JimThorpe

I'm a Tiger fan who was in Lufkin last night. What are you guys complaining about? Ha! In one sequence Carthage got possession and scored on the first play. And on their very next possession the Bulldogs scored on their first play. On both occasions they took possession in their own territory. How's that for a defensive breakdown?

I think that there are still 5 top 10 teams. Carthage, La Vega, Kennedale, Stephenville and Liberty Hill. To me La Vega's 33-14 win over Canyon Lake is almost as impressive in it's own way as the holocaust in Lufkin last night.

I wonder what the rules are for how soon they can play? Maybe they should take a few days before jumping back in the fray. What happened last night had to have taken something out of them. It had to cost something. But kids are resilient and playing basketball will be the best therapy.

Not really. The other 8 remaining top 10 teams were playing each other so that means 5 top ten teams are still in it. And La Vega won handily, 33 -14 over Canyon Lake.

I don't know what the takeaway is except that was the worst defensive performance I've ever seen in person... in any sport. Or maybe Carthage is the the magic dragon of offense, I don't know. I'd like to ask a Carthaginian if they were able to score on ever 2nd or 3rd play against the worst defense they played this year, I mean the second worst defense, not Silsbee. I doubt it. Of course the coach called it off but absent that decision the only thing that could have governed their scoring was simple caloric intake. You're going to use up your fuel eventually. No, on second thought that wouldn't have stopped their scoring. Because the Silsbee defense was running around and expending calories as well, doing whatever it was they were doing, while Carthage was playing football. So yea, the Bulldogs might well have scored 128 points. I'm betting that would have been a school record. Is 64 points a school record for a half? In a playoff game? In the third round? But kids are nothing if not resilient. The Tigers can simply forget it ever happened. And that's what they should do because it was a freakish phenomenon that will never be repeated. That first half was the worst defensive performance in the history of the school and something that bad will simply never happen again. And since it was so ridiculously bizarre and since it will never happen again the best thing is to just forget about it. There's nothing to learn from it and nothing to take away from it. If you get hit by a meteor would you alter your lifestyle so that you don't get hit by another meteor? Of course not.

I was hoping for a blizzard or something. But it will be perfect weather. Well, so be it. Once more into the breach dear friends, once more! For the benefit of our Carthaginian friends who may be interested, that last line is from a play called "Henry V" by an English playwright named Shakespeare. Since Carthage was besieged and utterly destroyed during the Third Punic War 146 BC, it's unlikely they would know anything about an English play, or even England for that matter. How the Romans made it to Texas I have know idea. Carthago delenda est.

Tonight may not be the biggest game ever for Silsbee, but it would be the biggest win ever.

Differences such as money and time and transportation for exclusive sports camps, children's and youth sports leagues and so on.

One thing may be different. We seem to be able to reliably kick an extra point now. Maybe it's a fluke, a one season deal, but it's gratifying. Our kicking game in the past was, how shall I say it, somewhat less than optimum? I'm reasonably sure that most of our past Tigerettes could have routinely kicked a 13 yard field goal but not, apparently, any our varsity football players. I don't know. Besides being a little embarrassing, it seemed to betoken a lack of seriousness in the program. Perhaps I'm being unfair but it often looked like an important part of the game was being overlooked.

No, they are cybernetic life forms. I'm kidding of course. But mixed with the teasing there is a tiny bit of resentment (or is it perhaps jealousy?). Also I'm talking about the original movie from 1975 - not the remake. The reference is to how methodically and almost mechanically good that school is at EVERYTHING. The Eagles are sometimes in the top 10 in all three major sports. It's remarkable actually. Athleticism is absolutely not the reason this is happening. There is that of course but really it's discipline, skill, methodical - almost mechanical execution and coaching. And the most important component is parenting. Just look at basketball. Their girls and their boys both made it to the state tournament. The girls won their third straight championship and for the boys it came down to the last shot in a 1 point game against our top ranked Tigers. And yes, Argyle certainly could have beaten Brazosport and taken the crown. One thing for sure. Nobody would ever accuse us of being robots.

