only one side of the floor.
How hard is it to score with just one side of the floor open? Often, it’s pretty hard. Options are limited. Players become hesitant and more mistakes can be made. And, some of that credit goes to Balog for her new approach. Her arms, legs and at times even her head have intercepted the basketball and caused turnovers for her squad.
The only real questions left are will her new defensive approach hold up against the tough competition in the Mountain State Athletic Conference? With as far as she’s come and as much as she’s grown, will it be enough to compete against the W.Va. Thunder and Ohio Valley Lady Dragons players who also tested themselves with AAU ball this summer?
And, what about the old Trinity? The one who took plays off and concentrated on what was coming next for her on the offensive end of the floor. Is that Trinity ever coming back or will the competition overwhelm her?
Greg doesn’t think so. “To get where she wants to go in Division I or Division II she knew the defense had to come eventually,” he said. If not, she most likely would be left looking at D-III and NAIA schools. Defense does win championships, after all.
Coaches are more likely to give the freshman who can play D early playing time over someone who can’t. And her father sees her as someone who sees the real value on that side of the ball.
“She’s really dedicated herself to training hard on defense, she’s realized how fun defense can be and I don’t see her fire going away anytime soon,” he said.