Over the next few posts, we’ll try to give you a quick preview of the schools that have advanced to the 2010 UIL Girls Basketball State Championships coming up Thursday, March 4 through Saturday, March 6.
Our first look is at Class 1A Division I.
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REGION I: Smyer
(Panhandle, approximately 18 miles west of Lubbock on Hwy 114)
The Smyer Lady Cats (34-3) make their first appearance in the state tournament after winning District 6-1A this season. Smyer defeated defending state champs Sudan last Saturday in the Region I championship, 45-43, to earn the berth.
Led by 6’0” sophomore Haley Fowler, the Lady Cats have averaged 62.6 points per game this season and posted scores of at least 80 points in four different games.
REGION II: Muenster
(North Texas, approximately 16 miles west of Gainesville on US Hwy 82; approximately 49 miles northwest of Denton)
The Muenster Lady Hornets, winners of District 10-1A, bring a 29-6 record to the tournament and are riding a 21-game winning streak. With six seniors, they also can claim the title of most-experienced team in the 1A-I field. They make their fourth tournament appearance in school history, and first since the 2004-05 season.
Led by seniors Lia Heers and Shaina Felderhoff and junior post player Taylor Klement, Muenster won their four regional playoff games by an average margin of 11.3 points per game.
REGION III: Martin’s Mill
(Northeast Texas, approximately 31 miles west of Tyler and 12 miles south-southeast of Canton)
Winners of District 18-1A, the Lady Mustangs (32-4) are making their sixth tournament appearance and their fifth consecutive appearance. They will be looking for their third Class 1A Division I state championship in five years.
Martin’s Mill won state championships in 2006 and 2008. With that recent history, some observers have the Lady Mustangs as the team to beat in Austin this weekend.
However, this is a young team, with four freshmen, two sophomores, three juniors and one senior. Juniors Emily Williams (17 points per game) and Joanna Daniel (16 ppg) lead the way on the floor, but two freshmen—Taylor Munns (G, 5’7”) and Meagan Weatherford (C, 5’11”)—have also made big contributions.
REGION IV: Louise
(Southeast Texas, approximately 85 miles southwest of Houston and 12 miles southwest of El Campo on US Hwy 59)
The remaining 1A-I school with closest proximity to Houston and the only remaining school from south of Waco, the Louise Lady Hornets bring the lowest win percentage to the tournament, but their 26-6 record may be deceptive. All six losses were to larger schools in higher classifications (Orange Grove, 3A; West Columbia, 3A; Goliad, 3A; Hempstead, 2A; Hitchcock, 2A; Shiner St. Paul, TAPPS-2A).
In those losses, the average margin of defeat was only 7.7 points. Because of that, head coach Bryan Branch may have the sleeper of the tournament.
Louise, champion of District 28-1A, is making its first appearance in the state tournament in school history.
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The state semifinal games get underway on Thursday morning. Smyer, the top seed, takes on Louise in the first semifinal at 8:30 AM and Martin’s Mill faces off against Muenster at 10:00 AM.
All games take place at the Frank Erwin Special Events Center on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
22-5A, 23-5A teams impress in bidistrict round
Goodbye District 21-5A. Goodbye District 24-5A. Thanks for coming. We have some lovely parting gifts for you. Drive safely going home in this nasty weather.
Sincerely,
The UIL 2010 Region III Bracket
* * * * *
As if the return of winter wasn't bad enough to have to endure, the teams from these districts had to endure long, cold trips home after losing their playoff games. Every one of them.
The most impressive showing in the opening round of the Class 5A Region III playoffs wasn't by a single team; it was by a pair of districts: 22-5A and 23-5A.
And it should be noted that Bellaire, the top team in the state, won their game by 65 points, while scoring 115 against Eisenhower. That's impressive, but wasn't completely unexpected.
The Fort Bend ISD is alive and well after the bidistrict round as Bush, Elkins, Dulles and Travis swept away Clear Springs, Clear Brook, and Galveston Ball, respectively. Ball came into their game with the Bulldogs as the district champs and a 21-5 record. The Tors jumped out to an early lead but Travis (20-9) fought back to pull out a 65-59 victory.
Clear Springs gave 23-5A champion Bush a big-time scare, but when their leading scorer Anthony Horton fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, Bush overcame an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes to win, 62-58.
People who watch the Fort Bend ISD all season staunchly hold to the belief that they play the best basketball in the area in 23-5A. Tuesday night's results will only add weight to their case.
