KFDM COOP

17

Should be an exciting night.

Thanks Magic, keep us updated..

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[Hidden Content]

Mascot's antics nearly cost D-League team a victory The Austin Toros of the NBA Development League put up with some unneeded Bull-loney when their now-suspended mascot lost his head -- figuratively and literally -- and nearly cost the team its game against the Colorado 14ers on Wednesday night. The mascot, known as Da Bull, prematurely ran onto the court and hung from the rim with .4 seconds remaining, apparently to punctuate center Loren Woods' breakaway dunk that gave the Toros a four-point lead over Colorado. While hanging from the rim, the Toros detailed in a news release Thursday, Da Bull collided with a Colorado player. At the point of contact, the mascot's head, to his horror, fell to the floor. The Toros were assessed a technical foul. The 14ers' Von Wafer made the free throw, but Rick Rickert missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the score as time expired. Da Bull was suspended for two games and assigned by the team to 50 hours of community service. A replacement mascot will perform in his absence; Da Bull is expected to return to duty Feb. 2 when the Toros play the Bakersfield Jam. Austin's 101-98 victory came before a sold-out kids matinee at the Austin (Texas) Convention Center. "I've never seen that in all my years of basketball," Toros coach Dennis Johnson said in a statement, "and I hope I never do again."

Yankees seek working agreement with China basebeball A contingent of executives from the New York Yankees will fly to China next week with the hope of concluding ongoing negotiations on a working agreement with the China Baseball Association. This could lead to the Yankees dispatching coaches and trainers to work with players in China, and perhaps, in years to come, beginning a baseball academy. According to a major league executive who has been briefed on the organization's intentions, the Yankees -- operating in consultation with Major League Baseball -- have been in negotiations for seven months on this deal. The Yankees' goal is to get their brand into the world's most populated nation, and put themselves in position, down the road, to scout talent, while working with members of the CBA to improve the state of baseball in China. "Everybody thinks that that is a great place to grow the sport of baseball," Yankees president Randy Levine said Thursday. "There's a real appetite for it. The Chinese want to move forward and expand their talents in the game and really make it a well-known, very active sport." Similarly, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays were the first teams to firmly establish themselves in the Dominican Republic, and benefited greatly. Nothing prevents other Major League Baseball teams from attempting to reach the same strategic alliance that the Yankees hope to soon formalize. If the agreement is finalized, the Yankees "intend to make an investment in baseball in China," said the executive. "They intend to assign the coaches and trainers there for extended periods of time." In addition, the Yankees will serve as host to representatives from the China Baseball Association in the U.S., giving them an opportunity to observe baseball operations here. Yankees executives, including Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, and assistant GM Jean Afterman, also will visit teams in Japan as part of their travel to the Far East. "I think the power of the Yankee brand all over the world is what's driving this," Levine said. Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. Information from The Associated Press also was used in this report.

Roush is ready for a fight Team owner gearing up for Toyota's entrance into NASCAR 02:03 AM CST on Thursday, January 25, 2007 By RICHARD DURRETT / The Dallas Morning News [email protected] CONCORD, N.C. – Nextel Cup team owner Jack Roush is worried about Toyota's entrance into NASCAR this season. He's concerned that the new manufacturer to the Cup circuit will outspend everybody and change the financial landscape for team owners and sponsors. But to Roush, worry and concern doesn't mean he's scared. "I don't back away from a good fight," Roush said Wednesday during NASCAR's annual media tour. "We're going to war with them and they should give us their best shot. We will not be intimidated by any new team or manufacturer that comes out. Toyota will not find that established teams will wither in their path as they have seen elsewhere." But Roush is working on obtaining reinforcements for the new season. He said he joined engine programs with Robert Yates Racing, another Ford team, a few years ago to prepare for Toyota, Honda or any other manufacturer that might "buy their way into the sport." And he's concerned enough about a possible spending spree that he's in negotiations about selling 25 percent to 50 percent of the team to Fenway Sports Group, headed by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. Roush said if something gets done with Henry it would happen in the next few months. Roush used his drivers as an example, arguing that if Toyota teams offered to double their salaries, that Roush Racing would have difficulty keeping them. He said that 90 percent of his funding comes from sponsors and prize money and 10 percent from the manufacturers. He said if Toyota contributes 50 percent to its team – a figure Toyota has adamantly denied – it could force Ford, Chevy and Dodge to support fewer teams rather than try to keep up with Toyota's spending spree. Roush does concede that Toyota will probably struggle in the short term. It took the manufacturer some time to get competitive in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and in CART. And they still haven't won a Formula One race despite spending big money in that series. Smith wants banquet in Las Vegas: Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns Texas Motor Speedway, wants NASCAR to bring its annual Nextel Cup banquet to Las Vegas. Smith owns the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and argues that the city would be more fun for drivers, fans and media than New York, where the banquet is now. "[Las Vegas] wants it badly," said Smith, who pulled a few poker chips from the Bellagio out of his coat pocket. "They will pay to get it there." Smith said he made a pitch to NASCAR president Brian France and got a favorable reaction.

