There were no trophies or state tournament berths on the line tonight at Parkers Chapel. But, the girls from Junction City and PC still played with a whole lot of motivation and intensity.
The Lady Dragons won 61-49, ending the Lady Trojans' hopes of running the table in conference.
I must say, I was impressed by both teams.
Obviously, Junction City played, probably, it's best game of the season. This is the team I picked to win the league back in December. Finally healthy, they're what I predicted they could be, big, athletic and active with just enough outside shooting to really frustrate any defense.
The Lady Dragons hit six 3-pointers at PC. When they do that, they'll be a pain in the butt for anyone.
Parkers Chapel, meanwhile, showed they can take a punch. The Lady Trojans impressed me in defeat with a never-say-die attitude. They trimmed a 22-point deficit to nine in about four minutes and had two good looks at a 3-pointer after that.
Junction City made a conscious effort to defend PC's 3-pointers. The Lady Trojans took it to the paint, which is the sign of a good team. They didn't make enough shots under the basket or at the free throw line, which is something they'll have to correct.
But, the determination was there. The unity was there. The fight was there.
"You hate to lose on your home floor, especially on Senior Night with a group of seniors that we have and we're very proud of and all they've accomplished but they've got to make sure they leave this one in the lockerroom tonight and come out tomorrow and get ready for Hermitage on Friday," PC coach Mark Young said afterward.
I think both teams are in good shape after tonight's game. PC's dressing room was somber while the Lady Dragons were dancing on the ceiling in theirs.
It's that time of the year.
Both teams tested each other in a way that should make both stronger in the weeks to come.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Who's the favorite in the 7AA-East?
Most of the teams in the 7AA-East are either at or close to the midway point of the season. With that in mind, I suppose it's time for a follow-up on my predictions.
Earlier, I tabbed Junction City as the team to beat, based on their performance in the Fordyce Tournament. Unfortunately, the Lady Dragons suffered an injury to point guard Jyrezhia Nathan, which has changed the team's makeup severely. Junction City is now woefully shorthanded in the backcourt, which happens to be an area of strength for both Parkers Chapel and Strong.
The Lady Trojans have been a bit of a surprise for me. Honestly, I was concerned they might be a bit one-dimensional, too dependent on the 3-point shot. But, Coach Mark Young has so many different shooters, PC might be immune to any prolonged shooting slumps. And, sophomore Bailey Norwood has grown up enough to give the team some inside punch.
Strong, now, I cannot figure. The Lady Bulldogs looked disinterested at Parkers Chapel but has beaten the Lady Dragons twice. I witnessed the win in the Dual State finals. I was impressed with Strong's grit in that game just like I was in the Fairview Tournament against Camden Fairview. How can this be the same team that blew a big lead at Hampton and got mercy-ruled at Parkers Chapel?
Junction City can't shoot. Until the Lady Dragons prove they can make anything other than a layup, opponents will pack the defense into the paint to take away the power and strength of Khadijah Webster and the slashing ability of Nikayla Fisher. Nathan's absence takes away a shooter and forces Fisher to the point and away from her natural position on the wing.
The Lady Trojans have a two-game cushion and, barring injuries, sit comfortably in the driver's seat in the league. I look for the Lady Bulldogs to grab the No. 2 seed. I like Junction City's spirit but its youth is glaring at times. After seeing what life is like in senior high, I hope the Lady Dragons will put in the necessary work in the offseason. There's talent there but that's not enough.
All that being said, I'm begging all the girls teams in Union County, DO NOT make winning conference your primary goal. Conference is a stepping stone to bigger, more important things. I don't care what your record is, if you don't make it to state, something's missing.
Teams need to be playing at their best in the postseason. Obviously, injuries cannot be accounted for. But, everybody's goal should be to get to Pangburn. Once you get to state, nobody cares what seed you were coming out of your district.
Earlier, I tabbed Junction City as the team to beat, based on their performance in the Fordyce Tournament. Unfortunately, the Lady Dragons suffered an injury to point guard Jyrezhia Nathan, which has changed the team's makeup severely. Junction City is now woefully shorthanded in the backcourt, which happens to be an area of strength for both Parkers Chapel and Strong.
