GAME BLOG: Cardinal Relays
Thursday, May 8, 2008
This much drama is hard to find outside of daytime television.
*Cue Don LaFontaine, the epic-sounding movie trailer guy*
In a meet...where two conference champions will decide the team title, only one can be victorious.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Matt Tabor stood in front of the small gathering of soon-to-be Benton senior football players Wednesday afternoon with a unique message.
"I know how you like to flirt with the girls in the hallway," the new football coach said. "But I need you to hit on some dudes."
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
"If I didn't (believe I could turn it around), I'd turn in my resignation papers."
Derek Wilson told me that after Benton opened its season with a 39-19 loss to Chillicothe this season. Even in what turned out to be a dismal season, Benton's now-former football coach believed he could turn it around.
He meant he'd resign in the morning, but he never did -- not that next morning and not Wednesday afternoon when it was announced Wilson would not return for a sixth season due to concerns about how football staffing positions were filled.
Friday, March 14, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Winning has become more than a habit for this group of Hamilton players.
It's turned into a lifestyle.
Several members of the Hornets' hoops team -- including the entire starting five -- have contributed in one way or another to one of Hamilton's five state championships (four in cross country, one in track in 2007).
Friday, March 14, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Watching Scott County Central and Jefferson destroy their respective opponents Friday simply confirmed what we already suspected.
Thursday's early afternoon semifinal was the de facto state championship.
Without Doug Archer harassing him in the post, 6-foot-2 freshman forward Otto Porter went nuts for 21 points and 11 rebounds and benefited from some highlight-reel assists from D.D. Gillespie and Bobby Hatchett. Once again, the Braves hassled the opposing team -- this time, Fair Play -- into upward of 20 turnovers and used them to score 22 fast-break points in an 83-58 win in the third-place game.
Friday, March 14, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The game-changing plays came early in Jefferson’s third straight championship victory.
Craig Mattson’s baseline jumper off of a loose ball in the first quarter, his first 3-pointer to open a double-digit lead and Kyle Schieber’s trey at the first-half buzzer all fueled the title game rout.
The contest featured several more notable moments, however — some of them humorous, most of them ultimately irrelevant. Here’s what else transpired:
Thursday, March 13, 2008
With 27-year coaching veteran Ronnie Cookson sitting to their right, Scott County Central underclassmen Bobby Hatchett and Drew Thomas played the part of wise sages during Wednesday's post-game press conference.
After watching Jefferson shoot nearly 60 percent from the floor, Thomas was dumbfounded.
"A couple of people hit some shots that we didn't know could shoot like that," the junior said.
Despite 23 Jefferson turnovers, Hatchett showed his respect for the Eagles' press-breaking abilities, which included heavy ball-handling for 6-foot-7 Doug Archer and 6-foot-3, rotund Kevin Moffat.
Friday, Feb. 29, 2008
Somewhere in between LeBlond's blowout victory and the start of the nightcap, the troops rolled in to Cameron High School.
By troops, I mean the dozen or so Cameron fans sporting plaid, toga-like garb complete with blue face paint. Yes "The Cameron Crazies" made semifinal night into "Braveheart Night" in the stands.
Cameron's most dedicated cross-section of fans -- modelled after Duke University's Cameron Crazies -- paid tribute to Mel Gibson's 1995 award-winning film "Braveheart," a choice not easily explained according to the group's vocal leader, senior Matt Poehler.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008
The official word finally came from Platte County on its new football coach, and it offered me a chance to do a little gloating.
I touted the positives for Bill Utz since Chip Sherman first vacated one of the most visible coaching positions in the state. Not that any of the other candidates interviewed wouldn't have done a great job, but my original experiences with Utz back in his Mid-Buchanan days left an indelible impression on this young reporter.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008
SEASON WRAP:Lafayette boys
Looking at the final stat sheet from Wednesday's sectional against Lincoln Prep, one line told the story of Lafayette's season: Bryston Williams, 1 point.
The Fighting Irish's inconsistencies reared up again on the team's biggest stage since 1985. All year, Lafayette waited for a conistent rotation to show up, and it did for three magical district games at Lafayette High School. Bryston Williams worked guys off the dribble; Cody Miller came off the bench and rained 3-pointers; Derrick Williams played consistent in the post despite his size disadvantage.
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008
After making the playoffs for the first time since 1985, Lafayette rides a huge wave of momentum into tonight’s Class 4 sectional matchup with Lincoln Prep at Civic Arena. The Fighting Irish will undoubtedly own home-court advantage, but will they be able to handle the Tigers’ quick guards like last time?
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008
GIRLS
Platte County vs. Benton
Story line: Benton beat Platte County 46-43 in last Thursday's MEC matchup to hand the Pirates just their third loss of the season. The Pirates want revenge plus their third playoff appearance in school history, first since 2003. Benton wants to continue recent dominance and earn its fifth postseason appearance since 2003.
BOYS
Lafayette vs. Smithville
Story line: Lafayette hopes to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1985. It's been a long, long drought that included just two district title game appearances under long-time coach Russell Book, who stepped down after last season. The Fighting Irish have home court and a vicious surge of momentum after beating Benton in the semifinals.
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008
Even Johnny Coy had to catch himself as he reflected on the career that was --- the greatest in the history of a St. Joseph high school player.
Eliminated in the semifinals, Coy didn't get his shot at a second straight district title in a third championship game appearance. No, despite the 6-foot-7 senior's best efforts --- 46 points worth --- Lafayette's hot shooting undid the best team in the city in recent years.
"I played in a district championship three years --- really two. I thought this was going to be the third year," Coy said as he reflected back.
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008
These games had been marked on a lot of calendars for a long time. As Platte County coach Chris Stubbs said, this district is --- if not the toughest --- then one of the toughest in the state regardless of class and gender.
Both games --- Platte County-Savannah, Benton-Smithville --- went down to the final seconds, and the Platte County-Savannah matchup goes down as an all-time great.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008
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.
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