Cu Chulainn

I've never Coached any of my players to bank on our points at the foul line being how we'd win a game. However, I have Coached my son to go at particular players to get them in foul trouble because they wouldnt be able to stay in front of him. We have been doing that since he was very young and it has worked more times than not. However, you do need a clean called game to make that strategy work. Hard to win when a teams best players are on the bench in foul trouble or fouled out. It's Chess not Checkers. As far as whoever you think my buddy is; I dont know anyone on this thread that has said anything nice about my son or his teammates. When folks are nice and wish to remain anonymous, I thank them and leave it at that.

Yes sir, it does

If you are going to address me, then tag me. Refs - I simply made an obvious assessment of the fact that my son never even got to foul line all night even though he was fouled repeatedly, hand checked, blocked, and pushed all why we are in the bonus. Sells made it to the line more than our entire team's free throw count which totaled to be 7 in Game 3. Kountzes Runs - We were up double digits to zero in the first quarter at start of the game, which could have helped us through the Kountze runs. With that being said, Your math in bold above shows a score of 53 -14. We got our other 39 points during the same game. Orangefield's Supporting Cast - They put up 27 of the 35 I said we needed and were led by Thomas with 14. They were 8 shy and we lost by 9. I said all along that Kountze would come out; face-guard and double Ghost like they did during the 2nd half of Game 2 and now all the way through Game 3. It is good defensive strategy on Coach Jouberts part and I dont blame him at all. It's what Id have done if I was playing us as well. Who wouldn't? Ghost torched yall in Games 1 & 2 with fg's and assists not ft's. He had 21 & 26 with only 7 total free throw attempts for both games. Taking him out of the game and disrupting our offense is smart defensive strategy, but it also means that you should have to live with picking up more fouls which is what happened during Game 2. We just didnt get those calls in Game 3, so it is what it is. It's a sport and always a gamble. Orangefield's Horses As You Put It - I've said all season that our ceiling was every bit as high as Kountze, but we are nowhere near as deep. That shouldn't be news to anyone. Yall have bench players that would start at other schools in our district! No shots taken here, that is a great luxury to have. We have to run our horses in the ground against a team like yall. Scales Having 12 Points In The Last 6 Quarters - I've already said it was good defensive strategy to take my son out of the game, and that I would've done the same, so yes hats off to Kountze for having a plan and executing. We absolutely should be doing more to free him up with downscreens, motion, etc when teams choose to play him that way because he is such a big part to the flow of our offense. At the same time, Coach Whitmire addresses those types of things with the boys, but heat of the moment decisions and basketball IQ isn't the same in all players at the Varsity Level. I'm sure we will have to implement some things to help free him up and I couldn't be more happy with our entire Coaching Staff and what they do with our boys. Did You Know? - Last year Ghost had 21 & 25 through Games 1 & 2 of the Playoffs as a 120lb. freshman. Hitchcock was sitting in the stands during Game 2 and literally face-guarded him from the opening tip during Game 3 and only allowed him 5 touches throughout the game. He was scoreless with no attempts from the foul line and even though we were up by 1 going into the 4th, we lost by 10. FACTS - COACHES CHOOSE TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE GAME AND SEE IF THE OTHERS CAN BEAT THEM. ITS STRATEGY, AND ALLOWS OTHERS TO THINK THEY ARE OPEN OR ARE ONLY SEEING MINIMAL COVERAGE. IF THOSE PLAYERS CAPATALIZE ON THAT KIND OF COVERAGE, THEN IT FREES GHOST BACK UP. IF NOT OR AT LEAST NOT TO THE LEVEL NEEDED TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS POINT PRODUCTION, THEN WE LOSE!!! Not Rocket Science here bro! We will do better and this team is a true team of brothers, that apologize to each other for mistakes made and look out for each other. They have a real joy playing together and it has been an honor to watch them all year! They can pull together and do big things like they did in Game 2 and we believe in them, which is all I have ever said from the beginning. #webeleive

My kid doesn't carry himself poorly on the floor or anywhere else. We worry about what kind of human beings we are before we worry about what kind of athlete he is. Everyone can say whatever but whats done is done and we are on to the playoffs, just like they are. Hope to see them again in a few weeks, until then we will honestly be pulling for them!