SLC Board to approve new head coach at Feb 5 board meeting... Sources say Hal Wasson to be recommended to the board.

SEE THE HISTORICAL FORUM FOR MORE!! Largest Classification Playoff Stats 1920-2006 The following are records from the largest classification playoffs 1920-2006. Overall, there have been only 414 different programs which have qualified for a playoff berth over the past 87 seasons. Almost one-third of the overall total is participating in the 2006 5A playoffs with 128 teams qualifying for the first time ever. Most Largest Classification Playoff Appearances 1920-2006 (appearances/program/1st year to qualify) 1. 46 - Amarillo (1922) 2. 31 - Houston Yates (1969) 3. 31 - Wichita Falls (1923) 4. 31 - Temple (1921) 5. 30 - Dallas Carter (1971) 6. 30 - Houston Lamar (1941) 7. 30 - Longview (1924) 8. 29 - Highland Park (1924) 9. 29 - Port Arthur Jefferson (1922) 10. 28 - Baytown Lee (1941) 11. 28 - Harlingen (1931) 12. 27 - Lufkin (1936) 13. 27 - Tyler John Tyler (1930) 14. 26 - Houston Madison (1974) 15. 26 - Plano (1972) 16. 26 - Odessa Permian (1960) 17. 25 - Converse Judson (1977) 18. 25 - Corpus Christi Miller (1920) 19. 25 - Abilene (1920) 20. 24 - Midland Lee (1974) 21. 24 - El Paso Coronado (1968) 22. 23 - Galveston Ball (1949) 23. 22 - Aldine (1978) 24. 22 - Houston Washington (1968) 25. 22 - El Paso Bel Air (1963) 26. 22 - Alice (1949) 27. 22 - San Angelo Central (1933) 28. 21 - Euless Trinity (1976) 29. 21 - Edinburg (1936) 30. 21 - Austin SFA (1921) 31. 20 - The Woodlands/Conroe McCullough (1981) 32. 20 - La Porte (1977) 33. 20 - Garland (1960) 34. 20 - San Antonio Jefferson (1923) 35. 20 - Old Waco High (1922) Most Largest Classification Playoff Wins (includes all games played thru the end of the 2006 season) 1. 79 - Odessa Permian (79-18-6) 2. 76 - Converse Judson (76-20-1) 3. 57 - Plano (57-22-1) 4. 54 - Katy (54-14-0) 5. 51 - Amarillo (51-41-1) 6. 50 - Wichita Falls (50-25-3) 7. 46 - Abilene (46-18-2) 8. 46 - Midland Lee (46-20-3) 9. 42 - Highland Park (42-26-7) 10. 42 - Temple (42-27-5) 11. 40 - Lufkin (40-26-2) 12. 37 - Dallas Carter (37-28-2) 13. 35 - Old Waco High (35-14-3) 14. 35 - Houston Yates (35-28-2) 15. 34 - Austin Westlake (34-14-2) 16. 34 - Tyler John Tyler (34-21-3) 17. 33 - Corpus Christi Miller (33-23-3) 18. 32 - San Antonio Churchill (32-16-1) 19. 31 - Lake Highlands (31-14-2) 20. 31 - Arlington Lamar (31-17-1) 21. 31 - Port Arthur Jefferson (31-24-6) 22. 31 - Longview (31-29-1) 23. 30 - San Angelo Central (30-18-2) 24. 29 - Southlake Carroll (29-1-0) 25. 29 - Austin Reagan (29-12-1) 26. 29 - Euless Trinity (29-19-1) 27. 29 - Aldine (29-21-2) 28. 27 - Houston Lamar (27-27-4) Highest Winning Percentage in Largest Classification Playoff Games (includes all games played thru 3 rounds of the 2006 playoffs) 1. 100.00% - San Antonio Reagan (3-0-0) 2. 96.30% - Southlake Carroll (26-1-0) 3. 79.61% - Odessa Permian (79-18-6) 4. 79.41% - Katy (54-14-0) 5. 78.87% - Converse Judson (76-20-1) 6. 75.00% - Port Neches-Groves (15-5-0) 7. 75.00% - Smithson Valley (15-5-0) 8. 75.00% - Cedar Hill (3-1-0) 9. 71.88% - Plano (57-22-1) 10. 71.43% - Lubbock (15-6-0) 11. 71.43% - Cisco (5-2-0) 12. 71.21% - Abilene (46-18-2) 13. 70.53% - Cypress Falls (12-5-0) 14. 70.24% - Austin Reagan (29-12-1) 15. 70.21% - Austin Westlake (32-13-2) 16. 70.19% - Old Waco High (35-14-3) 17. 69.23% - Houston Stratford (18-8-0) 18. 69.23% - Flower Mound Marcus (18-8-0) 19. 69.23% - Spring Westfield (17-7-2) 20. 69.23% - Midland (9-4-0) 21. 68.84% - Midland Lee (46-20-3) 22. 68.75% - Beaumont French (5-2-1) 23. 68.57% - San Antonio Lee (24-11-0) 24. 68.09% - Richardson Lake Highlands (31-14-2) 25. 66.67% - San Antonio Marshall (21-10-2) 26. 66.67% - San Antonio MacArthur (18-9-0) 27. 66.67% - Dickinson (6-3-0) 28. 66.67% - Colleyville Heritage (4-2-0) 29. 66.67% - Cedar Park (4-2-0) 30. 66.33% - San Antonio Churchill (32-16-1) 31. 66.03% - Wichita Falls (50-25-3) 32. 65.79% - San Antonio Madison (25-13-0) 33. 65.28% - Aldine Eisenhower (23-12-1) 34. 65.00% - Hereford (6-3-1) 35. 64.29% - Arlington Lamar (31-17-1) 36. 64.29% - San Antonio Roosevelt (9-5-0) 37. 