Congratulations to the Norphlet Lady Leopards on their 58-46 win over Parkers Chapel Saturday in the championship game of the 2A 7-East District Tournament at Woodlawn.
Norphlet played its best game of the season and showed illness might have really been a factor in its mercy rule home loss to the Lady Trojans last month.
I said when the season began this series would be like a boxing match.
Parkers Chapel won the regular season series. In boxing, that's five of the first six rounds. This is a 12-round fight, however, and the upcoming rounds are weighted. As you might have guessed, I don't think Saturday was the last time these two teams will square off.
I'm looking forward to the second half of this fight.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Showdown at Woodlawn
Parkers Chapel and Norphlet played a game of can-you-top-this Thursday at the 2A 7-East District Tournament at Woodlawn.
The Lady Trojans opened the tournament with a 49-16 beatdown of Dermott. The Lady Leopards followed with an equally impressive 55-33 win over Junction City, which was a 31-point game to start the fourth.
Parkers Chapel and Norphlet will meet Saturday in the championship game. The Lady Trojans have won the two previous meetings, including a mercy rule at Norphlet a few weeks ago. However, the Lady Leopards have gotten over their flu bug and looked as good as I've seen them this year on Thursday.
Saturday's game should be great. It's almost worth driving to Woodlawn for.
By the way, the folks at Woodlawn have been great so far this week. They've gone out of their way to help Kev Moye and I do our jobs. They put a sign that reads "Media Room" on the library and we've used that to write and send our stories.
I don't like the drive to get there but I must say once we arrive the folks at Woodlawn have been tremendous hosts.
The Lady Trojans opened the tournament with a 49-16 beatdown of Dermott. The Lady Leopards followed with an equally impressive 55-33 win over Junction City, which was a 31-point game to start the fourth.
Parkers Chapel and Norphlet will meet Saturday in the championship game. The Lady Trojans have won the two previous meetings, including a mercy rule at Norphlet a few weeks ago. However, the Lady Leopards have gotten over their flu bug and looked as good as I've seen them this year on Thursday.
Saturday's game should be great. It's almost worth driving to Woodlawn for.
By the way, the folks at Woodlawn have been great so far this week. They've gone out of their way to help Kev Moye and I do our jobs. They put a sign that reads "Media Room" on the library and we've used that to write and send our stories.
I don't like the drive to get there but I must say once we arrive the folks at Woodlawn have been tremendous hosts.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
It's do-or-die time
Union County lost its first basketball team on Wednesday as Strong's girls fell to Dermott 32-23 in the 2A 7-East District Tournament at Woodlawn. It's been 10 years since the Lady Bulldogs failed to make state, much less the regional.
A nearly 15-minute scoring drought in the second half did in Strong.
Junction City nearly suffered the same fate against Woodlawn. Leading scorer Ebony Holyfield fouled out with nearly six minutes to go in the game. Coach Henry Harrell's bench came up big as the Lady Dragons rallied to tie the game with 11 seconds left and won it in overtime 57-48.
It was a thrilling game between two teams that played like they knew what was at stake. When the Lady Dragons went up by three possessions in the overtime, some of the Lady Bears couldn't contain their emotions, weeping on the court despite time still being on the clock.
No, I don't like seeing children cry. But, I do love emotion. I like it when players leave everything on the court and play the game as if it's their last one.
It's been a long boring season for me but Junction City and Woodlawn got some of the old juices flowing. Those girls got after it and fought for 32 minutes and on into overtime.
The Lady Dragons will keep playing basketball at Woodlawn and on into the regional tournament next week at Foreman.
The road ended for Strong, however. Hopefully, the Lady Bulldogs got close enough to the prize to know what an off-season of hard work could produce next year.
A nearly 15-minute scoring drought in the second half did in Strong.
Junction City nearly suffered the same fate against Woodlawn. Leading scorer Ebony Holyfield fouled out with nearly six minutes to go in the game. Coach Henry Harrell's bench came up big as the Lady Dragons rallied to tie the game with 11 seconds left and won it in overtime 57-48.
It was a thrilling game between two teams that played like they knew what was at stake. When the Lady Dragons went up by three possessions in the overtime, some of the Lady Bears couldn't contain their emotions, weeping on the court despite time still being on the clock.
No, I don't like seeing children cry. But, I do love emotion. I like it when players leave everything on the court and play the game as if it's their last one.
It's been a long boring season for me but Junction City and Woodlawn got some of the old juices flowing. Those girls got after it and fought for 32 minutes and on into overtime.
