NHS83LU87

Ned's 3 pointers were hot tonight.

Yes they were!  It was a solid team effort.  The inside players kept them in it when PNG came out hot in the first quarter.  After that everyone hit some shots and played good defense.  Doty and Deron had great games for PNG.  I think they are a force to be reckoned with in the future. Good spirited game by both teams.

1. West Brook

2. Bridge City

3. PN-G

4. Nederland

5. Vidor 

6. Barbers Hill

7. LC-M

8. Jasper

9. Buna

10. OF

PNG has been the surprise team of the year.  Weathersby has really played well.  They are on a pretty good roll in district beating the teams they should.  But playing Nederland after the whipping they took by Ozen will make Nederland come out with something to prove.  Forney and Dean will control the boards and put in some second chances; Torres distributes the ball and scores 10; Pitts plays defense and scores 3-6; Fitch scores 6-10 (if passed to); and Hammond has a big game.  The Bench (Smith, Campbell, Hadnot, Montgomery, Smith, Stewart) will come in and add both defensively and offensively. Nederland wins this one by 10.

Ozen takes this one.  They are the best team in the district.  You never know who's going to have a big game for them.  Willie, DeCarlos, Breon, etc.  Too many weapons.

Nederland's shots wouldn't fall and Franks couldn't miss.  Clearly the better team won.  Willie tried to dunk on Forney but didn't get it down.  It bounced around and finally fell in and then he was T'd up for his lack of sportsmanship.  The T was appropriate and did not warrant any further action.  However, I don't understand the new coach condoning the behavior.  He tried to argue the T shouldn't have been called.  Ozen is known for winning but not necessarily with the sportsmanship or class that Hebert had in the days of Fred Williams.  So, any comments about it are really mute. 

As far as the PA News.  C. Pastorella reported the game accurately!  If the coach says something loud enough to be heard in the stands then it is fair game to be quoted.  The coach was right in what he said and it was right to quote him!  Coach has been sending that message to some of his starters all season long, it's about time he sent it to all five.  All of whom have yet to perform at a consistent level from game to game.  Now hopefully they will take the hint and come out and take care of business the rest of the season.  They have to play tougher.  If an opponent is going to push on you, you have to push back.  An elbow here and there does wonders.  Down low you have to go up and not be afraid to get fouled.  Quit putting the ball on the floor, go right back up with it after a rebound.  If the threes aren't falling you have to find a way to score inside or take the mid range jumper.  They have to play as team.  Play like a team that is a playoff contender and not a playoff pretender.  

Tip your hat's to Ozen, they are the best team in district that I have seen.

Little Elm is growing community.  It'll eventually end up 5A.  Good Luck!

Good thoughts Pex especially mentioning academics.  The grades are getting more and more important at both the High School and Collegiate levels.  Because of the rules effecting college rosters and scholarships, coaches are less willing to take a chance on a player who has grade troubles.  Most players can actually get more money through academics for college than they can for baseball.

Coach Robbins has a good situation because he does have experienced players(Bellow, Dean, Pitts, Vidrine, Terracina, Brady, Babino, Laird, and Roberts)  to be leaders and some very talented underclassmen to build with.  I think most have positive attitudes and high expectations of themselves and the team.  If they do not, Coach Robbins will deal with it.  Position wise Terracina, Bellow, Pitts, and Vidrine, earned their positions and the positions are theirs to lose based on this years performance.  Again Coach Robbins will hold them accountable.  It should be an exciting and competitive year.  The players are there for a playoff run. 

Nederland played poor defense in the first half and every shot Lumberton put up went in.  Second half Nederland dominated defensively.  Lumberton only had 3 FG for 9 points in the 2nd half all other points came from the line. 

Nederlands bench was big in this one.  They didn't score a lot of points but the ability to rest players when Vidor couldn't became evident at the end when their shots were coming up short.  Great Team Effort!

Foret (WB) not being on one of those teams is rediculous.

Who would you replace with Foret?  I haven't seen all of these players play but probably 90% of them and I can't argue with against a single one.   

You cannot possibly be living in the same Golden Triangle as I do.  Cody Becnel to LSU?  Travis Hearne to Cincinnatti?  The discussion of best player in Nederland history starts with Jaime Weaver and ends with Jaime Weaver.  After him you gotta start talking about Corey Loupe, Rick Neely, Kody Becnel (ended up passing on your "scholarship to LSU" and opted to play at Lamar-Port Arthur), and you could probably throw in Chris Hammond. 

Okay like I said Kody Becnol had LSU interested until he blew out his knee and they gave up on him after the injury. Travis still has all his letters from schools and one that have personally seen asking him to go on an official visit to Cincinnatti. He told them no he would rather play baseball. I never saw Weaver play like I said. I know there was a great coach weaver at Nederland but growing up and playing there I haven't ever heard about the player so I dont know how good he was. I know Loupe and Neely were very good as well. Hammond gets a playoff berth and wins he has to be considered at the top.

Making it to the playoffs doesn't put anyone there.  4 teams go now.  When Weaver played only 1 team went.  If three went back in 1983 then Nederland would have been in the playoffs.  A different system now.  I believe they would have beaten the current Bulldog Team.  

Very true. I understand that. But winning makes players great. A lot of great players that are on losing teams don't get the credit they deserve. Winners make a team so much better. Look at MJ and Kobe. Its part of why we can't begin to consider Lebron one of the greats yet. If Chris goes to the playoffs it will go a long way as to who is the best to come through NHS.