The interesting thing is that they will at least have the opportunity to lay claim to dominance over another entire district in the area round, as the four teams from 22-5A dispatched the 21-5A entrants in the first round and will next face the 23-5A teams.
As impressive as 23-5A's dominance was, you could make the case that it wasn't surprising. Some of District 22-5A's wins might be categorized as very surprising.
On Monday night, Pearland held off North Shore for a one-point win in a nip-and-tuck battle. But the big surprise of the first round may have been 14-19 Dobie going to overtime to defeat 27-3 Port Arthur Memorial, the 21-5A champions, on Tuesday night, 71-68. The Titans came from behind to force the OT period but Dobie scored the only three points of the OT and took the air out of the ball to deflate Memorial's playoff hopes.
La Porte and Deer Park held serve as well, against Channelview and West Brook, and the 22-5A vs 23-5A was set.
In the area round, Pearland faces Travis, La Porte takes on Elkins, Deer Park will play Bush and Dobie draws Dulles.
Sincerely,
The UIL 2010 Region III Bracket
* * * * *
As if the return of winter wasn't bad enough to have to endure, the teams from these districts had to endure long, cold trips home after losing their playoff games. Every one of them.
The most impressive showing in the opening round of the Class 5A Region III playoffs wasn't by a single team; it was by a pair of districts: 22-5A and 23-5A.
And it should be noted that Bellaire, the top team in the state, won their game by 65 points, while scoring 115 against Eisenhower. That's impressive, but wasn't completely unexpected.
The Fort Bend ISD is alive and well after the bidistrict round as Bush, Elkins, Dulles and Travis swept away Clear Springs, Clear Brook, and Galveston Ball, respectively. Ball came into their game with the Bulldogs as the district champs and a 21-5 record. The Tors jumped out to an early lead but Travis (20-9) fought back to pull out a 65-59 victory.
Clear Springs gave 23-5A champion Bush a big-time scare, but when their leading scorer Anthony Horton fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, Bush overcame an eight-point deficit in the last five minutes to win, 62-58.
People who watch the Fort Bend ISD all season staunchly hold to the belief that they play the best basketball in the area in 23-5A. Tuesday night's results will only add weight to their case.
The interesting thing is that they will at least have the opportunity to lay claim to dominance over another entire district in the area round, as the four teams from 22-5A dispatched the 21-5A entrants in the first round and will next face the 23-5A teams.
As impressive as 23-5A's dominance was, you could make the case that it wasn't surprising. Some of District 22-5A's wins might be categorized as very surprising.
On Monday night, Pearland held off North Shore for a one-point win in a nip-and-tuck battle. But the big surprise of the first round may have been 14-19 Dobie going to overtime to defeat 27-3 Port Arthur Memorial, the 21-5A champions, on Tuesday night, 71-68. The Titans came from behind to force the OT period but Dobie scored the only three points of the OT and took the air out of the ball to deflate Memorial's playoff hopes.
La Porte and Deer Park held serve as well, against Channelview and West Brook, and the 22-5A vs 23-5A was set.
In the area round, Pearland faces Travis, La Porte takes on Elkins, Deer Park will play Bush and Dobie draws Dulles.
Friday, February 19, 2010
UH Cougar baseball and more recruiting news from Cinco Ranch
I'm excited to be doing some fill-in play-by-play work this weekend for ISP Sports and the University of Houston Cougar baseball network. The Coogs open their season at home against Texas State. Both teams have rosters stocked with Houston-area guys that I've watched over past few years and it will be fun to watch them at the collegiate level.
My buddy Jeremy Branham is the regular play-by-play guy for Cougar baseball, but he also calls UH women's basketball and is in Florida this weekend as they continue their conference season. So I'll keep the seat at Cougar Field warm for him.
You are invited to listen in...right here.
* * * * *
Speaking of Cougars, we've received more signing updates on Cinco Ranch Cougars courtesy of campus athletic coordinator and head football coach Don Clayton.
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Offensive lineman Richard Glover has committed to play football for the Army Academy at West Point. Glover was a two-time first-team All-District selection for the state-semifinalist Cougars in 2009, while also being a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year Award.
My buddy Jeremy Branham is the regular play-by-play guy for Cougar baseball, but he also calls UH women's basketball and is in Florida this weekend as they continue their conference season. So I'll keep the seat at Cougar Field warm for him.
You are invited to listen in...right here.
* * * * *
Speaking of Cougars, we've received more signing updates on Cinco Ranch Cougars courtesy of campus athletic coordinator and head football coach Don Clayton.
