Choco cake

Why do some people insist on trying to improve chocolate?
You can't improve on chocolate. It's the perfect food.
I'm really tired of someone offering me a piece of homemade fudge, which looks delicious. I bite into it eagerly only to discover a marshmellow or a pecan or something hidden inside.
To quote Nancy Kerrigan, "Why? Why? Why?"
I don't mean to be racist but white folks are often the perpetrators. For some reason, they think chocolate cake, the greatest food ever made, can be improved upon by sticking damn cherries inside.
When you put cherries in it, it's no longer chocolate cake.
I hate whipped cream or any other kind of white splooge that's inserted inside a cupcake. You didn't make it better. You screwed it up.
I don't remember the last time I had chocolate cake without a gooey, crappy surprise inside of it.
My mom knew how to make it. She made chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
PERIOD.
It was the best thing ever created - so simple, yet, so perfect.
It's like I say to myself everytime I look in the mirror. You can't improve on perfection.

Inspirational leader

Call me Scrooge all you want, but I'm starting to dread this time of the year. I got sick last year during the holiday and, dadgum if I'm not sick again.
I started feeling bad on Christmas Day and, although I went to Camden for the Holiday Classic on Wednesday, I didn't feel good. I took Thursday and Friday off in hopes of feeling better by the weekend.
We'll see.
I haven't seen much hoops and the two games I did see, Strong losing to Watson Chapel and El Dorado falling to Fordyce, left me uninspired.
The Lady Bulldogs just don't have enough weapons to play that caliber of competition. The Lady Wildcats found a way to lose against a slightly inferior opponent. As bad as I feel, I'm pretty sure El Dorado coach Corey Smith feels even worse.
As I sat in front of the television on Thursday I was riveted to CNN's coverage of the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
In covering girls sports over the past few years, I've grown to admire strong women. Men are supposed to be strong. But, to me, there is something super special about a strong, fearless female.
Hearing the story of Bhutto, who returned to her country in hopes of establishing a Democracy even though she knew it would mean almost certain death . . . wow!
There's strong and then there's heroic.
Hearing this woman's story inspired me more than any basketball game ever could.

Dixon out for Strong

I saw another good game Thursday in Parkers Chapel with the Lady Trojans handling Strong 47-28. Parkers Chapel is unbeaten in 2A 7East play after giving the Lady Bulldogs their first conference loss.
It was a good game, not great. The girls played hard on both ends of the court.
Strong's Breuna Dixon got the results back on her knee and the news was bad. She tore her ACL, which is the worst thing that can happen to a senior athlete.
Dixon wants to put a brace on the knee and play. Coach Koonce didn't sound like he was going to let her try it.
It's a tough call. Every kid is going to want to play. Sometimes adults have to tell children - "No."
I think Koonce is making the right call but it's not easy to say no to a kid who wants to play so bad.
Anyway, without Dixon the Lady Bulldogs are pretty much like a fighter with one big punch. Strong has a dominant inside game but now have no perimeter punch to set it up.
PC packed it in on Strong and that was all she wrote.
On the flip side, the Lady Trojans are starting to look like a formidible team. Freshman Savanna Langston is starting to establish herself as a force inside. That should open up Dana Gray and Dallas Phipps on the outside to make PC tough to handle.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the Lady Trojans fare against Jessieville tonight.

