Since I'm not above calling ourselves out when we deserve it, here's a note from our "Where were we on that one? file."

While watching LeBlond's two blowouts of Gallatin, my mind was granted ample time to wander. Player after player put up points Tuesday night for the purple and gold, but one absentee suddenly caught my mind: Natalee Long.

Mainly, I noticed because she walked past the scorer's table in a purple T-shirt and pink headband, a long way from the playing garb of her teammates. Apparently, Long left the team after Christmas break, some time before the late January Cameron Tournament.

The 5-foot-3 spark plug guard's absence becomes even more noticeable now, after Echo Hellerich was lost for the season after suffering a severe concussion in the Cameron Tournament championship game. Long would have been one of the top candidates to replace Hellerich in the lineup had she remained on the team.

Instead, coach Wayne Miller uses Kaleigh Blakley, Mallory McCullough and a cast of four freshmen to help fill in the remaining minutes.

I won't conjecture as to the reasons for Long's decision to leave, but here are a few other observations:

--- Gallatin girls coach Rick Lin must be an off-court hockey fan. I only say this because the veteran coach showed a knack for pulling off a successful line change.

The Bulldogs routinely sent in a fresh group of five during their substitution pattern. The only circumstance keeping Gallatin from looking like a hockey team was the referees always made play stop before the subs could come in, that and the complete lack of ice at Grace Gymnasium.

--- LeBlond's boys, in the midst of another highly successful season, showed the depth of its bench again. Junior Brian McCullough looked most impressive, especially a second-half dribble drive where he used a spin move at the rim to precede a left-handed layup.

In addition, senior Tommy Schoeneck added some quality minutes, as did junior Ben Baker.

--- It's a very real possibility both LeBlond teams will end up in the playoffs. The girls likely would need to win a rubber match with Maryville to win a third straight district championship.

The boys appear to be the favorites but have losses to district foes Cameron and Lawson, seeded 2 and 3. They could only match up with one of those two in the title game if they can survive a second-round matchup with Maryville or Plattsburg, both of which present problems.

Still, when LeBlond's at its best, the Eagles are easily the best in the seven-team bracket. But can they put it together for two nights in a row next week?