Was this big, happy family in danger of being torn apart during its drive for a third Division II state tournament appearance in four years?

Hardly. This was kid's play with some team building in mind.

"We were playing mat-ball in the gym and the score was 9-8 and things got heated about the tag-up rule," junior guard Nick Kellogg said. "There was this big disagreement. We had to replay the game."

Mat-ball is a combination of baseball and soccer played indoors with mats serving as bases.

It should be noted that coach Blair Albright was pitching and his assistants and team managers were playing the field.

Several weeks earlier, the coaches beat the players in bowling. The team also has played dodge ball and volleyball as part of Monday practices.

The corporate world can have its casual-dress Fridays. DeSales has its laid-back Mondays.

"After our first trip to the final four, I got this idea to lighten up practices on Mondays after we win," Albright said. "There's no way we're going back now. The players look forward to this. It lightens the mood. Basketball is a long season, and this is a fresh start to the week. It makes them want to come back each week."

Albright relished talking about the coaches beating the players in bowling.

"We had a friendly wager that day," he said. "We didn't take much money from them because they don't have much."

So there were the Stallions on Monday, kicking a soccer ball around the gym just four days before playing Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a state tournament semifinal in Value City Arena.

Guard Zak Gaborcik was feigning anger for having a home run taken away. Everyone left the gym smiling. The tone the next three days would be serious in pursuit of a championship.

"We get our workout out of the way on Monday and then play games like we're kids," Gaborcik said. "It keeps us loose."

Goofing off is taboo during actual basketball practices. Albright has the players moving like a fast break. When the scoreboard horn sounds -- every drill is timed -- the players hustle to another drill.

So far, DeSales has run over its tournament opponents, including an 84-64 victory over Vermilion in a regional championship game.

"We've been a really close team to start with, and what we do on Monday is about friends having fun," forward Seun Adejobi said.

"It's kind of crazy, but it's just a release that keeps you from getting uptight during a long season."