The Lady Dragons will keep playing basketball at Woodlawn and on into the regional tournament next week at Foreman.
The road ended for Strong, however. Hopefully, the Lady Bulldogs got close enough to the prize to know what an off-season of hard work could produce next year.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Former players turn into coaches
I missed Dual State this season for the first time in 20 years. Didn’t watch a single game. Turns out, I missed an opportunity to watch one of my favorite former players coach. I didn’t even know Mandy Rook was the girls coach at Sparkman.
She joined her brother Chad Rook, who is still the boys coach at Haynesville. Their dad, Arkadelphia coach Lynn Rook, came down to watch his kids. I’m not sure about Jeremy Rook. I think he’s still coaching at Ouachita but don’t quote me on that one.
That’s quite the family coaching tree. I remember watching all of the Rooks while they were at Norphlet.
It also makes for quite a large number of former Union County athletes who have gone into the coaching business. Most folks know about Union’s Justin Welch, who led Norphlet’s girls to their first state tournament in more than 20 years. He has the Lady Leopards ranked among the state’s top teams in Class 2A this season.
Parkers Chapel’s Jamie Ball is coaching at Strong this season. Union’s Sharonda Davis is ninth grade girls coach at El Dorado. Union’s John Thompson assists Welch and is head coach of the junior boys at Norphlet.
There are so many others. Norphlet’s Amy Kennedy was an assistant at Sheridan. Former El Dorado point guard Kristian Tester is the seventh grade coach at Chaffin in Fort Smith. Parkers Chapel’s Josh Layman is at Centerpoint coaching junior boys. The Knights were 12-6 before meeting Prescott for the conference title. Union’s Josh Smith is at Desoto Central, coaching senior high girls in Mississippi. He didn’t give me his record. Must not be great.
Parkers Chapel graduate Mikey Moss is having an experience and a half at Oark, one of the smallest public schools in Arkansas with 142 students in grades K-12.
Oark is apart of the Jasper School District and is located 22 miles north of Clarksville on Hwy. 215.
Moss head coaches all four teams. Oark’s senior boys are 3-16. The senior girls are 2-14. The junior boys are 3-16 and his junior girls were 3-10 at Christmas break before having to forfeit the rest of the season.
“This year my senior boys were able to win their first game as a program in nearly five seasons,” said Moss. “My senior girls won their first game in nearly eight seasons. I know it doesn't seem like much, but last year my overall record was like 4-82ish... with my junior boys being the only team to win games in the last 3-4 years.”
If adversity really does built character, I’d vote Mikey Moss for president. Well, maybe mayor.
She joined her brother Chad Rook, who is still the boys coach at Haynesville. Their dad, Arkadelphia coach Lynn Rook, came down to watch his kids. I’m not sure about Jeremy Rook. I think he’s still coaching at Ouachita but don’t quote me on that one.
That’s quite the family coaching tree. I remember watching all of the Rooks while they were at Norphlet.
It also makes for quite a large number of former Union County athletes who have gone into the coaching business. Most folks know about Union’s Justin Welch, who led Norphlet’s girls to their first state tournament in more than 20 years. He has the Lady Leopards ranked among the state’s top teams in Class 2A this season.
Parkers Chapel’s Jamie Ball is coaching at Strong this season. Union’s Sharonda Davis is ninth grade girls coach at El Dorado. Union’s John Thompson assists Welch and is head coach of the junior boys at Norphlet.
There are so many others. Norphlet’s Amy Kennedy was an assistant at Sheridan. Former El Dorado point guard Kristian Tester is the seventh grade coach at Chaffin in Fort Smith. Parkers Chapel’s Josh Layman is at Centerpoint coaching junior boys. The Knights were 12-6 before meeting Prescott for the conference title. Union’s Josh Smith is at Desoto Central, coaching senior high girls in Mississippi. He didn’t give me his record. Must not be great.
Parkers Chapel graduate Mikey Moss is having an experience and a half at Oark, one of the smallest public schools in Arkansas with 142 students in grades K-12.
Oark is apart of the Jasper School District and is located 22 miles north of Clarksville on Hwy. 215.
Moss head coaches all four teams. Oark’s senior boys are 3-16. The senior girls are 2-14. The junior boys are 3-16 and his junior girls were 3-10 at Christmas break before having to forfeit the rest of the season.
“This year my senior boys were able to win their first game as a program in nearly five seasons,” said Moss. “My senior girls won their first game in nearly eight seasons. I know it doesn't seem like much, but last year my overall record was like 4-82ish... with my junior boys being the only team to win games in the last 3-4 years.”
