Decisions, Decisions
Well, the regional tournaments are a week away and I still can't figure out where to hitch my wagon. None of the Union County girls teams have been consistently good but El Dorado, Parkers Chapel and Norphlet all appear to have finished strong.
Speaking of Strong, it wouldn't be a complete shock if the Lady Bulldogs made it to state and actually stick around longer than anybody else.
Decisions. Decisions.
For me, it may come down to location.
The 6A State Tournament is in West Memphis with the 3A State in Jessieville and 2A in Carlisle. Which of these places offers the nicest ammenities?
As for teams, I could make a case for any of 'em. El Dorado has a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing. It will probably be some combination of Watson Chapel, Texarkana and El Dorado in the championship game. All three of these teams have beaten one another.
The Lady Wildcats are playing okay, right now. Not great, but okay. The thing is, okay might be good enough to win it all in 6A this year.
I don't like the Lady Trojans' chances in Class 3A. I've seen England and that team is terrifying. I don't know if PC has the horses to run that race and I'm not convinced it has the patience to resist the pace. Not that England is the only good team in Class 3A. I'll have a better feel for PC if it gets to play Prescott in the regional.
Norphlet's guards are solid but every team in the state tournament will have solid guards. Teams that live on the press during the regular season often die by it at state. The Lady Leopards need a post presence, at least on the defensive glass, and I'm not sure it's there, yet. The jury is definitely still out. Like PC, a sturdy regional test lies ahead with Wickes.
As for Strong, the Lady Bulldogs are often difficult to watch. I'm a great admirer of skill and tend to gravitate toward finesse teams. Strong ain't finesse but its glass eating antics are often enough to beat some less athletic clubs. In girls basketball, the battle of skill and precision vs. leaping ability and speed often goes the way of the athlete.
No, I haven't forgotten about Smackover. The Lady Bucks are still very much alive in the district tournament and need a win today over Dermott to get to regional. It would be an upset if they got there but it's not exactly David vs. Goliath. They have a chance.
Like Strong, ball handling and perimeter shooting has been the Lady Bucks' bugaboo all season. Unlike Strong, Smackover can't just run and get every shot it misses. I fear the end is near.
So, as far as which team will I be following to state, I'm really not sure. I have an idea but it might depend on how everybody looks in the regional.
***
I can't go without saying how sorry I am to hear about the fate of the Strong boys. For those who don't know, the Bulldogs finished second in the regular season, earning a bye to the district semifinals and a regional berth.
On Tuesday at 4 p.m., Smackover officials were notified that Strong used an ineligible player during the season. The Bulldogs had to forfeit every conference game.
Because the district tournament began on Monday, Strong's season is over. If the violation had been reported a day earlier, the Bulldogs would've forfeited all their games but still could've played in the district tournament as the No. 10 seed and won their way to the regional tournament.
By waiting a day, whoever reported the violation made sure Strong's season was over.
I'm hearing details now about the ineligible player. It sounds like somebody should've heeded one of the many red flags.
Strong's coaches and officials should've dotted every I and crossed ever T. And, they didn't. Whoever turned them in, obviously, could've done so before the district tournament started. That's kind of sleazy, also.
In the end, the kids at Strong are the ones who are the least to blame and the ones who are hurt the most. Isn't that always that way it works out?
Speaking of Strong, it wouldn't be a complete shock if the Lady Bulldogs made it to state and actually stick around longer than anybody else.
Decisions. Decisions.
For me, it may come down to location.
The 6A State Tournament is in West Memphis with the 3A State in Jessieville and 2A in Carlisle. Which of these places offers the nicest ammenities?
As for teams, I could make a case for any of 'em. El Dorado has a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing. It will probably be some combination of Watson Chapel, Texarkana and El Dorado in the championship game. All three of these teams have beaten one another.
The Lady Wildcats are playing okay, right now. Not great, but okay. The thing is, okay might be good enough to win it all in 6A this year.
I don't like the Lady Trojans' chances in Class 3A. I've seen England and that team is terrifying. I don't know if PC has the horses to run that race and I'm not convinced it has the patience to resist the pace. Not that England is the only good team in Class 3A. I'll have a better feel for PC if it gets to play Prescott in the regional.
Norphlet's guards are solid but every team in the state tournament will have solid guards. Teams that live on the press during the regular season often die by it at state. The Lady Leopards need a post presence, at least on the defensive glass, and I'm not sure it's there, yet. The jury is definitely still out. Like PC, a sturdy regional test lies ahead with Wickes.
As for Strong, the Lady Bulldogs are often difficult to watch. I'm a great admirer of skill and tend to gravitate toward finesse teams. Strong ain't finesse but its glass eating antics are often enough to beat some less athletic clubs. In girls basketball, the battle of skill and precision vs. leaping ability and speed often goes the way of the athlete.
No, I haven't forgotten about Smackover. The Lady Bucks are still very much alive in the district tournament and need a win today over Dermott to get to regional. It would be an upset if they got there but it's not exactly David vs. Goliath. They have a chance.
Like Strong, ball handling and perimeter shooting has been the Lady Bucks' bugaboo all season. Unlike Strong, Smackover can't just run and get every shot it misses. I fear the end is near.
So, as far as which team will I be following to state, I'm really not sure. I have an idea but it might depend on how everybody looks in the regional.
***
I can't go without saying how sorry I am to hear about the fate of the Strong boys. For those who don't know, the Bulldogs finished second in the regular season, earning a bye to the district semifinals and a regional berth.
On Tuesday at 4 p.m., Smackover officials were notified that Strong used an ineligible player during the season. The Bulldogs had to forfeit every conference game.
Because the district tournament began on Monday, Strong's season is over. If the violation had been reported a day earlier, the Bulldogs would've forfeited all their games but still could've played in the district tournament as the No. 10 seed and won their way to the regional tournament.
By waiting a day, whoever reported the violation made sure Strong's season was over.
I'm hearing details now about the ineligible player. It sounds like somebody should've heeded one of the many red flags.
Strong's coaches and officials should've dotted every I and crossed ever T. And, they didn't. Whoever turned them in, obviously, could've done so before the district tournament started. That's kind of sleazy, also.
In the end, the kids at Strong are the ones who are the least to blame and the ones who are hurt the most. Isn't that always that way it works out?
posted by Tony at
10:44 PM
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