Jordan coach still pumped about game

On this particular day, Jordan coach Dave McConnell had just come back from donating blood.

Don't basketball coaches donate blood during every game of the season?

McConnell acknowledged that was true but also said, "I have to wait until after the season when my blood pressure goes down. During the season they won't take my blood because my blood pressure is too high."

After 30 years in the business, McConnell is not ready to retire. In fact, when Jordan romped over Davis at the state tournament, McConnell's blood was really pumping. "It re-energized me," he exclaimed. "That gave us a shot in the arm and will help us (the program) get to the next level. It was a huge stepping stone."

On the whole, Jordan's season was a mediocre 11-12. "The Davis game made it all worthwhile," said McConnell.

Senior Brigham Mero described the season this way: "We had a lot more fun this year than the last few years. No one expected us to get to the tournament."

The seniors have been playing together since the ninth grade.

"All of us grew up in the basketball system together," said Mero. Jon Dahl, Chase Richards and Eric Soderberg will all graduate, and home-schooled Mero has used up all his eligibility. Richards is the only one likely to continue his playing career, and he is weighing his options.

Mero, Dahl and Soderberg will all serve LDS missions before embarking on the college scene.

Soderberg was named to the All State Academic team and will attend BYU after his mission. Dahl became a starter about midway through the season.

"The turning point was the Timpanogos game," he said. "I took three charges and was thrown to the floor with a bloody chin." He lamented, "They called the foul on me when I got 14 stitches."

Dahl said his rebounding and ability to take charges were noticed by the coach and won him a starting position. "If we would have rebounded more, we would have won more games," he said.

Defensive toughness was not lost on McConnell. "I'm going to give them (Dahl and Mero) some kind of award," said McConnell. "They took the most (charges) on the team. He also noted that Mero had 41 blocks on the season.

McConnell's blood really roils when the officials don't call charges. "I only got one technical all year," he said. "I had to stand up for my kid who took a charge and they didn't call it."