If the Tigers survive it doesn't get much easier. Counting Carthage, 9 of the top ten in Div 1 made it thru the Area round. Only Estacado has been knocked out. La Vega, the Stepford Children at Argyle, Midlothian, Kennedale, all the usual suspects. On any given night any of those top schools is capable of beating the others. It's a spectacular Regionals weekend in for 4A Div 1. No. 3 Argyle vs. No. 8 Stephenville No. 4 Kennedale vs. No. 5 Midlothian No. 2 La Vega vs. No. 6 Canyon Lake No. 7 Liberty Hill vs. No. 10 China Spring Carthage is the only surviving top 10 team not facing another top 10 team. Isn't that interesting? Is it an easy week for the Bulldogs compared to their fellow Top 10'ers. Objectively you'd have to say yes. But.... who knows? Carthago delenda est.

Ain't it the truth! We were shell shocked! We kept thinking that it couldn't go on forever but it almost did. Silsbee kind of helps it along by over committing trying to generate turnovers. And to make matters worse the Tigers were as cold as ice from outside. Even missing the rim on occasion. The difference was, as usual, transition ball. Even Silsbee Lite with the short bench is just relentless at pushing it. But you really don't have much choice when you're starting 5 guards do you? Don't care what you call them, they are all guards. I almost wish they would drop the pretense when announcing the lineup and just admit it, "At guard This One, and at guard That One. Starting at guard Another One, at guard Yet Another One. And finally, starting at guard A Fifth Guard. But it's always great fun and the results have been pretty good.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that should Silsbee pull this one out it will be the biggest win in school history. Carthage is No. 1 - undefeated - we haven't beaten them in this century - just last year we had them on the ropes only to have our hopes dashed in the last seconds. Chances like this don't come around every day. I don't know how our kids feel about it seems like it would make them want to play every down as if it's the end of the world. There are no other games. This is the only game. The emotional edge should go to the Tigers. And it's a game of emotion. A lot of us remember a time when Silsbee won this kind of game. In 98 the Tigers met No. 2 ranked West Orange in the first round. Silsbee had a good team and had a modestly successful year. A very good Dayton team won the district that year and Silsbee was a respectable 2nd place. It was a strong district. My daughter was a senior that year and my son was a sophomore. Unbelievable win. We were helped by the elements, a small late season storm was blowing in off the Gulf. Course it was almost a foregone conclusion that Stephenville was going to win state that year, but we had a very good run. Came out of nowhere and made it to the quarter finals. Ironically that was the last time we beat Carthage. I think it was the second round and we met in Conroe. As a French High grad I was there when the Buffaloes wrote the book on coming out of nowhere. All of us Buffaloes remember 84. Every week it was like, did what just happened really happen? It was like riding a magic carpet all the way to Texas Stadium and the Permian Panthers and the only Championship tie in Texas UIL history. An unheralded, unknown, 6-4 district runner up team makes it to the championship game and plays the most famous high school program in the nation to a stand still. Don't say it can't happen - I saw it happen. Interestingly, we had just moved back from Odessa in 82. We had experienced a couple of seasons of Mojo football during the Wilkerson era. My wife's stepmother was a Panther and my sister-in-law graduated from Permian. We were of course familiar with dynasties having lost to PNG in my junior and senior year in the first round. Both years the Indians made it all the way to state. We had the misfortune of being right next door and an early victim. In 75 I think we had better talent. We were stronger bigger and faster. We just weren't quite as good. We came closer to beating them than anybody else that year. We held them to 6 points but only managed a safety. Interestingly that year they beat Permian for the title. Anyway. Carthago delenda est

Central found themselves right at that moment in the 3rd where they could have broken. But they wouldn't go quietly into the night. They are a good team.

It's a dramatic example of an excellent coaching staff. Hopefully their abilities are well known and appreciated and they will all take jobs at bigger schools or colleges during this off season.

My motto for this week comes from Cato the Elder. He ended all his speeches in the Roman Senate with the following..... "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem delendam esse." Translation: "Furthermore, I consider that Carthage must be destroyed." P.S. The last time we beat them I think Cato was still alive.

Carthage is 12-0 and ranked No. 1 in Div 1 in the last regular Season Dave Campbell ranking, along with all the other usual suspects. So there's that for whatever it's worth. Carthage is Carthage but I don't think we yet know just how good Silsbee is. Being originally a Beaumont French Buffalo I never discount an unranked unheralded team who despite a modest regular season seems to be peaking at the perfect moment. There is such a thing as over achievement.

