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In the end, boys or girls, the real question isn't whether you have 32 kids who can play anywhere else, but rather whether you have a significant spine of 12-14 who can withstand significant minutes when the chips are down.
The Wando boys' mass-substitution pattern worked great against inferior opposition. (All the mommies and daddies were happy that Nos. 24-32 were getting significant varsity minutes.) But it didn't enhance match fitness for the core, and it effectively created a situation in which Mann scored the game-winner when Wando had a handful of key players off the pitch.
As to the original question -- the achilles heel -- MOST championship high school teams are, almost by definition, built around upperclassmen. When those kids inevitably graduate, the dynamic changes. Some schools/programs survive graduation losses better than others.
You are correct! #20 the big center back for Wando is outstanding but he was totally gassed with 20 minutes left in the game. Those mass subs are a nice problem to have but it looked to me like it got them out of sync.
When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.
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