setxslam

The Lion's Den is their new gym, right? Ah, it seems basketball's been too long coming-- which would be correct, since Silsbee ended our last season a week too early. This year's Hawks will be HJ's Redeem Team, and the Road to Redemption finally starts in the Lion's Den-- where the Hawks will fly around and scatter the cunning runts of Kountze! Spell Check, don't fail me now! [interesting factoid: I actually used the Spell Check, and it wants me to change "Silsbee" to "Slobber."]

When and where is this scrimmage? Will it just be Kountze and HJ, or will other team(s) be there? HJ will be without Trey, Jacoby, Gus, and 3-4 other varsity guys, until football ends-- about half the basketball varsity-- but I think we'll have enough to compete.

Yao has been making opponents look like Hall of Famers lately. I am short, fat, fifty, arthritic-- and I swear I think I could beat Yao one-on-one. He's just a step late in everything. Used to be, when he took his time, he'd either score the ball or kick it out of the double-team; now he's missing or getting stripped. Wake up, big fella! Thank God for Aaron Brooks. Brooks and Barry are the only guys moving without the ball.

Random Rox thoughts: They killed us on the boards. The guys look like they're not interested in working Adelman's--or any--offense. I don't know how we were so close to winning that game. Hope Chuck Hayes isn't too hurt. Come back, Shane!

I'll certainly be rooting for Orangefield vs. Silsbee! ;D

Uh, bad word choice, especially lately.

Jarvis is a cat-quick, left-handed, scoring guard. He's about 5'11." Sag off him and your gym's roof will leak under all that rain. Get in his mug and he'll be by you faster than your blink. This will be his third season on the varsity, and I expect he will be playing somewhere at the next level next year. Here's the math: Jarvis Benard:3A = AI:NBA and, next year, Jarvis Benard:NCAA = Aaron Brooks:NBA. Yo nostradamus, my man, here's a prediction for ya: Jarvis Benard will average 40 ppg vs. Silsbee this year, and throughout the playoffs, all the way through HJ's state title victory, and be the 3A Player of the Year. Word.

HJ's JV did lose one game late last year, 40-36, at Orangefield. Flu and grades had decimated the HJ JV down to five players-- two of whom were probably too sick to be playing, but playing anyway-- in that road loss. HJ's JV went 23-1. The "weak" HJ JV's 23 victories included wins over Silsbee at home and away, without a true point guard playing in either game. Last year's undefeated HJ ninth grade team will also be contributing some players to this year's HJ varsity.

HA-HA-HA, HE-HE-HE, [clutching ribs, slapping thighs] HO-HO-HO! Thank you very much-- that made my day!

Worse? Not on the basketball court. And I think HJ's improved passing & shooting, team speed, and team D will surprise many.

HJ will be better this year, assuming no serious football injuries these next few weeks.

Oh God! Another boring ...err boastful year of listening to HJ fans ranting about an average team. Average? Hmmm... Yep. Of course, I like the average HJ team's chance of winning state. :-*

It's too early to make predictions, what with so many kids playing football. Barring broken bones, it's safe to say HJ should be very good. Of the non-footballers in fifth period P.E. (basketball), I hear Jarvis and Grayson are lighting it up from downtown Sour Lake; Rico and Nobles are doing good work on the low block; the role players are hustling. I can't wait for showtime!

Congratulations Silsbee. That was a good tournament y'all put on, with a lot of good teams.

Thanks to Coaches Williams and Brooks for putting on a great tournament!

In bracket play, HJ scrapped out a 1-pt win over the PA Heat. All the Hawks played well, and Jarvis played a gutsy game on a gimpy ankle. I saw Silsbee beat the 2nd place PA Heat squad by 1 in OT, and Central handled Cleveland by about 20. HJ lost by about 10-12 to WB. Didn't look like the same hustling Hawks. Might have been out of gas-- couldn't overcome WB's size advantage. Way too many TOs; way too many lapses on D; missed every 3 we chucked up, I think; missed dunks and layups. The coaching sucked, too. Ah, well, it's summer.

HJ beat LCM by one point, something like 38-37, last night. Ugly game, turnovers galore. HJ beat Kountze JV-Varsity mix by low double digits this afternoon. HJ beat Hardin by a pretty big margin tonight. Hardin only had five players.

HJ plays PA Heat in bracket play 11 AM tomorrow at Silsbee Middle School.

Update: I just heard HJ is playing in a tournament at Silsbee next weekend. HJ's first game is 4 PM Thursday at the HS. Don't know who we're playing or any other details... Will post any more info I get.

Yo Poppa, HJ summer league is done. HJ varsity went undefeated, easily, but was never really challenged. EC, Cathedral, HF, Anahuac, and HD participated. The vets looked great. The coming-up kids looked great, too. I was pleased by the play of our new bigs: Trent and Rico are very active and skilled. We are going to be deep-- seriously, our third string kids will be good enough to maintain or build leads against many 3A starting units.

Tonight HJ played HD. HD might be down a little from last year... HJ won 73-40. HJ's subs and role players are looking good. Jarvis and Jacoby looked really sharp; Trey did too, especially as the game went on. I don't know where L'il Steve or Rico were-- we missed them. The kids all looked pretty good, even the ones who are worn out pretty much from the Gohlke camp or individual workouts. HJ promises to be better next year.

Tonight HJ played Anahuac, a team that looks improved from the Anahuac teams I've seen in recent years. HJ led the whole way and won in the double digits, but didn't look nearly as sharp as they looked Tuesday night vs. EC. Trey was off playing 7-on-7, and the Hawks were too sore from weight-lifting to shoot well, apparently. Jarvis showed up late, as did his shot. Still, overall, HJ hustled and had fun. The overall HJ talent pool looks to be getting deeper each year, too. OK, someone from Silsbee tell us what the Tigers are up to.

HJ Summer League started yesterday. In the one game I watched, HJ looked great; EC, not so much. Jarvis, Trey, Jacoby, and Li'l Steve looked really quick. The two posts coming up from JV played very well at both ends. The role-player wings were solid. Then there was this rising ninth grader, who I was told wears size 17 shoes-- he showed some good basketball instincts. If Trey and Jacoby don't get too dinged up during football season, the Hawks should enjoy another 30+ win season, and maybe even... well... we'll see.

Probably a draft choice the aquired in the Ashton Hall deal ;D ;D ;D Now that's a good one!

HJ will be adding some size (two posts off the JV), some athleticism (three or four wings off JV), some shooters (I'll keep y'all guessing), and a skilled PG off last year's unbeaten ninth grade squad to the returning Jarvis, Trey, and Jacoby. Steve Guillory might return. HJ's coaches will have plenty of talent--some with state championship experience--to work with next year. Bring Silsbee, OF, and those HF 7th graders on!