On the first play of the Rams' Pioneer Athletic Conference title game against Methacton, forward Sarah Payonk ripped the ball away from a Warrior and shoveled it to guard Courtney Hinnant, who found Sammy Stipa under the basket for two points.
"Steal, Sarah; smart pass, Courtney," Doaty recited as he punched in the data. With that, the BIMPS program was up and running, and the Rams were on their way to the PAC-10 championship.
Doaty's copyrighted, 18-year-old Basketball Intensity Measurement Point System assigns value to the "momentum-generating events" players can perform in a basketball game, including rebounds, tie-ups, forced turnovers, and charges taken. It awards points for hustle and smart play, mainly on the defensive end, and detracts points for committed fouls and missed foul shots.
A complicated mathematical formula weighs the plays and churns out an overall "horsepower" number, indicated in the Team Intensity Index box in the top-left corner of Doaty's computer screen.
According to Doaty, teams need a horsepower between 140 and 150 to win consistently. The 22-2 Rams, who have won their games by an average margin of almost 29 points, typically reach horsepowers between 160 and 200.
BIMPS informs head coach Jeff Rinehimer of the intensity of each of his lineups and each player, allowing him to adjust his substitution patterns. At times, he still uses his gut, but the system has turned his team into a deep, well-oiled machine.
Doaty must have quick fingers and a sharp mind to keep up with Rinehimer's high-octane, in-your-face attack. He likens himself to a flight engineer relaying information to Rinehimer, his pilot.