The Lady Trojans have been a bit of a surprise for me. Honestly, I was concerned they might be a bit one-dimensional, too dependent on the 3-point shot. But, Coach Mark Young has so many different shooters, PC might be immune to any prolonged shooting slumps. And, sophomore Bailey Norwood has grown up enough to give the team some inside punch.
Strong, now, I cannot figure. The Lady Bulldogs looked disinterested at Parkers Chapel but has beaten the Lady Dragons twice. I witnessed the win in the Dual State finals. I was impressed with Strong's grit in that game just like I was in the Fairview Tournament against Camden Fairview. How can this be the same team that blew a big lead at Hampton and got mercy-ruled at Parkers Chapel?
Junction City can't shoot. Until the Lady Dragons prove they can make anything other than a layup, opponents will pack the defense into the paint to take away the power and strength of Khadijah Webster and the slashing ability of Nikayla Fisher. Nathan's absence takes away a shooter and forces Fisher to the point and away from her natural position on the wing.
The Lady Trojans have a two-game cushion and, barring injuries, sit comfortably in the driver's seat in the league. I look for the Lady Bulldogs to grab the No. 2 seed. I like Junction City's spirit but its youth is glaring at times. After seeing what life is like in senior high, I hope the Lady Dragons will put in the necessary work in the offseason. There's talent there but that's not enough.
All that being said, I'm begging all the girls teams in Union County, DO NOT make winning conference your primary goal. Conference is a stepping stone to bigger, more important things. I don't care what your record is, if you don't make it to state, something's missing.
Teams need to be playing at their best in the postseason. Obviously, injuries cannot be accounted for. But, everybody's goal should be to get to Pangburn. Once you get to state, nobody cares what seed you were coming out of your district.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
161-2
Read this story on ESPN.com yesterday.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- A Southern California high school basketball coach has been suspended and faces accusations of mercilessly running up the score after his team won a game 161-2, one of the most lopsided scores in state history.
Arroyo Valley High girls' coach Michael Anderson was suspended for two games after the victory last week against Bloomington High.
Anderson said that he wasn't trying to run up the score or embarrass the opposition. His team had won four previous games by at least 70 points, and Bloomington had already lost a game by 91.
"The game just got away from me," Anderson told the San Bernardino Sun on Friday. "I didn't play any starters in the second half. I didn't expect them to be that bad. I'm not trying to embarrass anybody."
He says if he had it to do again, he'd have played only reserves after the first quarter, or, "I wouldn't play the game at all."
But Bloomington coach Dale Chung says Arroyo Valley used a full-court press for the entire first half to lead 104-1 at halftime.
"People shouldn't feel sorry for my team," Chung said. "They should feel sorry for his team, which isn't learning the game the right way."
Anderson has served one game of the suspension, a game his team won 80-19 with his son Nick at the helm. He'll return after sitting out one more.
"He's a great X's and O's coach," Chung said. "Ethically? Not so much. He knows what he did was wrong."
I love the quote from the losing coach who says, people shouldn't feel sorry for my team. They should feel sorry for his team, which isn't learning the game the right way.
Really?
If a group of players lose 161-2, I'm going to say that group hasn't learned the game in the right way. What lesson is he teaching his team?
You know, there was a time when a person had to be qualified to participate. People who couldn't sing, didn't get to join the choir. Girls who couldn't do a flip, didn't get to be cheerleaders. Kids who couldn't play basketball, didn't get to be on the team.
It's not that way anymore. You don't have to be qualified to play. It's your right to be on the team.
Back when I was a kid, we played pick-up ball. The games were to 15 or 21. If you could win the game 21-0, you did it. You never thought about whether you were embarrassing the other team. Hell, you wanted to embarrass them. That was the goal. Beat them 21-0 and then laugh at them for losing 21-0.
I don't remember many 21-0 games. Know why? Because everyone knew what would happen if they got skunked so they showed some backbone and fight and made sure they didn't get beat like that. Or, if they weren't good enough to compete, they kept their butts off the court.