In retrospect it was a great win but it was not a great game. If you measure against the standard set in the North Forest game it was disappointing. I think the kids would agree. The match up was challenging for Silsbee to be sure. But when you miss everything by at least 4 feet when shooting an open 3 you know it's going to be more difficult than you would like. At one point in the third the Tiger's FG% was 19. It ended up at 33 and 50% from the line and that was enough. It won't, of course, be enough against the Exporters who are better than Argyle. On the positive side it was down right heroic if you ask me. I'm so proud of them that I could bust. It's like the line from the movie Galaxy Quest, "Never give up, never surrender!"

I love those men and women and thank God for them. The officials are the essential ingredient to rewarding organized sports. But shamefully I yell at them just the same. It's like an annoying and undesirable reflex. So I apologize in advance for tomorrow.

Who was taller?

Is Lipan the tallest 1A team ever?

Not trying to say you didn't see what you saw. But in Region III I saw no evidence of anything like that. Doesn't it seem unlikely that the systematic bias you describe could occur at the State Tournament. In that environment an official would do everything he could to call the game as well and as fairly as possibly. Practically the entire royal court of Texas high school basketball will be in attendance including all the UIL basketball big shots. Bright lights from past teams are all around waiting to be honored at half time. Sports press from all over state with their laptops at the ready. A zillion cameras. Fans from all over.

If you can push the ball up fast, or in Silsbee's case crazy fast, why wouldn't you want to do that? You can always pull up and settle into an offense if a quick scoring opportunity doesn't materialize. Doesn't it give the opponent something else to worry about? Doesn't it make their guards, and even small forwards, think twice before helping on the offensive boards? It's the middle of the 4th quarter and you are nursing a 14 point lead. Is it better or worse for you that you've made the opponent race back on defense the whole game? If you're deep and quick and opportunistic why wouldn't you want to go with a full court defense? You don't have to trap every time and take chances every time. But take them out of their comfort zone and make them work a little to get the ball up the court. Again, it's the middle of the 4th quarter and you're nursing a 14 point lead. Is it better or worse for you that you've made the opposing ball handlers work hard all game long to get the ball to front court?

As far as the refs go I haven't observed any real bias displayed by the officials in the games I've seen. Looked to me like their only interest was getting it right according to their training and understanding. Now some refs are not super great at their job, some are barely competent, some will be good but need experience, some are really good and some are excellent. We're getting the cream of the crop in San Antonio. I have confidence in them. That doesn't mean I won't go absolutely ape over a particular missed call at a crucial moment. I rationalize by convincing myself that I'm just trying to encourage a make up call. Yea, right. Our problem is not missed calls and it's certainly not bias. Our problem is that UIL rules fundamentally disfavor the Silsbee Tigers. The most extreme example is the shot clock. The UIL has steadfastly refused to consider it. And the reasons are good ones. But Silsbee would thrive in an environment with a shot clock. Heck, they'd thrive in world with a 10 second shot clock! And even that might be too long. It's like watching speed chess or something. A foundational rule of high school basketball in Texas fundamentally does not favor the Silsbee Tigers. And it never will. So from my perspective we're being cheated ALL THE TIME! And I am kind of joking. I certainly don't expect a shot clock. A less extreme example is the 10 second rule. What if it was 8 seconds? In Silsbee's case it would simply be sauce for the goose. They'd get caught now and then but in the main it would be a huge benefit. So the officiating Friday will favor Argyle because the rules favor Argyle. And they favor Argyle in ways so profound they dwarf the occasional missed traveling call or a particular official's interpretation of what is or isn't blocking. The refs will be counting all the way to 10 in the back court and they will let the Falcons hang on to the ball in the front court without shooting just as long as they're able. All we can do about it is have a different kind of team. Anybody want that? I thought not. Me either. So all we're left to do is fuss and fume and deal with it. And monitor our blood pressure.

And that's what makes it so interesting and why I hoped Silsbee would draw Argyle so they definitely get to play each other. I love it when styles clash. You don't get that too much at the higher levels. Everybody has pretty much the same "style" and it's dictated by the shear size and athleticism of the players. I have no doubt that Argyle will have some success during the game doing their thing and Silsbee will have some success doing their thing. A blowout won't help either team going into Saturday. My ideal situation is a game like the Yates game but not quite as close. Silsbee wins by 23 this time - but it's closer than that. Silsbee gets the lead early and keeps the lead but Argyle it is competitive all the way until early in the 4th when Silsbee pulls away the last few minutes are comfortable. That way my wife can go to the box office early and buy tickets for Saturday. I don't ask for much do I? Just to have things my way, that's all.