Your loyalty is admirable, but every person on here that has seen Weaver play and also has seen Becnol, Chris, etc.  have the same opinion.  Are you kin or something? 

It will be interesting how this years lineup looks.  Pitching should be solid with Kirby Bellow(2008 1st Team All District), Josh Dean(2nd Team All District), and Cody Laird(2nd Team All District).  Not sure who will be in the bullpen if Roberts is hurt.  Could look to Ryan Brady, Tyler Smith, Trevin Sonnier, or Jacob Pitts to pitch some in relief depending on who is brought up this year.

Infield should be solid:  Kirby Bellow returns at 1st.  The middle infield has worked together since they were nine with Jordan Pitts at SS(2nd Team All District)  and Jude Vidrine at 2nd (Honorable Mention All District).  I know Meat would like to switch them up ??? but I think I would leave them where they have been successful.  3rd is a question mark:  Dean could play it or Terracina could move there and Babino catch or move a new player there.  Terracina returns at catcher but Babino has been working hard at preparing to compete for it.  Outfield is another question mark:  Ryan Brady saw some time in RF last year and has the speed and athleticism to standout.  Babino could end up in the outfield if Terracina stays at catcher. 

In 2007 and 2008 we usually had enough pitching and defense to win but did not generate enough offense in the games we lost.  We never strung a group of hits together consistently.  Bellow led the team in batting followed by Pitts.  They have to continue to hit that way.  Vidrine and Terracina started off hot but were snakebit in district.  They hit the ball on the button but right to the opposition.  Get some of those to fall this year and the offense will be in good shape.

With the returning players and the younger guys like Schlett, Sonnier, Jac. Pitts, T. Smith, D. Campbell, etc. The talent is there to finish out a roster and have a very competitive team.

Matt Woods(OF/P) was there from PNG.

Jordan(SS) and Jacob Pitts(1B/P) were there from Nederland.

Monty Wainwright '81 PNG was an outstanding player.

Several missed layups and freethrows also. Whenever they get a steal and go on a fast break they couldn't even convert. They had several 2 on 1 advantages that turned into fast breaks for Ned the other way. Also I definitely think they shot less than 50% from the charity stripe. They fix those two things plus the unforced turnovers they probably win the game.

They don't win it but it is a whole lot closer.

Weaver Ned. '83

I think it was Becnol. '02 I think. He was really good! LSU wanted him until he blew out his knee the beginning of his senior year.

I didn't see Becnol so I can't compare the two but Weaver is the only Ned player I know that played in a NCAA National Championship for University of Houston. 

Well I never saw Weaver either but I know what Becnol can still do and he still is a beast.

I have no idea what Weaver could do now.  But I would think after 25 years that he would have slowed down a step or two. ;D  I wish Nederland had more than just two players to debate.

If this Nederland team wins some playoff games Hammond has to receive some consideration, and Forney is already a beast when he gets on the block and he still has to years left.

Weaver was the best Nederland has had, hands down, followed by Hefner/English.

Those three are the best I have seen at Nederland including the current team.  Chris and Dionte are good but they are not in the same league as Weaver, Hefner, or English. 

Weaver Ned. '83

I think it was Becnol. '02 I think. He was really good! LSU wanted him until he blew out his knee the beginning of his senior year.

I didn't see Becnol so I can't compare the two but Weaver is the only Ned player I know that played in a NCAA National Championship for University of Houston. 

Well I never saw Weaver either but I know what Becnol can still do and he still is a beast.

I have no idea what Weaver could do now.  But I would think after 25 years that he would have slowed down a step or two. ;D  I wish Nederland had more than just two players to debate.

Weaver Ned. '83

I think it was Becnol. '02 I think. He was really good! LSU wanted him until he blew out his knee the beginning of his senior year.

I didn't see Becnol so I can't compare the two but Weaver is the only Ned player I know that played in a NCAA National Championship for University of Houston. 

Weaver Ned. '83

This is tough a lot of good players but based on what I saw last year:

P - Nathaniel Svoboda(WB)

C - Ty Parker(Jasper)

1B - Kirby Bellow (Ned)

2B - Jordan Pitts (Ned)

SS - Matt Hicks (BC)

3B - Kane Beniot (PNG)

LF - Tim Barry (LCM)

CF - Jace Statum(OF)

RF - Trae Hester (Vidor)

DH - Stefan Leger (LCM)

Any update on Nederland's 2nd game and who do they play or did play.

Nederland won their second game yesterday against Clear Creek.  Play Cleveland today in semi-final game.

Based on players I have actually seen play:(I know there or others)

Pitchers:  Hicks(BC), Hester(Vid), Dean(Ned), Bellow(Ned), Svoboda(WB), Hillin(Buna)

Catchers:  Leger(LCM), Felts(OF), Babino(Ned)

Infielders: Benoit(PNG), Pitts(Ned), Sims(Vid), Hubbard(BC), Bruce(Vid), Eaves(H-F)

Outfielders:  Jalali(PNG), Barry(LCM), Statum(OF), Johnson(LCM), Reyenga(PNG)

Others that will have a good showing:  Vidrine(Ned), Sangster(PNG), Stone(PNG), Laird(Ned); Cloeren(LCM); Hagler(Vid), Johnson(H-F), Minaldi(H-F), Robertson(BC), Snyder(BC), Parker(Jasp), Erickson(Lum), Brown(LCM).

Nederland won 53 to 37 according to text I received.