If you lose 161-2 and lose another game by 91 points, the primary lesson you should've learned is you're not basketball players. Am I saying they shouldn't play? Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Not competitively, anyway.
"Oh, but they love the game and have every right to participate as anyone else," you say.
First of all, if they loved the game, they wouldn't get beat 161-2. Second, when you compete, you run the risk of getting embarrassed if you're not prepared.
It's not your opponent's job to boost your self-esteem. My job is to score. Your job is to stop me. It's called competition, matching my skills against yours. That's why it's fun. If you don't have any skills, why are you on the court?
Please, stop saying it's your right.
I can't swim. So, why don't I go join a swim team? It's my right.
By the way, since I can't swim but it's my right to be on the team, I'm going to need you to take all the water out of the pool so I can compete. Or, at the very least, give me some of the floatee things so I don't drown. And, in a show of good sportsmanship and to avoid embarrassing me, you have to dog paddle so you don't beat me too badly.
Should a team beat another team 161-2? Personally, as an adult, I wouldn't try to humiliate children. But, as an adult, if I had a team so inept, I would spend more time practicing and less time seeking pity. If his girls like to play but don't have the time to practice and become competitive, perhaps a competitive league isn't for them. They can still play on their own in the backyard or at a local gym. Pick-up games are fun.
At least on the playground, you'll only lose 21-0.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- A Southern California high school basketball coach has been suspended and faces accusations of mercilessly running up the score after his team won a game 161-2, one of the most lopsided scores in state history.
Arroyo Valley High girls' coach Michael Anderson was suspended for two games after the victory last week against Bloomington High.
Anderson said that he wasn't trying to run up the score or embarrass the opposition. His team had won four previous games by at least 70 points, and Bloomington had already lost a game by 91.
"The game just got away from me," Anderson told the San Bernardino Sun on Friday. "I didn't play any starters in the second half. I didn't expect them to be that bad. I'm not trying to embarrass anybody."
He says if he had it to do again, he'd have played only reserves after the first quarter, or, "I wouldn't play the game at all."
But Bloomington coach Dale Chung says Arroyo Valley used a full-court press for the entire first half to lead 104-1 at halftime.
"People shouldn't feel sorry for my team," Chung said. "They should feel sorry for his team, which isn't learning the game the right way."
Anderson has served one game of the suspension, a game his team won 80-19 with his son Nick at the helm. He'll return after sitting out one more.
"He's a great X's and O's coach," Chung said. "Ethically? Not so much. He knows what he did was wrong."
I love the quote from the losing coach who says, people shouldn't feel sorry for my team. They should feel sorry for his team, which isn't learning the game the right way.
Really?
If a group of players lose 161-2, I'm going to say that group hasn't learned the game in the right way. What lesson is he teaching his team?
You know, there was a time when a person had to be qualified to participate. People who couldn't sing, didn't get to join the choir. Girls who couldn't do a flip, didn't get to be cheerleaders. Kids who couldn't play basketball, didn't get to be on the team.
It's not that way anymore. You don't have to be qualified to play. It's your right to be on the team.
Back when I was a kid, we played pick-up ball. The games were to 15 or 21. If you could win the game 21-0, you did it. You never thought about whether you were embarrassing the other team. Hell, you wanted to embarrass them. That was the goal. Beat them 21-0 and then laugh at them for losing 21-0.
I don't remember many 21-0 games. Know why? Because everyone knew what would happen if they got skunked so they showed some backbone and fight and made sure they didn't get beat like that. Or, if they weren't good enough to compete, they kept their butts off the court.
If you lose 161-2 and lose another game by 91 points, the primary lesson you should've learned is you're not basketball players. Am I saying they shouldn't play? Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Not competitively, anyway.
"Oh, but they love the game and have every right to participate as anyone else," you say.
First of all, if they loved the game, they wouldn't get beat 161-2. Second, when you compete, you run the risk of getting embarrassed if you're not prepared.
It's not your opponent's job to boost your self-esteem. My job is to score. Your job is to stop me. It's called competition, matching my skills against yours. That's why it's fun. If you don't have any skills, why are you on the court?