Wishes do come true

Christmas came early in Parkers Chapel. Well, I wouldn't necessarily call the Lady Trojans' 40-37 win at Smackover on Friday a gift.
It was a very hard-fought victory. Parkers Chapel earned it, no doubt.
So, instead of calling it a Christmas gift, let's just call it a swell surprise or maybe a wish-come-true.
The Lady Bucks dug themselves out of a 12-point third quarter deficit and led 37-36 and had the ball with less than 20 seconds to play. After missing the front end of a 1-and-1, Smackover got the ball back when it went out of bounds off a PC player.
The Lady Trojans were in desperation foul mode. But, Smackover's Viana Stanley attempted a 3-point shot. The shot missed. PC got the rebound and threw a long pass to D'Atra Harper, who scored the winning layup.
“I was considering a timeout to change defenses and discuss what we wanted to do,” said PC coach Mark Young. “But, our kids pretty much knew if they got the ball in and pulled it out we were going to have to come out and foul. But, they got it in and she pulled it pretty quickly. Hope Phillips was running out to foul her and she pulls it. I was going, ‘oh man.’ I wasn’t looking for that. It worked out in our favor. She was just trying to make a play for their team. I’m just glad the ball bounced our way at the end like that.”
I feel bad for the young lady, who was inconsolable after the game. I still can't help but wonder though, "how does that happen?" The phrase, "it could happen to anybody" doesn't seem to apply in this case.
Anyway, it was another great game to watch. My Christmas wish is for Parkers Chapel and Smackover to play again and break the tie after splitting their two games.
Don't tell me wishes don't come true this time of year. Mark Young just got his.
***
Here are the other girls scores from Friday night: Strong won at Bearden 49-43. Anastacia Dismuke scored all of her 23 points in the first half, including 18 in the first quarter. Norphlet beat Hampton 72-35 behind a career-high 39 points from Kemi Tate.
Parkers Chapel is 8-1. Strong is 8-2. Smackover is 10-3 and Norphlet is 2-7.

Time for a change?

I read my rant about Tuesday's basketball game at Strong. Maybe I'm just getting too old for this job.
I meant everything I said. The game was very difficult to watch. But, was it the worst game I've ever seen?
In my career as a journalist, I've seen a whole lot of teams that couldn't have stayed on the court for a half with either team. So, was the play really as bad as I thought it was?
That question makes me wonder if I'm just getting too old, too cranky, too cantankerous for this business. For some reason, this season it seems I have no patience for poorly played basketball.
You've probably noticed this in a couple of my recent blogs.
I've sat through, probably, hundreds of bad games. Why is it that now, all of a sudden, I'm having such a difficult time digesting them?
Everyone, at one point or another, gets in a rut on their job. I must be in a rut.
Maybe I've gotten spoiled. It was so great watching Strong's state championship runs. Before that, I had great basketball at Union, Strong and a couple years at Parkers Chapel. I had great, intense games to look forward to.
Even last year, it was a joy to watch Maranda Parker, at 5-10, handle the ball in the open court. I looked forward to watching her play along with Ellana White, who wasn't as skilled but thrilled me with her desire to win games.
That's not to say there aren't good players in the area this year because there are. Smackover's Kendra Marsh will have an opportunity to play college ball in the future.
That's not to say there aren't decent teams in the area this year, either. I don't think we have a great team but there are some above average squads in the county.
But, for me, something's missing. For the first time, I can't get past the bad games to get to the good ones.
Like I said, maybe I've finally gotten too old. Maybe I've lost patience. Maybe I've lost hope.
Whatever the deal is, I hope something clicks for me soon and I can find some of the lost joy I used to have for the sport of girls basketball. For the first time in about 16 years, going to games is starting to feel like a job.
If that's the case, I might as well get a real job and actually make some money.

Gimme a stick

I'm hoping Tuesday's game at Strong was just a one-night thing. Hopefully, the game is not an indictment of area girls basketball this season. Hopefully, it was all a bad dream and I will wake up soon.
The Lady Bulldogs beat Norphlet 47-42. The teams combined to shoot 33-of-76 at the free throw line with probably twice as many turnovers as missed free throws.
It was hideous.
John Wooden would've rolled over in his grave if he'd seen that. I know John Wooden isn't dead but if he'd seen that game, it would've killed him.
Thankfully, former Strong coaches Ron Triplett, Betty Burge and Kendrah Ferguson weren't there because they would've shot themselves in the forehead with a nail gun if they'd seen it. Hell, if I could've found a stick, I would've beaten my own self into a state of unconsciousness.
Okay, I'm exaggerating slightly. I would not have beaten myself with a stick although that would've been more pleasureable than the game.
It was an ugly, ugly, bare-naked, butt-ugly ball game.
I'm sure both teams can play better. I look forward to seeing all of these girls play better this season.
For one night, however, I believe I saw basketball at its blood-curdling worst.
I'm about to hit myself with a stick just thinking about it.

