"What it is a group of players taking on specific roles and playing so hard that they can only stay on the court for about a minute," Holmes stated, as he explained The System. "The idea is to keep constant pressure on your opponent, play the numbers game of threes for twos, get a ton of steals, create havoc and wear the other team down by the fourth quarter."
Yes, Marina's brand of basketball this year went at a frenetic pace and did involve its entire roster. And by the end of the season — one that ended at 16-11 and included postseason play — what the Vikings accomplished almost has gotten lost in a season that lasted nearly four months.
All the Vikings did was establish the prep national single-season record for three-point baskets.
They also set a state record for three-pointers (28) in a single game.
Marina hit 437 of them during the course of the season, to be exact.
The old state single-season record? 303. Easily shattered.
The previous national single-season mark? 382. No problem.
Holmes said that the Vikings, who had their team banquet Monday night, first got a taste of The System when he toyed with it in practice and in a few games toward the end of the 2006 Sunset League season.
It wasn't until they took the floor for spring practice, that they really began to work on their new game plan.
"Everyone was new to it and we were starting from scratch," said sophomore guard Garrett James. "We started with the small things, learning that everyone on the team has a role to play and that everyone has to be into it, in order for The System to work."
James had one of the big hands in the record-setting season. He hit the three that set the state record during a Jan. 10 Sunset League win over Esperanza.