Please, stop saying it's your right.
I can't swim. So, why don't I go join a swim team? It's my right.
By the way, since I can't swim but it's my right to be on the team, I'm going to need you to take all the water out of the pool so I can compete. Or, at the very least, give me some of the floatee things so I don't drown. And, in a show of good sportsmanship and to avoid embarrassing me, you have to dog paddle so you don't beat me too badly.
Should a team beat another team 161-2? Personally, as an adult, I wouldn't try to humiliate children. But, as an adult, if I had a team so inept, I would spend more time practicing and less time seeking pity. If his girls like to play but don't have the time to practice and become competitive, perhaps a competitive league isn't for them. They can still play on their own in the backyard or at a local gym. Pick-up games are fun.
At least on the playground, you'll only lose 21-0.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Where's the bite?
I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed tonight.
For the last few years, Strong and Parkers Chapel have given me some pretty good games. Tuesday wasn't one of them.
The Lady Trojans prevailed 57-34 in Parkers Chapel and even pulled further away after Lauren Brumley left the game with an ankle injury.
Hopefully, Brumley's setback is minor.
Unlike last season, when the Lady Trojans fell apart when an injury kept Brumley on the bench, they stayed strong Tuesday against Strong. The Lady Bulldogs tried to take advantage but their switch to a man-to-man defense backfired. Parkers Chapel, which knocked down 10 3-pointers before the injury, went to its man-to-man offense and shredded the Lady Bulldogs in the final quarter.
Coach Mark Young was asked if he smiled a little on the inside when Strong went man-to-man.
"Anytime you get somebody to doing something they're not used to doing, that makes you feel like you're in pretty good shape," he said. "They got out of the zone and went man. I knew they were a mostly pressing zone team, from what I'd seen out of them. When they went man, I knew that was something different from what they normally did. So, we did feel good about that. We just had to make sure we executed and we did for the most part, so, that was good."
It was certainly good from PC's perspective. The Lady Trojans showed some moxie and reminded everyone that they are the defending 7AA-East champions.
Most impressive, for me, was PC's board work. I wondered how the under-sized Lady Trojans would fare in the paint against the Lady Bulldogs. PC combated its lack of height with strong defensive rebounding from its guards.
"We had a lot of people get a lot of rebounds on the off-side. We've struggled with that at times, having smaller players against bigger players. Sometimes people take advantage of that but tonight I thought we ran to the ball well and rebounded it and we had a lot of different kids get rebounds over there," Young said.
"They kind of understand what they have to do in big games. We've kind of figured out that if you're going to beat Strong, you've got to rebound the ball and keep them from getting second shots. And, you've got to handle their pressure. I thought we did both of those things tonight."
On the other end of the court, Strong's girls did not bring the energy or intensity I was expecting. The Lady Bulldogs, who fell at Bearden 56-51 on Friday, have dropped back-to-back league games since winning the Dual State Tournament.
Conference teams still have to go to Strong but the Lady Bulldogs need to take some of their bite onto the road if they hope to get back into the thick of the chase.
For the last few years, Strong and Parkers Chapel have given me some pretty good games. Tuesday wasn't one of them.
The Lady Trojans prevailed 57-34 in Parkers Chapel and even pulled further away after Lauren Brumley left the game with an ankle injury.
Hopefully, Brumley's setback is minor.
Unlike last season, when the Lady Trojans fell apart when an injury kept Brumley on the bench, they stayed strong Tuesday against Strong. The Lady Bulldogs tried to take advantage but their switch to a man-to-man defense backfired. Parkers Chapel, which knocked down 10 3-pointers before the injury, went to its man-to-man offense and shredded the Lady Bulldogs in the final quarter.
Coach Mark Young was asked if he smiled a little on the inside when Strong went man-to-man.
"Anytime you get somebody to doing something they're not used to doing, that makes you feel like you're in pretty good shape," he said. "They got out of the zone and went man. I knew they were a mostly pressing zone team, from what I'd seen out of them. When they went man, I knew that was something different from what they normally did. So, we did feel good about that. We just had to make sure we executed and we did for the most part, so, that was good."
