How to win games, the Albright way Boys basketball: Southern-Harwood's veteran coach works all season to teach players how to work together. This year's young team is beginning to reflect the lessons. Another trip to Cole Field House?

News flash!

Tom Albright says he has coached Southern-Harwood to 458 basketball victories over 32 seasons without using a chalkboard or a whistle.

No kidding.

"I don't draw plays up on a board," said Albright. "I let my kids watch in practice what they're supposed to be doing on certain plays, and then I send them out on the floor to see if they do it right.

"Most of what we do is geared to having five guys playing as one. I make them play with each other. They have to read each other on the court. I put them in unique situations in practice so they're prepared for anything."

Once his players learn the Albright system, the coach said, he can make game adjustments from the sidelines without calling a timeout.

That is just half the battle to having a winning team, said the veteran coach.

"You also have to make sure your players get their priorities straightened out," he said. "They have a lot of things pulling at them these days. So you have to get them thinking about where they're going and what they have to accomplish, and have the ones who are going in the right direction work on the others who aren't.

"In other words, they have to learn a lot about life, as well as basketball."

With 11 trips to the University of Maryland's Cole Field House for the state championships and four state titles to his credit, Albright certainly has proven that his way works.

Maybe that is why he can gain the attention of his players quickly with one simple speech -- like the one he gave after a

70-53 loss to Severna Park Jan. 7.

"We talked about some things after the Severna Park game," said Albright. "As far as putting things together, we're about where we were last year at this time."

And that's why most people around Southern believe the Bulldogs will be back at Cole again in early March for the Class 2A state final four.

"He got our attention, all right, after the Severna Park loss," said senior scoring leader Jeff Crandell. "We were making mental mistakes and weren't focused. We took a step back with the loss to Severna Park. We're the kind of team that, if we stay focused longer than the other team, we're going to win."

Crandell, a shooting guard, is averaging 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game. But the team got off to a 5-6 start after losing its first four games against Class 4A competition.

"The big thing is, the hardest part of our schedule is over," said Crandell, who is the only returning starter from last year's 16-9 team that nearly upset powerful Central of Prince George's County in a Class 2A semifinal at Cole.

"We've learned now to trust each other on the court," he said. "You have to have that trust if you're going to win. After we beat Old Mill [63-44 last Tuesday night], we started blending together."

Five of Southern's six losses have come to Class 4A schools, and the other setback was by one point to Class 2A City.

"I think we have a good chance of winning our region (2A) again," said Crandell. "It's not that strong. There is no Dunbar around. Poly and City are in our region, but we believe Poly is beatable."

Albright is a little more cautious about a regional title and 12th trip to Cole.

"We have more speed than last year but no Matt Thomas [a 6-7 center who averaged 18 rebounds in the regionals last year] in the middle," said Albright.

"You don't know what's going to happen in March in the regionals," he continued. "A lot depends on the draw, where you have to play, and who's injured or sick. But I do know our kids won't be intimidated when they take the floor. We weren't against Central -- and they were loaded. If your players are intimidated, it doesn't matter what you tell them to to; it won't work."

Joining Crandell as starters are sophomore point guard Will Maynard, junior forward Dominique Medley, junior guard Josh Booth and senior center Scott Rooney.

Albright can go eight deep with junior forward Albert Mudd and junior guards Demond Mullen and Ian Harvey coming off the bench.

Pub Date: 1/19/97