64.29% - Dallas Oak Cliff (9-5-0) Only 39 of the 128 5A teams participating in the 2006 playoffs have qualified 3 consecutive years or more Longest Active Streaks of Consecutive 5A Playoff Appearances (This list was compiled using only 5A playoff records) 17 in a row 1990-2006 Dallas Carter 16 in a row 1991-2006 Katy 13 in a row 1994-2006 Galena Park North Shore Dallas Skyline Austin Westlake 12 in a row 1995-2006 The Woodlands/Conroe McCullough 11 in a row 1996-2006 De Soto 10 in a row 1997-2006 Plano East 9 in a row 1998-2006 Lufkin Euless Trinity 8 in a row 1999-2006 Lubbock Monterey Allen Abilene 7 in a row 2000-2006 Pearland Houston Lamar Harlingen 6 in a row 2001-2006 Longview 5 in a row 2002-2006 Southlake Carroll Smithson Valley San Marcos Garland 4 in a row 2003-2006 South Garland San Antonio O'Connor San Angelo Central Richardson Berkner Midland Lee Mansfield Summit La Porte Houston Westside 3 in a row 2004-2006 Spring Westfield Seguin San Benito Midland Mesquite Laredo United La Joya Houston Memorial Cypress Falls Corpus Christi Ray As far as all-time streaks past and present Highland Park held the record for consecutive playoff appearances in the largest classification for over 35 years starting from 1950 (the year they qualified for their 10th consecutive postseason appearance) all the way until 1985 when Temple was the first large school to tie the record and then Houston Yates surpassed it in 1987. Since 1985 a total of 24 different teams have equalled or surpassed Highland Park's longstanding record (ALL 24 of them with the aid of 2nd, 3rd and now 4th place teams being allowed in). To date, NO team has yet matched Highland Park's feat and been the #1 seed from their district in the playoffs for 10 straight years in the largest classification as Highland Park was back in the 1940's. Yates did it 9 years straight 1977-1985 as did Westlake 1994-2002 and Katy had a streak of 8 from 1994-2001 as did Judson 1986-1993 but no school has hit 10 while in the largest classification other than Highland Park. Among all classifications, Gregory-Portland 1969-1980 (1 year in 4A and 11 years in 3A), Austin Westlake 1991-2002 (3 years in 4A, 9 years in 5A) and Pilot Point 1979-1990 (1 year in 1A and 11 years in 2A) each have streaks of 12 consecutive years as #1 playoff seeds and those are the longest I know of statewide. The longest current streak in 5A belongs to North Shore which claimed it's 6th consecutive #1 seed in 2006. All-Time Longest Consecutive Playoff Appearance Streaks in the Largest Classification 1920-2006 27 consecutive years Houston Yates 1977-2003 17 consecutive years Dallas Carter 1990-2006 Converse Judson 1982-1998 16 consecutive years Katy 1991-2006 14 consecutive years Houston Madison 1989-2002 13 consecutive years Austin Westlake 1994-2006 Dallas Skyline 1994-2006 Galena Park North Shore 1994-2006 Arlington Lamar 1988-2000 12 consecutive years The Woodlands/Conroe McCullough 1995-2006 Abilene Cooper 1992-2003 Amarillo 1992-2003 Dallas Kimball 1990-2001 Houston Lamar 1987-1998 11 consecutive years De Soto 1996-2006 Lewisville 1991-2001 10 consecutive years Plano East 1997-2006 El Paso Franklin 1996-2005 Humble 1994-2003 Lake Highlands 1989-1998 Fort Bend Willowridge 1985-1994 San Antonio Clark 1982-1991 El Paso Bel Air 1977-1986 Temple 1976-1985 Highland Park 1941-1950 - UIL Record from 1950-1987 « Last Edit: Today at 07:05:05 AM by WOS87 » Report to moderator 72.181.48.161 (?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Orange-Stark Mustangs 1986 and 1987 4A State Champions Highest All-Time Winning Percentage in the State 16 consecutive wins against Orange and Jefferson county teams 20 consecutive district game wins 25 consecutive regular season wins WOS87 SETXsports Moderator Junior Karma: 0 [applaud] [smite] Posts: 201 Re: Statewide Playoff Records « Reply #1 on: Today at 07:00:48 AM » Quote Modify Remove Split Topic -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd Largest Classification Playoff Stats 1948-2006 Prior to 1948 only the largest classification had a playoff bracket that continued all the way to a State Champion. Before 1948 the lower classifications only played one or two playoff rounds with more than 20 regional champions crowned some years. The following are records compiled from the first year that a true 2nd State champion was crowned in 1948 through the 2006 playoffs: the second largest classification over the years was 1A 1948-1950, 3A 1951-1979 and 4A from 1980-2006 and those are the records which are included in the statistics listed below. Overall, there have been only 398 different programs which have qualified for a playoff berth in the 2nd largest classification over the past 59 seasons. Almost one-quarter of the overall total (24%) participated in the 2006 4A playoffs with 96 teams qualifying. Most Playoff Appearances in the 2nd Largest Classification 1948-2006 (appearances/program/1st year to qualify) 1. 