It was certainly good from PC's perspective. The Lady Trojans showed some moxie and reminded everyone that they are the defending 7AA-East champions.
Most impressive, for me, was PC's board work. I wondered how the under-sized Lady Trojans would fare in the paint against the Lady Bulldogs. PC combated its lack of height with strong defensive rebounding from its guards.
"We had a lot of people get a lot of rebounds on the off-side. We've struggled with that at times, having smaller players against bigger players. Sometimes people take advantage of that but tonight I thought we ran to the ball well and rebounded it and we had a lot of different kids get rebounds over there," Young said.
"They kind of understand what they have to do in big games. We've kind of figured out that if you're going to beat Strong, you've got to rebound the ball and keep them from getting second shots. And, you've got to handle their pressure. I thought we did both of those things tonight."
On the other end of the court, Strong's girls did not bring the energy or intensity I was expecting. The Lady Bulldogs, who fell at Bearden 56-51 on Friday, have dropped back-to-back league games since winning the Dual State Tournament.
Conference teams still have to go to Strong but the Lady Bulldogs need to take some of their bite onto the road if they hope to get back into the thick of the chase.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
College recruiting - not an exact science
As a college football junkie and a native Arkansan, I'm head-over-heels into the high school recruiting scene. I check all of the recruiting experts and their tweets, blogs, reports and columns. I consider Richard Davenport of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, one of the best resources.
I'm not so sure about some of the other so-called, "experts."
Former Camden Fairview standout Dominique Reed will be coming out of Coffeyville Community College this year. The 6-3, 195-pound wide receiver is considered, by most folks, a sure-fire prospect. I consider myself a reliable source on this young man after watching him for three years in high school.
He's a bad dude.
With Arkansas' current situation at receiver, I would think Reed would be a high priority. Then again, he's had some off-the-field issues at Coffeyville during his career. Coach Bret Bielema has proven time-and-time again, he doesn't waste a lot of time with trouble-makers, trouble-finders or trouble-followers. If you're trouble, Bielema ain't interested.
I don't know, first hand, of any of Reed's transgressions, if he has any. But, I felt confident Arkansas was recruiting him when I checked the ESPN recruiting page and saw the Razorbacks not only had offered him a scholarship but he went to Fayetteville for an official visit on Nov. 14.
According to ESPN, other schools to offer Reed included Arkansas State, Bowling Green, UCA, Florida, Louisiana-Lafayette, Minnesota, South Florida and Southern Mississippi. The list was last updated, according to the site, on Dec. 3.
Friday night, while covering the 22nd annual Camden Fairview Holiday Classic, Reed was in attendance. He walked past Camden News editor Kelly Blair, who posed the obvious question.
Reed would only say he's interested in Oklahoma, Louisville and Auburn.
We didn't have time to talk to the young man, who didn't seem real interested in revealing any secrets, anyway. It makes me wonder, though, is ESPN that far off base in its reporting? Or, did the kid just tell a little fib to throw the local media off the trail?
I guess the bottom line when dealing with teenagers, making life-altering decisions, you don't really know, probably because they don't really know.
Until they sign on the dotted line, whether it's ESPN or even Richard Davenport himself, don't believe anything you read when it comes to college recruiting.
I'm not so sure about some of the other so-called, "experts."
Former Camden Fairview standout Dominique Reed will be coming out of Coffeyville Community College this year. The 6-3, 195-pound wide receiver is considered, by most folks, a sure-fire prospect. I consider myself a reliable source on this young man after watching him for three years in high school.
He's a bad dude.
With Arkansas' current situation at receiver, I would think Reed would be a high priority. Then again, he's had some off-the-field issues at Coffeyville during his career. Coach Bret Bielema has proven time-and-time again, he doesn't waste a lot of time with trouble-makers, trouble-finders or trouble-followers. If you're trouble, Bielema ain't interested.