Strong (k)needs good news

The 7AA-East girls race could hinge, literally, on Breuna Dixon's knee. Strong's senior guard injured her knee last week against Smackover in the Magnolia Tournament. Coach Gerrald Koonce was waiting on the MRI results the last time I talked to him.
Dixon is a good player. What makes her so valuable to the Lady Bulldogs is the fact they are already thin in the backcourt. Dixon provides them with some semblance of ball handling and, perhaps as important, an outside shooting threat.
After watching Strong play last week, I was ready to annoint the Lady Bulldogs as the team to beat in the conference. However, if Dixon's health is an issue, that prediction becomes null and void.
That's the thing about the teams in this conference, every coach has one or two players they cannot afford to lose. If Strong loses Dixon for the season, Coach Koonce, the wise ol' wizard himself, will have to cook up some serious sorcery for the Lady Dogs.
***
On Friday, should I watch El Dorado host Camden Fairview or go to Smackover for the Lady Bucks' rematch with Parkers Chapel?
I'm pretty sure the Smackover-PC game will be good. I'm pretty sure the Lady Wildcats will fall short against the Lady Cardinals.
But, if El Dorado was to somehow pull off the upset and I missed it, that would be a horrible mishap on my part.
I asked El Dorado coach Corey Smith and, of course, he told me the Lady Wildcats are going to win. I think the Lady Cats are due for a good performance against a good team. However, Smackover-PC might be the most intense rivalry I've got, right now.
It doesn't matter where I go, my attention will be diverted.
***
On the college front, Arkansas Tech's Little Red Riding Hoopster Julie Smith came off the bench Saturday in an 87-68 win over Northwest Missouri State. Smith scored 12 points in seven minutes, hitting all four of her field goals, including two 3-pointers.
By the way, the Golden Suns have compiled a 7-3 record this season.

El Dorado to play Strong

I'm busy so here are a couple quick updates.
Strong and El Dorado will play in the finals of the Magnolia Tournament. Strong beat Magnolia 37-33 in overtime on Friday.
The officiating was horrible. The referees did everything they could to screw the Lady Bulldogs. I try to be unbiased, although I usually fall short. But, this was beyond the norm. Some of the calls were incredibly blatent.
I lost my cool a couple times. Hopefully, not too many people saw me. Even Magnolia sports writer Chris Gilliam admitted it didn't look very fair.
El Dorado beat down Hope 49-27. It wasn't that close.
If Strong had Breuna Dixon, who missed Friday's game with a knee injury, I'd give the Lady Bulldogs a shot. Since they won't, I'm going with the Lady Wildcats, who should wear Strong down with pressure defense and depth.
***
At OBU, Marandalynn Parker scored eight points in 25 minutes in the Lady Tigers' loss to St. Mary's on Friday.
Around Union County, Parkers Chapel beat Hermitage 52-14 on Friday.

Bologna or filet mignon

After you've eaten filet mignon, it's difficult to go back to bologna.
I watched some of the best girls basketball teams compete last week at the Oil Belt Classic. I must admit, watching regular girls hoops on Monday at the Magnolia Tournament left me with sort of a bad taste.
I'm sorry if I'm sounding a little snobby. But, there's just something so nice about watching girls who know how to play the game. It's fun watching girls compete at a high level.
Basketball is my favorite sport. I love to see it when it's played well. At the same time, it's almost insulting to watch people attempt to play the sport I love the most without the basic fundamentals or any sort of competitive passion.
I've said this several times but I just don't understand how people can play the game from 7th grade through the 12th grade and they still can't use both hands or dribble with their heads up. They can't catch the ball, dribble it, pass it or shoot it.
I know it's just a game. But if you don't love it, why play it?
Anyway, there's nothing I enjoy more than watching two teams filled with fundamentally sound athletes playing a great game of basketball.
I don't think I'll ever get used to watching kids who don't know how to play. I'll never get used to watching 11th and 12th grade girls or boys who can't dribble.
I refuse to get used to that. I refuse to call that basketball.
I can appreciate kids wanting to participate in a sport despite not having a lot of athletic ability. There's a big difference between a lack of athletic ability and a lack of fundamental skills or basic knowledge of the game.
After watching Neville beat West Monroe and Carlisle top Ouachita, I don't want to settle for something less than that.
Bologna is certainly edible but it ain't filet mignon.