How many free throws did Sells shoot? How many free throws did Scales shoot?

AMEN!

In a 9 point game, 8 free throws is huge especially when your teams best free throw shooter gets probably 15 of those, while the other teams best free throw shooter gets zero attempts from the line. This crap isn't hard to figure out and we shouldn't make it that way! Funny how folks get amnesia and only tell parts of what they saw last night.

You were there, why do you tell it like you didnt see the truth? How many of those free throws were Sells? How many were Scales?

It came down to fouling the heck out of Scales the entire game and he never getting even one attempt from the foul line. There were several calls that they made on the floor only because he finished what would have been an " And 1 Basket" or he passed it off which would have been an open layup. They made sure to take the points away! Those refs knew exactly what they were doing and it was obvious. Everyone can sit on here and act like they didnt see it because there are so many on here in love with Kountze basketball being good again regardless of how they got there, but anybody who really knows the game knows the truth. Adults who cheat kids, are pieces of crap and are ruining the game! Everyone is going to say, "The foul count was nearly even" - Think about it, Kountze presses and plays physical the entire game, the foul count shouldn't even be close and there will never be any logical reason that Kountze would have more free throw attempts than Orangefield! Oh well, this is the path the good Lord wanted for us, so we will gladly take it! They did everything I said they would do, we just couldn't collect the fouls on them since the refs didnt call a fair game! On to Woodville Tuesday night

Scales had a layup in second half of Game 2 and three free throws to finish with 26 on 9/13fg's. Kountze's whole defensive scheme was to stop him in the 2nd half and it baited others into taking quick shots before the ball got back to him. Its a good defensive strategy and something our team has to better understand, and work to get him the ball. He has had quite a few big first halves this season, and then you see them not give him the ball near as much in the 2nd half, It's honestly a basketball IQ Thing for our group that has improved since last season, but could still be better than it is. Our ball movement in the first half seems to always look better than it does in 2nd halves. I don't see Sells fouling out again either, but I do think that gives the assignment to Donald, and if we can get the spacing right, Donald will be in foul trouble guarding Ghost tonight. I'd never expect him to be perfect from the floor in any half of play, but I couldn't be more proud of how he embraced the hype and performed in both Games 1 & 2. Since he was young, it was always about taking the best smart shot there was for our team and embracing the moment. What I mean is, he could be 0/9 or whatever in a half but if they were the right, smart shots, then I'd want him to keep pulling the trigger. I know he has put the work in and he is always one shot away from catching fire. Couldn't agree with your last statement anymore! Orangefiled's supporting cast has been outperformed in the first two games, which in my opinion means they are due! Tonight's matchup is about so much more than Scales/Wrinkle & Sells/ Donald, tonight is about two State Ranked Top 10 TEAMS GOING HEAD TO HEAD FOR THE TRILOGY! Should be another great game and a lot of fun! One final thought, Game 1 we turned the ball over 28 times, but only 14 in game two. More possessions usually means more points and to me that is the glaringly obvious difference.

I agree they probably haven't scored that before, but I figured that when I typed it. I beleive in them though. They are great kids and I believe they are settling in to the bright lights and the pressure that comes with it. They don't call'em the Cardiac Cats for nothing, lol! 9 point win has just been on my mind all week for whatever reason(maybe because we lost by that in the first one), so that wasn't a shot at all. I still think it will be close and whoever is trailing will be fouling to stop the clock which should increase the lead a little. I appreciate what you say about my son, he did have 21 in the first half the other night, and we didnt move the ball around as well in the 2nd half which is why I think Kountze will to neutralize him early. We have seen that strategy all season, so it gives opportunities to the others. If and when they make the most of it, it will free Ghost back up. Smith & Thomas have both had BIG nights just not always on the same night. We will need them both and all of our team to play their very best for us to win tomorrow! I agree with you.