If adversity really does built character, I’d vote Mikey Moss for president. Well, maybe mayor.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Emilee excels
Congratulations to Cutter Morning Star's Emilee Scroggins. Emilee is the daughter of former Parkers Chapel coach Lee Scroggins. She's come back from a debilitating illness as a sophomore and is finally back up to full steam as a senior.
Her team is 17-5 with 3 of losses to top-ranked ranked Jessieville in Class 3A.
"We had a shot at beating them in two of those games, but they pulled away in the fourth each time," said her father.
Emily is averaging 18 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 steals, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocked shots. She's shooting 54% from 2-pt. range, 34.8 from 3-pt. range and 67% at the line.
"The free throws are driving me nuts," said Lee. "She will hit streaks of 10-15 in a row then go 3 for 10 for a couple of games."
Still, she has her team in second place in the conference. Despite being the focal point of opposing defenses, Emilee has managed to have an outstanding senior season.
"She is seeing almost constant box-and-one or some type of gimmick defenses and she has really done a good job of moving without the ball and taking what the defense gives her," says her proud papa. "I can’t believe it is really coming to an end."
Her team is 17-5 with 3 of losses to top-ranked ranked Jessieville in Class 3A.
"We had a shot at beating them in two of those games, but they pulled away in the fourth each time," said her father.
Emily is averaging 18 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 steals, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocked shots. She's shooting 54% from 2-pt. range, 34.8 from 3-pt. range and 67% at the line.
"The free throws are driving me nuts," said Lee. "She will hit streaks of 10-15 in a row then go 3 for 10 for a couple of games."
Still, she has her team in second place in the conference. Despite being the focal point of opposing defenses, Emilee has managed to have an outstanding senior season.
"She is seeing almost constant box-and-one or some type of gimmick defenses and she has really done a good job of moving without the ball and taking what the defense gives her," says her proud papa. "I can’t believe it is really coming to an end."
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
PC? Wow!
Wow!
That's about all I can say after watching Parkers Chapel rip through Norphlet 54-37 Tuesday night. The Lady Trojans went up 54-24 with 5:11 left to play to trigger the mercy rule.
I didn't see that coming. No one else did, either, including PC coach Mark Young. The giddy Young could hardly contain himself when I talked to him afterward.
Obviously, the Lady Leopards did not play as well as they had hoped. Coach Justin Welch said the flu bug has been a factor. But, the black plague wouldn't explain a 30-point beatdown at home with first place in conference on the line.
Norphlet didn't look good. But, PC looked awesome.
I've only seen the Lady Trojans three or four times this season because of the inferior competition. But, their twosome of Savanna Langston and Jordan Carr never stops impressing me. Langston scored 22 points with 18 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. Carr scored 21 points with four steals and three assists. When those two girls come to play, they can dominate most Class 2A schools. More importantly on Tuesday, other Lady Trojans were trying to play with them.
I don't know how far PC can go in state. With two players doing the bulk of the scoring and rebounding and ball handling, I still have my doubts. But, what I saw Tuesday has me excited.
I hope the Lady Leopards can get their act together and start clicking by the postseason. Barring an injury, I'm not going to even question the Lady Trojans.
They're the only team to make me say "wow!" this season.
That's about all I can say after watching Parkers Chapel rip through Norphlet 54-37 Tuesday night. The Lady Trojans went up 54-24 with 5:11 left to play to trigger the mercy rule.
I didn't see that coming. No one else did, either, including PC coach Mark Young. The giddy Young could hardly contain himself when I talked to him afterward.
Obviously, the Lady Leopards did not play as well as they had hoped. Coach Justin Welch said the flu bug has been a factor. But, the black plague wouldn't explain a 30-point beatdown at home with first place in conference on the line.
Norphlet didn't look good. But, PC looked awesome.
I've only seen the Lady Trojans three or four times this season because of the inferior competition. But, their twosome of Savanna Langston and Jordan Carr never stops impressing me. Langston scored 22 points with 18 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. Carr scored 21 points with four steals and three assists. When those two girls come to play, they can dominate most Class 2A schools. More importantly on Tuesday, other Lady Trojans were trying to play with them.
I don't know how far PC can go in state. With two players doing the bulk of the scoring and rebounding and ball handling, I still have my doubts. But, what I saw Tuesday has me excited.
I hope the Lady Leopards can get their act together and start clicking by the postseason. Barring an injury, I'm not going to even question the Lady Trojans.
They're the only team to make me say "wow!" this season.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
My last nerve
I'm sure some folks are looking at me sideways, right now. I really don't care.
