setxslam

Man, I hate to read that. How injured is he?

Should be a good game tonight. EC is much improved, and will be tough at home. If HJ plays like they played in the first half this morning, though, well... There just aren't many small schools could compete with that. That was a show!

I hear Donahoe's having nagging trouble with his knee. I have faith that his talent will eventually take him to bigger and better things. That kid simply willed HJ to a state championship-- on one good leg.

Props to Big Sandy. You guys are good!

We will need the Hecklers there to the max. This will be the best team we play all year. They got that D1 big guy on the boards and kicking out to all those three point shooters... Leave it all on the floor, Hawks!

Lufkin Hudson lost at Huntington (who HJ rolled, 74-48) last night, 39-38. Of course, that was an away game...

They are athletic, seem like good kids. One fairly tall kid hit several semi-contested 3s and had a nice stroke. I think they have some talent to work with. If they can eliminate about half their turnovers, Kirbyville could compete with, maybe even upset, anyone in the district. Note to Kirbyville administration: That's a beautiful gym. Please double the lighting-- it's really dark in there.

Coach called the press off in the second half.

Multiple Hawks nursing injuries (none from fouls :) from the Lufkin fiasco made for some poor shooting and finishing last night. Good hustle on D got the job done. Those kids are worn out, fighting off colds, staying up too late every night to do their nonsensical Calculus project and other homework... It's the same thing this time of year, every year. Christmas break couldn't come at a better time!

Please note that, in the prediction thread for the HJ @ LH game, I wrote: "Lufkin Hudson has the worst homer refs in the history of basketball-- well, at least that I've personally seen, and I've been watching for almost half a century. I don't see how HJ can possibly come out of there with a win." and "Worst homer refs in the history of basketball. That deep East TX chapter is notorious. They will eject fans for yelling, "What?" Not "WTF," mind you, but merely, "What?" The game is all about them and their supreme control over it. So I am anticipating a miserable drive up there, multiple Hawk Hecklers getting ejected, and a miserable drive home-- but of course we'll be there, supporting our high flying Hawks as they take on the most powerful 8 they'll see all season." Seeing how the game turned out, then, was no surprise to me. I am not whining about the loss. The loss will have some teaching value. I am whining--more like screaming-- about the cheating refs. Their shenanigans were so obvious that our assistant coaches were cracking up, laughing hysterically, at some of their call/non-calls. It is my sincere wish that we never visit Lufkin Hudson again. It's nothing against their excellent players or coaches, who I hope we get to meet in the playoffs.

Homer jobs took us out of our press from the get-go. Against a talented team with a stud big guy, our press is crucial. So those early, blatantly cheating whistles were pretty demoralizing. As the game went on, the 3:1 foul call disparity was not as glaring as the non-calls when the Hawks would drive and get knocked to the ground. I know Coach is upset with the technicals; I am, too, though I can't blame the kids for their outrage at being so cheated, all game long. We need to maintain composure. We had somehow fought back to a 7-pt deficit, and those Ts sealed our fate. Nice clean block, Colby, though, anyway... I hope Coach Sutherland never visits LH again. It's obvious what's going on up there. Hopefully we'll get to play these guys on a neutral court down the road.

And then sometimes I really, really hate it when I'm right...

And then sometimes I hate it when I'm right...

I'd say it's just kids-- but it's politicians, it's what the whole darned country does for entertainment. Nice to see another weary voice of reason out there.

Worst homer refs in the history of basketball. That deep East TX chapter is notorious. They will eject fans for yelling, "What?" Not "WTF," mind you, but merely, "What?" The game is all about them and their supreme control over it. So I am anticipating a miserable drive up there, multiple Hawk Hecklers getting ejected, and a miserable drive home-- but of course we'll be there, supporting our high flying Hawks as they take on the most powerful 8 they'll see all season.

EC put up a heck of a fight tonight. I think they're going to get stronger and better as they go. The refs, my goodness...

Lufkin Hudson has the worst homer refs in the history of basketball-- well, at least that I've personally seen, and I've been watching for almost half a century. I don't see how HJ can possibly come out of there with a win.

I have coached kids from both these teams for the last four or five summers. I honestly don't know who would win. I am biased toward HJ, since my sons play there, so I have to check myself. Logic tells me Ozen would kill us on the boards; however, I've seen HJ out-hustle a lot of bigger, more athletic teams. It would be a fun game to watch, but it probably won't happen. I can see how Coach Boutte and Coach Sutherland would feel the risks outweigh the rewards of such a game. Also, I don't know if the kids would even want to play against their friends-- there's a lot of mutual respect between the players on these two teams. In Austin last year they were visiting in their hotel rooms, wishing each other well, fighting off nervousness together. I know they'd love to be able to do that again this year!

Dang it fellers, let's not go all cocky. Yes, we can beat EC, but they'll have Vance back, and I expect a much closer contest Tuesday. Some of the Hawks are dinged up pretty good or coming down with colds-- with the adrenaline worn off from that TylerCH battle, I'd be very worried about a letdown. So heed that poster's comment about pride before the fall... Let's take care of business.

Thank you, Aggies, and same back at you. That #1 is meaningless, I agree, but we did beat this same talented squad in Austin last year. They came to our tournament for payback, and played like they really wanted it! This was a high quality win.

HJ's talent is really deep this year. Jarvis might be the next A.I. Trey is a basketball beast. Colby is so, so tough, and has so many ways to score. These are our main scoring options--but, of course, they set the example on D, too. I want to praise all the HJ role players, in no particular order. Everyone was dinged-up or playing sick this tournament, and look at the hustle they put out there. Ryan Weldon made a lot of hustle steals, blocks, tie-ups, assists, and dive-on-the-floor saves. Jacob Ricossa, my goodness, what a nose for the ball that scrappy kid has! (I have heard that Jacob's father was Chuck Norris and his mother was a grizzly bear/wildebeast hybrid.) No one is tougher than the Hit Man, Josh Payne--he brings it hard every moment on the court, plays D like a pit bull. Jacoby Turner has the quickest hands and hops a human can have; he's already a star, and he's a sophomore. Garrett McNeely has great handles and an assortment of deadly shots. Elliott Deshotel brings great athleticism and a knack for scoring the ball. JonMychal can simply leap over defenders to score whenever he wants. Big Jake Roby clogs up the paint and has a sweet little turnaround J. Our JV kids looked great when they were on the court. If I forgot someone, shame on me. These kids have great character. Combine that with the best coaching and fans and you have winning basketball. Keep up the good work, Hawks!

Anyone could beat HJ on any night--unless the Hawks play their best. HJ has the potential to win state again.

It is so nice to be right.

I've seen TCH play 3 games in the last two days. They are really good, but not as good as HJ. They are about to see something they ain't seen before.

This going to be a show. HJ wins.