I don't know, first hand, of any of Reed's transgressions, if he has any. But, I felt confident Arkansas was recruiting him when I checked the ESPN recruiting page and saw the Razorbacks not only had offered him a scholarship but he went to Fayetteville for an official visit on Nov. 14.
According to ESPN, other schools to offer Reed included Arkansas State, Bowling Green, UCA, Florida, Louisiana-Lafayette, Minnesota, South Florida and Southern Mississippi. The list was last updated, according to the site, on Dec. 3.
Friday night, while covering the 22nd annual Camden Fairview Holiday Classic, Reed was in attendance. He walked past Camden News editor Kelly Blair, who posed the obvious question.
Reed would only say he's interested in Oklahoma, Louisville and Auburn.
We didn't have time to talk to the young man, who didn't seem real interested in revealing any secrets, anyway. It makes me wonder, though, is ESPN that far off base in its reporting? Or, did the kid just tell a little fib to throw the local media off the trail?
I guess the bottom line when dealing with teenagers, making life-altering decisions, you don't really know, probably because they don't really know.
Until they sign on the dotted line, whether it's ESPN or even Richard Davenport himself, don't believe anything you read when it comes to college recruiting.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Merry Christmas to me
How sad is it that I have to use my vacation day if I want to watch a good game?
I used Saturday as my Christmas vacation day in order to watch the El Dorado/Junction City boys basketball game at the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic. If I didn't use the day as a holiday, I would've been stuck in the office, waiting for Kev Moye' to send in his game story.
Oh hell, no. Not again.
People think, as a sports writer, I get to see all of the big games. It's actually the opposite. If I'm not actually covering the game, I have to be in the office putting the sports pages together. I miss a large chunk of the good stuff. And, I almost never get to watch the big games on television, anymore.
This isn't a poor, poor pitiful me, blog. I know how fortunate I am to have a job I enjoy. If all I had to do was watch games, I suppose it wouldn't be a job, now would it?
I actually pondered driving to Hampton to see Parkers Chapel's girls play Crossett at 3:50 and then swinging back by Camden to cover El Dorado's girls against Strong at 7 before watching the big boys game at 8:30. But, I didn't know if the games would be on time and I also wanted to get inside the gym at Camden before they locked the doors.
I barely made it.
I got to Camden at about 6:30 and the parking lot was already jam packed. I ended up parking all the way up into the softball parking area. They opened up two doors to enter the gym and the lines were all the way down the sidewalk and into the parking. If it wasn't for my press pass, I would never have gotten in. Remember, this is still two hours before the big boys game.
Unfortunately, but, somewhat predictably, Strong didn't have enough firepower to hang with El Dorado in the girls game, which got out of hand fairly early. But, El Dorado and Junction City's boys brought enough excitement and intensity for two games.
The roar from the jam-packed crowd just when the boys teams entered the gym in their street clothes sent a shiver down my spine. The place was electric.
"I just remembered why I became a sports writer," Camden News editor Kelly Blair yelled to me at the media table.
I couldn't help but to concur. I love football and all the other sports, but there ain't nothing like a gymnasium, overflowing with rabid basketball fans.
The game went, pretty much, as I expected. I want to see the 2A team that can beat Junction City this year. They just got off the football field and they're already soaring on the hardwoods. Jamario Bell is a beast and Tyrus Grayson looks like a college player. The Dragons outlasted the Wildcats 80-74 in a high-flying display of dunks and long-range shooting.
El Dorado's team is young, led by sophomore Czar Perry (speaking of a college caliber player). In my opinion, the crowd was probably in Junction City's advantage as the Dragons have performed on that type of stage before. I'm not sure the Wildcats have ever played in that type of atmosphere.
In any event, the game will benefit both teams. I know it helped me remember why I chose my profession. I love big games with raucous crowds - a hot gym on a cold winter night. It's the kind of stuff folks will be talking about for a long while.
I'm happy I'll be able to participate in those conversations.
How was my Christmas, you ask? Christmas Day was nothing special. But, Saturday, my Christmas holiday, was off the chain.
Merry Christmas!