35 - Brownwood (1953) 2. 31 - Gregory-Portland (1969) 3. 27 - Bay City (1960) 4. 25 - Corsicana (1960) 5. 23 - Andrews (1956) 6. 22 - Corpus Christi Calallen (1985) 7. 22 - La Marque (1956) 8. 20 - Brenham (1949) 9. 20 - Jacksonville (1950) 10. 20 - Kilgore (1953) 11. 19 - Lubbock Estacado (1968) 12. 19 - Kerrville Tivy (1964) 13. 19 - Nederland (1956) 14. 19 - Jasper (1948) 15. 19 - New Braunfels (1948) 16. 18 - Highland Park (1988) 17. 18 - Waxahachie (1980) 18. 18 - Mount Pleasant (1959) 19. 17 - Stephenville (1989) 20. 17 - Edcouch-Elsa (1986) 21. 17 - Wichita Falls Hirschi (1980) 22. 17 - Houston C.E. King (1978) 23. 17 - Belton (1968) 24. 17 - McKinney (1958) 25. 17 - Denison (1952) 26. 17 - Uvalde (1949) 27. 16 - Henderson (1968) 28. 16 - Ennis (1966) 29. 16 - Sweetwater (1957) 30. 16 - Cleburne (1956) 31. 16 - San Antonio Alamo Heights (1954) 32. 16 - El Campo (1948) 33. 15 - Sulphur Springs (1985) 34. 15 - Dallas Hillcrest (1984) 35. 15 - Carthage (1958) Most Playoff Wins in the 2nd Largest Classification 1948-2006 (includes all games played thru the end of the 2006 season) 1. 68 - La Marque (68-16-1) 2. 57 - Brownwood (57-27-2) 3. 53 - Corpus Christi Calallen (53-22-0) 4. 46 - Stephenville (46-13-0) 5. 44 - Gregory-Portland (44-29-3) 6. 43 - Bay City (43-25-1) 7. 40 - Ennis (40-12-0) 8. 34 - Denison (34-16-0) 9. 33 - New Braunfels (33-19-0) 10. 32 - Corsicana (32-22-2) 11. 29 - Highland Park (29-17-0) 12. 26 - West Orange-Stark (26-11-0) 13. 25 - Sweetwater (25-14-2) 14. 25 - Nederland (25-18-1) 15. 24 - Jacksonville (24-20-1) 16. 23 - Lubbock Estacado (23-17-2) 17. 22 - A&M Consolidated (22-4-0) 18. 22 - Cleburne (22-14-4) 19. 22 - McKinney (22-16-3) 20. 22 - Brenham (22-19-1) 21. 21 - Kilgore (21-18-1) 22. 20 - Denton Ryan (20-3-0) 23. 20 - Wolfforth Frenship (20-12-0) 24. 20 - Schertz Clemens (20-13-0) 25. 20 - Waxahachie (20-17-0) 26. 20 - Mount Pleasant (20-17-2) 27. 18 - Austin Westlake (18-6-1) 28. 18 - Port Neches-Groves (18-10-1) The following are the 34 teams that have won more than 2/3 of all playoff games played in the 2nd largest classification playoffs. In order to maintain such a percentage a team must on average, make it past the 3rd round of the playoffs every playoff appearance (losing in the 3rd round gives a 2-1-0 record which is a 66.67% winning percentage). Highest Winning Percentage in 2nd Largest Classification Playoff Games (includes all games played thru the 2006 playoffs) 1. 100.00% - North Crowley (5-0-0) 2. 86.96% - Denton Ryan (20-3-0) 3. 85.00% - Breckenridge (16-2-2) 4. 84.62% - A&M Consolidated (22-4-0) 5. 83.33% - Fort Bend Willowridge (10-2-0) 6. 83.33% - Waco (Consolidated) (5-1-0) 7. 82.35% - Cuero (14-3-0) 8. 80.59% - La Marque (68-16-1) 9. 80.00% - Copperas Cove (4-1-0) 10. 77.97% - Stephenville (46-13-0) 11(t). 77.78% - Bridge City (7-2-0) 11(t). 77.78% - Littlefield (7-2-0) 11(t). 77.78% - Plano (7-2-0) 14. 76.92% - Ennis (40-12-0) 15. 76.19% - Aledo (16-5-0) 16(t). 75.00% - Lewisville (3-1-0) 16(t). 75.00% - New London (3-1-0) 18(t). 75.00% - Gonzales (1-0-1) 18(t). 75.00% - Lufkin (1-0-1) 20. 74.00% - Austin Westlake (18-6-1) 21(t). 73.33% - Tyler Chapel Hill (11-4-0) 21(t). 73.33% - Wylie (11-4-0) 23. 72.73% - Smithson Valley (16-6-0) 24(t). 72.73% - Beaumont Hebert (8-3-0) 24(t). 72.73% - Lewisville Hebron (8-3-0) 24(t). 72.73% - Marshall (8-3-0) 27. 71.43% - San Antonio Roosevelt (5-2-0) 28. 70.67% - Corpus Christi Calallen (53-22-0) 29. 70.27% - West Orange-Stark (26-11-0) 30. 70.00% - Arlington (3-1-1) 31. 69.57% - Texas City (16-7-0) 32. 68.42% - Southlake Carroll (13-6-0) 33. 68.00% - Denison (34-16-0) 34. 67.44% - Brownwood (57-27-2) Longest Consecutive Playoff Appearance Streaks in the 2nd Largest Classification 1948-2006 (active streaks in RED) 22 consecutive years Corpus Christi Calallen 1985-2006 17 consecutive years La Marque 1990-2006 Waxahachie 1990-2006 14 consecutive years Stephenville 1989-2002 13 consecutive years Gregory-Portland 1984-1996 12 consecutive years Highland Park 1995-2006 Gregory-Portland 1969-1980 (UIL Record for consecutive playoff appearances during era when only one team per district qualified) 11 consecutive years Nederland 1996-2006 Ennis 1996-2006 Dayton 1996-2006 Wolfforth Frenship 1996-2006 El Paso Riverside 1996-2006 Kilgore 1995-2005 10 consecutive years Kerrville Tivy 1997-2006 Bay City 1996-2005 Terrell 1996-2005 Andrews 1995-2004 Mount Pleasant 1993-2002

