About 30 minutes after Johns Hopkins had absorbed one of the worst playoff losses in the school's history, Blue Jays coach Dave Pietramala made it a point to state the obvious, but it was a comment that was long overdue.
The Bratton brothers, Virginia's twin midfielders from New York, are two pretty good lacrosse players, he said.
"I wish they would have just stayed home," Pietramala said after they combined for seven goals in the No. 1 Cavaliers' 19-8 quarterfinal win over the Blue Jays on Sunday. "We recruited them. I watched them play basketball in high school. They are phenomenal athletes, but they are more than just athletes. They are quality lacrosse players."
How about that?
Very few times have we heard that about the Brattons, or any other African-Americans who play lacrosse. If they are successful, it's usually said to be because of their athleticism, not because of their skill.
In lacrosse, a player is determined to be a good lacrosse player if he can switch the stick from hand to hand with ease, or if he has a good understanding of the game. But like any other sport, good lacrosse players come in different heights, weights, colors and have different skill sets.
To say the Brattons, Rhamel and Shamel, are just good athletes would be an omission of their overall abilities because they are the total package. In fact, their game reached a new level this season, and they are just sophomores. The scary part is that they are only going to get bigger and better.
"I think it's the case of two young guys who are starting to get it," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said.
"For these guys, playing with players who are close to their level was probably an adjustment they had to make. Learning to play in a team setting is not something you can take for granted.
"Their development over this season and over their first two seasons here at Virginia has meant a lot, and we certainly expect them to continue to blossom."
Translation: When Rhamel and Shamel were at Huntington High in New York, they had to carry the team because they were clearly better than the other players on the roster. At Virginia, they've had to learn how to share the ball more and do other things because the Cavaliers have others on the rosters who are of equal talent.
But the Brattons are special. They are good shooters who can rifle shots with either hand. Both are solid on offense and defense, and they have game-changing speed, which makes them invaluable on clearing situations and fast breaks.