I used Saturday as my Christmas vacation day in order to watch the El Dorado/Junction City boys basketball game at the Camden Fairview Holiday Classic. If I didn't use the day as a holiday, I would've been stuck in the office, waiting for Kev Moye' to send in his game story.
Oh hell, no. Not again.
People think, as a sports writer, I get to see all of the big games. It's actually the opposite. If I'm not actually covering the game, I have to be in the office putting the sports pages together. I miss a large chunk of the good stuff. And, I almost never get to watch the big games on television, anymore.
This isn't a poor, poor pitiful me, blog. I know how fortunate I am to have a job I enjoy. If all I had to do was watch games, I suppose it wouldn't be a job, now would it?
I actually pondered driving to Hampton to see Parkers Chapel's girls play Crossett at 3:50 and then swinging back by Camden to cover El Dorado's girls against Strong at 7 before watching the big boys game at 8:30. But, I didn't know if the games would be on time and I also wanted to get inside the gym at Camden before they locked the doors.
I barely made it.
I got to Camden at about 6:30 and the parking lot was already jam packed. I ended up parking all the way up into the softball parking area. They opened up two doors to enter the gym and the lines were all the way down the sidewalk and into the parking. If it wasn't for my press pass, I would never have gotten in. Remember, this is still two hours before the big boys game.
Unfortunately, but, somewhat predictably, Strong didn't have enough firepower to hang with El Dorado in the girls game, which got out of hand fairly early. But, El Dorado and Junction City's boys brought enough excitement and intensity for two games.
The roar from the jam-packed crowd just when the boys teams entered the gym in their street clothes sent a shiver down my spine. The place was electric.
"I just remembered why I became a sports writer," Camden News editor Kelly Blair yelled to me at the media table.
I couldn't help but to concur. I love football and all the other sports, but there ain't nothing like a gymnasium, overflowing with rabid basketball fans.
The game went, pretty much, as I expected. I want to see the 2A team that can beat Junction City this year. They just got off the football field and they're already soaring on the hardwoods. Jamario Bell is a beast and Tyrus Grayson looks like a college player. The Dragons outlasted the Wildcats 80-74 in a high-flying display of dunks and long-range shooting.
El Dorado's team is young, led by sophomore Czar Perry (speaking of a college caliber player). In my opinion, the crowd was probably in Junction City's advantage as the Dragons have performed on that type of stage before. I'm not sure the Wildcats have ever played in that type of atmosphere.
In any event, the game will benefit both teams. I know it helped me remember why I chose my profession. I love big games with raucous crowds - a hot gym on a cold winter night. It's the kind of stuff folks will be talking about for a long while.
I'm happy I'll be able to participate in those conversations.
How was my Christmas, you ask? Christmas Day was nothing special. But, Saturday, my Christmas holiday, was off the chain.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Upcoming season ... perplexing
The local basketball season is still practically brand new and I'm already frustrated. Perhaps frustrated isn't the correct word. I'm perplexed.
El Dorado's girls are going to be good this year. They've already had a historic win over Star City last week. The Lady Wildcats have depth and scoring and, potentially, a go-to player in sophomore Mekaylan Hicks.
"I can't tell you or the fans or the girls how proud I am of them for maintaining their composure and making the stops defensively and making the pressure shots we needed to make at the end. It was a lot of chances for us to fold when Star City started coming back but this shows us we have grown," said El Dorado coach Stephen Harshaw. "We are continuing to grow and I'm exceptionally proud and happy."
The thing that's a concern with El Dorado is youth. Harshaw actually benched Hicks for a quarter in the first half against Star City because of a youthful moment. The Lady Wildcats will lean heavily on sophomores, which can be both exciting and frightening at the same time.
In the same boat is Henry Harrell at Junction City. The Lady Dragons are my pick to win the conference championship this season. That is, if they can find some consistency. Early in the year, the team has struggled to put two good halves together, which is ... perplexing.
Make no mistake, when the Lady Dragons are clicking, they are fun to watch and an absolute nightmare to go up against. But, they're either red-hot or ice cold. They'd better find the luke-warm to warm setting or Harrell will be gray-headed by the time February rolls around, which will be a neat trick since he's bald.