Soileau sparks Lady Bears' defense Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader LITTLE CYPRESS — Varsity sophomores are usually a little timid for most of the season, sometimes able to give an offensive spark but are hardly ever a dominant figure on defense. The Bear Cave at Little Cypress-Mauriceville has seen a huge departure from those two rules this season. Lady Bears’ point guard Amber Soileau has definitely grown in her sophomore year. Not in height or weight but in the way she carries herself on the court and the things she tries to do for her team. Soileau will not just throw the ball up at the hoop or try to make the over-fancy pass. Instead, for example, she grabbed 10 rebounds and yanked away two steals on Tuesday in the Lady Bears’ 47-46 upset win over the Beaumont Ozen Lady Panthers. Soileau’s minutes and production have certainly picked up since the start of the season. The sophomore once saw very limited minutes on the court compared to now being around almost none stop. She first showed off her abilities in the Bridge City Lady Cardinals Classic over the Christmas holidays. Several other coaches and basketball gurus began to notice the talent LC-M Coach Amanda Ellerbee had at her disposal. Soileau had 12 points and four rebounds in a game against Deweyville and then finished with four points, three rebounds, five steals and three assists against Beaumont Kelly in the tournament. “At the first of the season I was very nervous when I was on the court,†Soileau said. “At about the midway point of the season, I started to feel a little more comfortable and now I am not nearly as nervous. I just thought at first I would throw the ball away or miss the shot. “Coach always told me she would not put me on the court if she thought I could not do it.†Ellerbee of course has noticed the level of Soileau’s play but has been even more impressed the effect it has had on the Lady Bears’ team. “As she has gotten better, the team has really responded around her,†Ellerbee said. “She is what I want out of my point guard. Ashley (Anderson) is my shooter and Amber is my point. I need her to do the hustle plays. As a sophomore, she has already stepped up and taken that role.†Soileau explained she does not even want to shoot the ball 20 times a game and lead the team in scoring. It actually is the least of her concerns. “My role is on defense and defense is what I love,†Soileau said. “I seem to do better on defense because it is almost easy for me to anticipate the pass. I like getting steals and playing defense in either press or man-to-man. We don’t run much man in games but that is fine because I love to put on pressure.†Soileau did not start playing basketball until her eighth-grade year at Mauriceville Junior High when a group of friends pressured her to do it. “I actually hated it,†Soileau said. “I love the games now and really enjoy the adrenaline they bring. I never thought I would even be playing this sport, certainly did not think I would have success at it.†Ellerbee had her eye on Soileau as a freshman but kept her mainly on the ninth-grade team to keep the players there as a group. “Amber is not a vocal leader but is one of those rare breeds that leads by example,†Ellerbee said. “Being as young as she is, that is very good sign. It will be fun to watch her mature because the best thing about her is, she is only a sophomore. When she gets to be a senior, it may be scary how good she is by then. “I am excited about the whole group of sophomores we have. They sure do put a lot of pressure on the older players.†For now Soileau will continue to work on her first love on the defensive side and will soon look to do some scoring along the way. “I am just not a scorer right now,†she explained. “I go for the defense and rebounds. Somebody has to do the dirty work.â€