I'm not a gambling man outside of football squares or something like that. Besides both of these groups of young men are too special to let something as evil as money get involved. Just want a fair game and watch all of this talent on both sides be who God chose them to be! I'll for sure be pulling for both of them through the playoffs until we meet again as well and I appreciate you saying that! All in good fun, and 409 shines no matter what!

I predict Kountze commits more into stopping Ghost (faceguard & double) like they did in the second half of the last game, but this time it will be from the opening tip. Wrinkle will be who he is and power through with near triple double numbers, while Ghost distracts the defense and collects fouls on them. Shooters like Smith and Thomas will make Kountze pay for leaving them open early which will force the 1 on 1 matchup with Ghost again, and he will capitalize when that happens. Donald will be in foul trouble this time because Sells will be trying to keep from fouling out like he did in Game 1. Our bigs (Rucker & Rawls) will total double digit block numbers together, because Kountze's scoring opportunities won't come from transition and will be in the halfcourt set. Kountze wont be able to press and if they do it wont be for long because Orangefield has already proven they can break it. In Game 2 when we took care of the ball, they got out of their press. When they get out of their press, we control the game and they will once again have to play out of their element. No secret here, this game like many, comes down to who wins the; turnover battle, rebounds, & free throws. Finally, this will be the trilogy everyone wants and it will be fire! Scales/Wrinkle & Sells/ Donalds numbers will be very respectable but close to even. Both are great teams with great players that have a ton of heart, but Orangefield's supporting cast comes up big in this one! 35+ points will be scored outside of whatever Scales & Wrinkle give us. Orangefield Fighting Bobcats win by 9 or more and go into the playoffs as the #1 Seed! (Biggest concern will be for both teams to be able to have fresh legs again when Playoffs start Monday night.)

Our girls play in Huffman Friday night, and I bet Kountze girls play too. I hate that the fanbases will be split.

That makes sense. I had a co-worker from Evadale asking if we were playing there, so I thought it was available.

It seems Evadale would've made more sense. EC is pretty far for both teams.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. A lot of strategy in this one for sure.

I agree, I wouldn't see either conceding considering the playoff matchups. Another game would be an awesome trilogy, but I had a few folks bring up the risk of injury with these two teams going into another dog fight. Now, I could see how neither would want to risk injury knowing we have to go through some really great teams anyway during the playoffs. I guess a lot of thought will go into this one for sure.

Thats interesting and good info, thank you. Would you or @AggiesAreWe know why some folks would be talking about a coin flip? I'm hearing that is a possibility when the game is only for seeding and not to actually secure a playoff spot. Anything you guys know about that? Also will the game be for sure Friday if we play it? How do they decide location?

My fault, bad choice of words on my part. I should have said their "predictions". Your lines are accurate and come from actually watching the games.

I would have tagged you if I was talking about you or said it to you last night in person. You taking Kountze at -8 isn't offensive in anyway. I like the lines you put out and they are usually pretty close. I thought I was pretty clear about haters and negativity being who I was speaking to.

Thank you very much sir!

I'm with you man, and can't say I disagree. I think it was more of "Protect Your house" type of motivation. Every group of players are different, and at least in this case it did hype them up.

For the record, I think Joubert is an awesome Coach just like I do Whitmire, which I have said in previous posts. I also think the Kountze Players are great (4 of them used to play for me and I will always love those guys) and they are a class act! They are real athletes that compete as hard as they can and leave it all on the floor. So there is nothing but respect there from me. The game last night was the most exciting high school game I have ever seen and its because of the players and coaches. However, like you said folks do get on here and talk smack. I try to take the high road in most cases, but I am always going to defend the kids, regardless of who it upsets. In hindsight, I shouldn't have even brought up the margin of victory mess, but sometimes you get tired of the kids not getting credit when they are due. Neither one of us are going to shoot the ball particularly well against each other, because both teams are dialed in playing their best defense possible due to the magnitude of the game. We were all gifted with watching two great games by two great teams being coached by two of the best in Texas. Im going to just leave it at that, and look forward to both of their playoff runs! Like I said before, SETX shined last night

The negative comments were printed and hung by adults, not the kids. However, these players are Varsity young men, so negativity and being told they couldn't do something did fuel their fire. So, yes whatever it takes is right.