Speaking of hot-and-cold, Parkers Chapel is a hot 3-point shooting night away from beating most folks. Unfortunately, the Lady Trojans look to be 3-pointers or bust this season. They miss Caleh Wall and are going to really miss her once the conference season commences unless someone steps inside to fill that void. Lauren Brumley's health is always a concern at PC along with the Madison twins, who seem to be taking turns at the injury table.
The Lady Trojans have to get healthy and stay that way. They have to shoot the 3-ball consistently. They have to find a way to score when a defense takes away their perimeter game.
That's quite a few "have-to" scenarios for PC. We'll see.
I haven't seen Strong, yet. The Lady Bulldogs, on paper, return the most of any of the county schools from a year ago with Charria Perry, Moesha Thrower and LaTina Davis, among others. Then again, perhaps they lost the most when Coach Johnny Jackson left for Camden Fairview.
The Lady Bulldogs are the most perplexing team, to me, because of new coach Jason Porter, who will implement his own style. It's still to be determined how Porter and the returning players mesh. A lopsided loss to Crossett wasn't a good sign.
I don't have much to say about Smackover and Norphlet.
I will predict, though, the Lady Bucks will give Mikey Moss his first senior girls victory this season.
Don't know anything about the Lady Leopards, including the head coach. No one has called me and, obviously, I haven't made much of an effort to get information.
What can I say? I'm getting old and bull-headed, which should make for a perplexing season.
El Dorado's girls are going to be good this year. They've already had a historic win over Star City last week. The Lady Wildcats have depth and scoring and, potentially, a go-to player in sophomore Mekaylan Hicks.
"I can't tell you or the fans or the girls how proud I am of them for maintaining their composure and making the stops defensively and making the pressure shots we needed to make at the end. It was a lot of chances for us to fold when Star City started coming back but this shows us we have grown," said El Dorado coach Stephen Harshaw. "We are continuing to grow and I'm exceptionally proud and happy."
The thing that's a concern with El Dorado is youth. Harshaw actually benched Hicks for a quarter in the first half against Star City because of a youthful moment. The Lady Wildcats will lean heavily on sophomores, which can be both exciting and frightening at the same time.
In the same boat is Henry Harrell at Junction City. The Lady Dragons are my pick to win the conference championship this season. That is, if they can find some consistency. Early in the year, the team has struggled to put two good halves together, which is ... perplexing.
Make no mistake, when the Lady Dragons are clicking, they are fun to watch and an absolute nightmare to go up against. But, they're either red-hot or ice cold. They'd better find the luke-warm to warm setting or Harrell will be gray-headed by the time February rolls around, which will be a neat trick since he's bald.
Speaking of hot-and-cold, Parkers Chapel is a hot 3-point shooting night away from beating most folks. Unfortunately, the Lady Trojans look to be 3-pointers or bust this season. They miss Caleh Wall and are going to really miss her once the conference season commences unless someone steps inside to fill that void. Lauren Brumley's health is always a concern at PC along with the Madison twins, who seem to be taking turns at the injury table.
The Lady Trojans have to get healthy and stay that way. They have to shoot the 3-ball consistently. They have to find a way to score when a defense takes away their perimeter game.
That's quite a few "have-to" scenarios for PC. We'll see.
I haven't seen Strong, yet. The Lady Bulldogs, on paper, return the most of any of the county schools from a year ago with Charria Perry, Moesha Thrower and LaTina Davis, among others. Then again, perhaps they lost the most when Coach Johnny Jackson left for Camden Fairview.
The Lady Bulldogs are the most perplexing team, to me, because of new coach Jason Porter, who will implement his own style. It's still to be determined how Porter and the returning players mesh. A lopsided loss to Crossett wasn't a good sign.
I don't have much to say about Smackover and Norphlet.
I will predict, though, the Lady Bucks will give Mikey Moss his first senior girls victory this season.
Don't know anything about the Lady Leopards, including the head coach. No one has called me and, obviously, I haven't made much of an effort to get information.
What can I say? I'm getting old and bull-headed, which should make for a perplexing season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)