Well, I suppose I do care ... a little. If not, why write about it?
Rather than say I don't care, I'll say, 'let me explain.'
There's a reason why I've covered very little high school girls basketball in Union County this season. It's very simple. I'm too old for this ... stuff.
I can't take it. Can't stomach it.
Kids don't know how to play. It's that simple. I get angry when I watch them. My blood pressure rises when I watch them. My eyes water when I watch them. There's a little vein in my forehead that I never before knew existed. I discovered it while watching a girls basketball game this season. I believe the scientific term for this vein is called, "my last nerve."
Girls don't want to play basketball because they don't care enough to learn how to play basketball. That's fine. They have lots of choices and just because basketball isn't their choice, there are plenty of other great ones for them. But, if they don't care enough about basketball to even try to learn how to play, then why should I care enough to work "my last nerve" watching them?
The basketball in Union County is, by far, worse than I ever thought it would be. El Dorado, Parkers Chapel and Norphlet have solid teams with girls who have devoted their own time toward the sport. I could watch these three teams play each other in any combination seven nights a week without ever getting bored.
I can't watch one of these teams play a group of girls that doesn't take basketball very seriously. Even worse, I can't watch two groups of girls who could care less "competing" on the basketball court in a game of "can you top this?" on the stupid meter.
But Tony, you say, they're just kids.
You're right. Not everyone has to be a great player or even a good player. But, there was a time when you had to give a damn before someone gave you a uniform and put you on a team. I've seen a few young people who, obviously, don't give a hoot. I've seen senior high girls who didn't know where to line up on the free throw line. How the hell am I supposed to write an article for the newspaper about a game when the kids don't even know what to do on a freaking free throw?
Do you know how little that kid cared about basketball when they hadn't followed the sport enough to know the basic rules for a free throw?
She don't care. Why should anyone else?
I've tried to watch the games. I really have. But, I can't find a lot of positives to write about. I'm trying so hard not to embarrass a kid in the paper. So, I stay away.
If you can't say something good, don't say anything. I'll wait until I see something good before I write anything. I feel bad. Feel a little guilty. But, it's the only way I can keep my sanity and avoid hurting some child's feelings.
I'm sorry. And, I do care. But, this piss poor level of play is working my last nerve.
Well, I suppose I do care ... a little. If not, why write about it?
Rather than say I don't care, I'll say, 'let me explain.'
There's a reason why I've covered very little high school girls basketball in Union County this season. It's very simple. I'm too old for this ... stuff.
I can't take it. Can't stomach it.
Kids don't know how to play. It's that simple. I get angry when I watch them. My blood pressure rises when I watch them. My eyes water when I watch them. There's a little vein in my forehead that I never before knew existed. I discovered it while watching a girls basketball game this season. I believe the scientific term for this vein is called, "my last nerve."
Girls don't want to play basketball because they don't care enough to learn how to play basketball. That's fine. They have lots of choices and just because basketball isn't their choice, there are plenty of other great ones for them. But, if they don't care enough about basketball to even try to learn how to play, then why should I care enough to work "my last nerve" watching them?
The basketball in Union County is, by far, worse than I ever thought it would be. El Dorado, Parkers Chapel and Norphlet have solid teams with girls who have devoted their own time toward the sport. I could watch these three teams play each other in any combination seven nights a week without ever getting bored.
I can't watch one of these teams play a group of girls that doesn't take basketball very seriously. Even worse, I can't watch two groups of girls who could care less "competing" on the basketball court in a game of "can you top this?" on the stupid meter.
But Tony, you say, they're just kids.
You're right. Not everyone has to be a great player or even a good player. But, there was a time when you had to give a damn before someone gave you a uniform and put you on a team. I've seen a few young people who, obviously, don't give a hoot. I've seen senior high girls who didn't know where to line up on the free throw line. How the hell am I supposed to write an article for the newspaper about a game when the kids don't even know what to do on a freaking free throw?
Do you know how little that kid cared about basketball when they hadn't followed the sport enough to know the basic rules for a free throw?
She don't care. Why should anyone else?
I've tried to watch the games. I really have. But, I can't find a lot of positives to write about. I'm trying so hard not to embarrass a kid in the paper. So, I stay away.
If you can't say something good, don't say anything. I'll wait until I see something good before I write anything. I feel bad. Feel a little guilty. But, it's the only way I can keep my sanity and avoid hurting some child's feelings.
I'm sorry. And, I do care. But, this piss poor level of play is working my last nerve.
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