I finally got to this (Spoonfuls). I'm dragging a bit, the excuse I'll use to explain the lateness of this post. The three-show radio marathon that is my Friday morning, the detailed map I just sketched for the next issue and the stromboli I just wolfed down at my office's cafe (my take is the lady there can bake) - these are legitimate reasons to be dragging and ready for a nap.
Yes, I did admit this morning on Sports Daily with Bruce, Bob and Savage that I missed Adonis Gantt's game-winning, desperation four-point play against East last Saturday that never should have happened. Why'd I do it (they interrogated me)? It must have been that the Koch Arena mojo rubbed off on me. Like any die-hard Shocker fan who heads to the exits two minutes before the game's over to beat the traffic rather than watch their team close out a ballgame (for better or worse), I stood from my chair-back seat, grabbed my things and headed down the steps, as seconds on the scoreboard waited to tick away. But for goodness' sake, the game was over! East had hit two free throws to go up 72-68, dodging a final-minutes charge by Southeast fueled by Cecil Shaw's three-point shooting and steals at the top of their full-court press. A four-point lead with four seconds left is insurmountable - by going to the exits, I acted as a reasonable person.
But, apparently, I'm a fraud. The guys at Sports Daily are advocating my probation from the sports reporting business for my indiscretion. It turned out Gantt was able to bank in a three-pointer, get fouled in the act and hit the free throw for an unlikely four-point play. Unlikely. Unlikely. Unlikely. He shouldn't even have been guarded. Three points - the max amount available on one play with no fouls - shouldn't have mattered. But from now on I'll just volunteer to stick around with the cleanup crew after games. Maybe that will keep me in my seat and less reasonably speculative. My oldest brother did tell me long ago that logic doesn't apply in the real world.
As I continue to digest my chili cheese stromboli (helped along by the downbeat techno music with which I torture my office compatriots), I'm struggling to get pumped for tonight's schedule. I'll get there, though.
As I should. Following up Tuesday's area girls basketball showdown between Derby and Goddard is tonight's Carroll at Heights matchup. This game's getting a ton of hype (though Bruce and Bob aren't buying). I don't think I'm buying, either - not to say it won't be a good game. I do think Heights could win by as many as 10, though. It should be a packed house, as Carroll fans are as loyal and interested as they come, and Heights always gets its crowd. Heights coach Kip Pulliam told me this morning that he's confident in his team's progress this season. Yes, Heights returned Amanda Orloske and Jennifer Lane from last season's state title team, but not much else. Three freshmen, who Pulliam credits Lane for bringing along, are contributing heavily. Don't just brush off this fact - three freshmen! They are Mary Sims, Allegria Chisolm and Jhasmin Bowen, ensuring that Heights is here to stay for years to come.
Bishop Carroll's not going anywhere, either. The 2004 state champs have a roster full of juniors, including Abby Fawcett, Abby Henning and Julia Marshall. They'll compete for the 5A title this season and next. Should be a great game. I'm going. (Just to show my face - which is completely anonymous, so actually not. I'm a print guy. Just ask my girlfriend - I won her over with letters, as she cringed when she saw my patchy beard.)
Back to the facts. Coming off their big win over Derby - which, though the game was competitive, you could say the Lions overwhelmed them - Goddard has another big ballgame tonight at Hutchinson. Hutchinson has most everyone back from their Class 5A state tournament team last season. This will be a competitive game. I've got Goddard, though, again probably by 10 points. This is a very good team - they have a complete, legitimate starting five. Can they compete with Heights? Possibly. Goddard's Lindsey Keller has committed to Oklahoma State for next year. Keller provides the post presence on the team, but Goddard's got plenty of guards. Very strong team.
Keep an eye on the Hesston boys basketball team. They were undefeated before the Christmas break without two of their top players. Their point guard and leader Rob Moore and the athletic, tall Lee Voth-Gaeddert have returned to the team since the break, but have not broken into the starting lineup yet. They're getting back their legs, especially Moore, a unanimous first-team all-leaguer a year ago who busted his hip in the final football game of the season against Garden Plain this past fall. Hesston will compete in Class 4A, after moving up from 3A.
Which takes me back to our current poll question on the Web site regarding whether or not Kansas needs a Grand State basketball tournament. If 3A teams can compete in 4A and 5A in 6A, and South Gray Montezuma, the defending 1A boys champ, can beat two 6A teams at their mid-season tournament last season, should we get all the class champs together at season's end to find one true champion? Vote.
2 comments:
I really don't think that there would be much benefit to a Garnd State Tourney. First, it pushes these kids into another week of basketball and takes away from spring sports. Second, although you make a good argument with certain schools compeating in upper divisions, I don't believe that a smaller 1-3A school could match the likes of Southeast's talent and speed. I just do not see a need to add another week of basketball just to see a couple close games and a few lop-sided ones all for the sake of a single state champ. I know if I was a graduating senior and just won the 4A title and had to turn around and lose my last game to a 6A school just to find out the best team would be awfully disappointing.
I know I'm late to this conversation, but do you realize there was a Grand State Tournament in 1976? There were only 5 classifications at the time. I don't recall the format of the tournament, but the 4A champ Topeka-Highland Park played the 3A champ Atchison in the championship game. I don't remember who defeated the 5A champ in an earlier round. For whatever reason, they decided not to continue with the tournament the following year.
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