Lady Cardinals get revenge

Sounds like Camden Fairview avenged its only loss in two years on Saturday. According to my source (Coach Koonce), the Lady Cardinals went into Central Arkansas Christian and escaped with a 49-48 victory.
Fairview trailed by one when CAC missed a pair of free throws. Destinee Rogers dribbled the length of the court and fed Jasmine Curtis, whose game-winning layup came as the final horn sounded.
Rogers also had a hand in slowing down CAC's Kelsey Hatcher, who scored 38 in Camden in the season opener. Hatcher scored 12 points early but was held to just three points in the final three-and-a-half quarters with Rogers defending.

Arkansas hoops wins again

El Dorado's Oil Belt Classic is now history. Although the crowds were ridiculously small, the teams were top-notch and provided high-quality girls basketball not seen often enough in South Arkansas.
The game I most looked forward to was Ouachita vs. Carlisle. It didn't disappoint.
For those who weren't there, which is probably all of you, the tournament got way ahead of schedule. I heard Ouachita refused to play before the 7 o'clock time so the teams had about 30 minutes to warm up.
A scorekeeper for Ouachita sat next to me and started to talk. He was a nice, older gentleman, who loves Ouachita basketball. He took me through the history of the program, talked about wins over Alana Beard and how Chrissy Givens, a Ouachita product, is the only four-time Class 5A all stater ever. He said Seimone Augustus was four-time all state but not at the 5A level.
He talked about the big-time tournaments Ouachita goes to, including the Shake-and-Bake in New Orleans (before Katrina) and the events in Texas, especially Duncanville where they were personally invited by Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson.
He didn't seem all that interested in Ouachita's opponent although he knew they won one of the small class state championships in Arkansas.
Once the game finally began and Carlisle stepped knee-deep in his team's butt, the man began to argue with the officials and actually said, "you couldn't win a state championship in Louisiana playing like that."
It was a good game with Carlisle rallying in the second half. The Lady Bison pretty much owned the fourth quarter as Arkansas signee Julie Inman showed why she is an Arkansas signee.
Alas, the man who talked and talked and talked for 30 minutes straight, didn't utter a word for most of the fourth quarter.
It seems both the players and scorekeeper were a little overconfident. Personally, I still think Ouachita is a better team than Carlisle. The only individual matchup I'd favor Carlisle is point guard.
I actually asked Henry Harrell, "why don't they just take Inman away? Don't let her get the ball?"
I knew the answer before he said, "it's not as easy as it sounds."
Anywho, it was a good game. I was kind of proud to see a little ol' Arkansas school put the beatdown on a big Louisiana school.
That's how we do it in the Natural State.

Smackover ain't scared

Don't look now but the Smackover senior girls are doing it.
The Lady Buckaroos won the SAU Tournament Saturday, beating Magnolia 32-30. It was the third win in three days for a team that plays about seven girls. The three wins were over two 5A schools and a 4A squad.
There's still a lot of season left for the unbeaten Lady Bucks. Don't know if they can keep flying this high for the entire trip. They're going to have to stop for fuel sooner or later. But, at least Marsha Cowling knows what her team is capable of doing.
It doesn't get any easier this week as Smackover takes on Strong in the first round of the Magnolia Tournament on Thursday. The winner will likely get Magnolia with El Dorado waiting in the finals.
Don't know if Smackover can pull off the three wins in three days trick against those three teams. I know one thing for sure, though.
They ain't scared.
***
Both Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech posted overtime victories Saturday.
Marandalynn Parker scored 12 points with four rebounds and three steals in the Lady Tigers' 65-61 win over York College. Parker had two turnovers while playing 42 minutes.
Julie Smith is slowly working her way into the rotation at Arkansas Tech. The Golden Suns beat West Alabama 76-74 in OT on Saturday. Smith had an assist in eight minutes of action.
Ellana White wasn't listed on the boxscore of SAU's last two games.