Locals Blacksher, Landry get early honors The Orange Leader McNeese State’s Cowboys have been picked to win the Southland Conference baseball title again this season. Voting was by league coaches and sports information directors and the Cowboys, the 2006 champions, drew the most votes and the most points in both polls. The Cowboys also placed five players on the pre-season all-conference team, landing pitchers Danny Davis and Derek Blacksher, outfielder Charlie Kingrey, third baseman Bryan Cartie and shortstop Shon Landry. This year the Southland Conference is divided into two divisions. The Cowboys along with Lamar, Northwestern State, Central Arkansas, Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State are in the east division while Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are in the west division. Champions will be declared in both divisions and the regular season SLC champion will be the divisional champion with the best conference winning percentage. A year ago the Cowboys posted a 22-8 league record to win the regular season title. Their wins tied a conference record and they also won 12 straight games which set a league mark. In the coaches poll, the Cowboys collected eight first place votes and 62 points to beat out Lamar which had three first place votes and 58 points. Northwestern State was ranked third with 40 points. The SID poll had the Cowboys with 11 first place votes and 70 points. Northwestern State had the other first place vote. UT-Arlington was picked to win the west division by the SIDs and the Mavericks and Texas State were co-favorites by the coaches. Davis, Kingrey and Cartie were all first team all-conference picks last year while Blacksher and Landry were second team selections. Kingrey has also been selected to the 2007 Brooks Wallace college baseball player of the year watch list. Last year he batted .338 with nine homers and 51 RBIs. Davis was named the league’s pitcher of the year last season after going 8-0 with a 2.43 ERA while Cartie batted .339, Blacksher was 7-3 with a 3.01 ERA and Landry hit .291 and stole a team high 24 bases. Others picked to the pre-season all-conference first team were first baseman Dan Hernandez and oufielder Collin DeLome of Lamar, second baseman Daniel Rieder of UT Arlington, catcher Steven Hill of Stelphen F. Austin, designated hitter Karl Krailo of Sam Houston State and outfielder Michael Rockett and pitcher Josh Ruffin of Texas-San Antonio.

