Norphlet raising the bar

I must admit to being a tad confused Monday when Norphlet coach Justin Welch was so unhappy with his team's win over Prescott in the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic. The Lady Leopards won despite some questionable decisions in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Welch gave his team a tongue-lashing in the dressing room and was still upset when he spoke to me.
I actually said to him, "you know that was a good team you just beat, don't you?"
Prescott is a perennial state tournament team in Class 3A. Norphlet is an upstart Class 2A team, coming off its first state tournament appearance in well over 20 years.
That the coach's expectations for his team had grown so large, so quickly, caught me off guard. Then again, I should've known how he felt when he entered the Lady Leopards in the Holiday Classic, known as a big-school tournament with the likes of El Dorado, Camden Fairview, Magnolia, Texarkana and others. You don't put your name in the same hat as big schools like that unless you feel good about your team.
Norphlet will be one of just two names left in that hat in Thursday's championship game. The Lady Leopards knocked off the host Fairview team on Tuesday.
Apparently, Coach Welch was correct. His team looked a lot better, a lot more focused, a lot more aggressive and a lot more energetic in its win over the Class 5A Lady Cardinals.
I've probably not given Norphlet enough credit for being an elite team. Despite the success of last year, I'm still remembering all those years they had good records but came up short at the end.
This group didn't come up short last year, advancing to the state semifinals. All five starters are back from that team and, apparently, they're aiming even higher. Their coach certainly is. He's setting the bar high and daring his talented athletes to get over it.
More than likely, the Lady Leopards will face top-seeded El Dorado in the championship game. I thought they could beat Fairview but I don't think Norphlet has much of a shot against the Lady Wildcats, the heavy favorites to win the 6A state title.
Don't tell that to Coach Welch, who is not satisfied with anything less than their best effort.