setxslam

I don't know enough about Woodville and Big Sandy to gauge their disappointment. Cleveland can't be too disappointed with their young team-- they'll be state contenders the next two seasons. So it's hard to pick between Ozen and Orangefield. Ozen sort of fell apart this year. Losing Boutte had to be a great disappointment to long-term Panther fans. The loss of discipline, the off-court distractions, and early departure from the playoffs had to add up to some disappointment in and for Ozen. Most disappointing team season goes to OF. They had the talent to make the playoffs, and didn't, and now have to wonder if they ever will.

It's Benard, and that's not the last we've heard of him on a basketball court.

From this morning's Austin American Statesman: "I thought I was going to have to go out there and guard him myself," joked Estacado coach Anthony Wagner. "It felt like we were being cheated because it looked like there were two of him out there. He's by far the best player we've seen this year."

DickVitale, off topic, but since you might be reading this: I hope you can help get the HJ Big Three to join the HJ Biggest One at LSCPA over this next two years. Beyond that, I hope all four of HJ's finest will go on to play at LU. They are great players, and great young men, who would do any program proud.

It'll likely be HJ-- same as this season.

Excellent. With Spring Break upon us, I hope we'll have a good turnout for the send-off. Fly high, Hawks!

I would love to see it, but... It would be a disaster. The good people running the score board at most high school gyms have a hard time keeping the score right, and there are always errors in time-keeping.

Dog-gonnit, I've spent so much time basking in the afterglow on this message board that I missed the interview. Hope they'll post a link to it tomorrow.

Congratulations, and thanks for the memories!

KP, that is so wrong! Grayson is much more Jimmy Chitwood. Sean might be Ollie... Though Sean did drive and score the ball on that big Navasota boy, he did not say, "I knew I had it all along."

Hey, that picket fence might come in handy!

Wow, Spinks, you and I were typing and thinking those same thoughts at the same moment (see the HJ Coaches thread). It's like we were crossing our streams!

I also enjoyed seeing Coach Sutherland hug Grayson after we'd clinched Austin. It has to be tough on them, taking all that pressure home with them, all season long... It's a wonderful thing that they're still doing that at this point in the season! I now have two sons who have played for these HJ coaches-- and gone to Austin. Coincidence? Nope. There are no finer coaches of high school basketball than the three we've been blessed with in Sour Lake these past five years. Coaches Sutherland, Davis, and Lee could take matchsticks and splinters and a little glue, and put together a house to withstand hurricanes. Okay, maybe I'm getting a little carried away, but get my point: those men make more of the talent available to them than any coaches I know of, unless you want to count Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers.

HJ HAS BEEN LUCKY. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TALENT TO GO ALL THE WAY Wow, if I had class like that, I'd shout it out in all-caps, too.

Jarvis imposed his will on this game. Too bad he was completely spent at the end of the game. There he was, the only Hawk making free throws throughout the playoffs, and he was so exhausted he missed his last three free throw attempts--when it didn't matter any more--and had to settle for 29 points on the night. Jarvis is, in my book, District, Regional, and State 3A MVP. Not bad for a down year.

HJ is going to wear those Bulldogs down!

HJ will find a way to win.

Wish I could enjoy this hard-fought win more-- Jasper scares me. We are going to have to play smart D and, for goodness' sake, make free throws to get back to Austin. Lufkin Hudson seems like good kids and congrats to them, but I could do without their obnoxous band. It's like they can't out-cheer us, so they bust out the band. Rest up Hawks, and fly high tomorrow! Silsbee, no words can take away the pain you feel now. Y'all had a great team this year.

Our 65-60 OT loss to LH was almost three months ago. We are much improved since then. HJ by 10+.

Just a guess: I think Coach was worried we were playing 5-on-8, had Ricossa fouled out, and everyone else in foul trouble, and the kids were exhausted, so Coach wanted to shorten the game with the ball in Jarvis's hands. Jarvis is one clutch free throw shooter. Res ipsa loquitor: Hawks win.

Those refs were amazing. Nice, gutsy win, Hawks! Cleveland is very good, definitely a 3A state contender these next two years.

Bailey and Spikes have a shooter's chance.

Coldspring's like the condemned prisoner being picky about the hour of his execution.

That's a relief to hear about Donahoe, and at least a few seats the Seahawks just filled! I wonder if Jarvis and Trey would join their old teammate?

Yes.