Good opinion.

[Hidden Content]

[Hidden Content]

Big win!!

Texas Tech upsets No. 6 A&M LUBBOCK - Texas Tech knocked off its second Top 10 opponent in less than a week Wednesday night, upsetting sixth-ranked Texas A&M 70-68 at the United Spirit Arena. The Red Raiders beat then-No. 5 Kansas, 69-64, on Saturday. Tech (15-5, 4-1), which moved into a first-place tie in the Big 12 with Texas A&M, beat the Aggies despite making only two field goals in the final 13:45 minutes. Darryl Dora hit a 3-pointer with 1:02 remaining to give Tech the lead, and Martin Zeno hit three free throws down the stretch. Down 68-67, Texas A&M (16-3, 4-1) had a chance to tie the game with 9.3 seconds remaining. But Dominique Kirks's in-bounds pass intended for Joseph Jones was intercepted by Zeno near the basket. Zeno sank both free throws. Law, who had a game-high 26 points, made the first of two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining. He intentionally tried to miss the second, but it did not hit the rim. Zeno took a long inbounds pass past mid-court and circled around the basket as time expired. Zeno had 22 points for the Red Raiders.

Kaylin Little, OF 2 Games 58 points 20 Rebounds 10 Steals 12 Assists Denetra Kellum, Kirbyville 52 Points 2 games 20 rebounds 10 steals 12 Assists Honorable Mention Jeanna Angelle, BC Courtney Wilson, Lumberton

I've always likd the general.

Predictions?

Predictions?

Predictions?

Predictions?

Predcitions?