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Offensive lineman Richard Glover has committed to play football for the Army Academy at West Point. Glover was a two-time first-team All-District selection for the state-semifinalist Cougars in 2009, while also being a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Seated: Mom (Erica), Richard, and Dad (Richard)
Standing: Jon Edwards (Offensive Coordinator), Quentin White (Offensive Line Coach), Tony Marsh (Offensive Line Coach), Bennett Johnson (Athletic Trainer), James Cross (Principal), and Don Clayton (Head Football Coach).
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Tight end Joe Norrell has committed to play football at Bryant University. Joe was a first-team All-District selection in 2009. Bryant University, located in Smithfield Rhode Island, will also be the destination next year for QB Trent Eckel from The Woodlands. Bryant participates in the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA, to you old-timers).
Seated: Dad (Bob), Joe, and Mom (Lisa)
Standing: Shane Weaston (Assistant Coach), Jon Edwards (Offensive Coordinator), Jacob (younger brother), Shannon Valdivia (Counselor), Don Clayton (Head Football Coach), James Cross (Principal), and Ishan Rison (Tight Ends Coach).
We join in wishing these men continued success in college and beyond.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Haka be praised! Trinity will play on Labor Day!
Rest easy, Houston high school football fans...North Texas pretentious melodrama is alive and well in the football ranks up in the Metroplex. And, to me, it is no surprise that it wears the black and red of Trinity High School in Euless.
Defending 5A-D1 state champ Euless Trinity will still participate in the 2010 Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series at Cowboys Stadium on Labor Day, even though they will have a short five-day turnaround for a Saturday district game that same week (the horror!). The Trojans had agreed to play in the early-season showcase against Shiloh Christian from Springdale, AR, before the UIL's realignment placed them in the nine-team District 6-5A.
Eight district games meant only two non-district matchups. An odd number of teams in the district meant that there would be one inactive team each week during district play, effectively eating up a bye week, so Trinity had to schedule a Zero Week game.
Head Coach Steve Lineweaver immediately commenced the agonizing and hand-wringing process of considering backing out the commitment to play on Labor Day (Week 1, second and final non-district game) in favor of a Friday or Saturday game the weekend before, but the team wanted to play. So they will. WHEW!
Before you shed tears for their misfortune, know this: David Smith's Klein Oak team did the same thing last season, without any of the fanfare or any of the media coverage. And facing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Cypress Woods, they arguably had a much tougher two-game stretch than Trinity will.
As a coach -- or as Mike Gundy would say, a "man" -- there are some things you just do and accept the consequences, good or bad.
Trinity's Saturday game that week is against Richland, who aren't a walkover by any stretch of the imagination, but also aren't Southlake Carroll. The Trojans should manage enough strength to muster up two faux Haka dances in one week.
For my money, I will never see anything funnier than a red-headed freckle-faced 16-year-old kid from the mid-cities doing a tribal warrior's dance. And doing it wrong. Unless it's Mike Gundy going off on a reporter.
Defending 5A-D1 state champ Euless Trinity will still participate in the 2010 Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series at Cowboys Stadium on Labor Day, even though they will have a short five-day turnaround for a Saturday district game that same week (the horror!). The Trojans had agreed to play in the early-season showcase against Shiloh Christian from Springdale, AR, before the UIL's realignment placed them in the nine-team District 6-5A.
Eight district games meant only two non-district matchups. An odd number of teams in the district meant that there would be one inactive team each week during district play, effectively eating up a bye week, so Trinity had to schedule a Zero Week game.
Head Coach Steve Lineweaver immediately commenced the agonizing and hand-wringing process of considering backing out the commitment to play on Labor Day (Week 1, second and final non-district game) in favor of a Friday or Saturday game the weekend before, but the team wanted to play. So they will. WHEW!
Before you shed tears for their misfortune, know this: David Smith's Klein Oak team did the same thing last season, without any of the fanfare or any of the media coverage. And facing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Cypress Woods, they arguably had a much tougher two-game stretch than Trinity will.
As a coach -- or as Mike Gundy would say, a "man" -- there are some things you just do and accept the consequences, good or bad.
Trinity's Saturday game that week is against Richland, who aren't a walkover by any stretch of the imagination, but also aren't Southlake Carroll. The Trojans should manage enough strength to muster up two faux Haka dances in one week.
For my money, I will never see anything funnier than a red-headed freckle-faced 16-year-old kid from the mid-cities doing a tribal warrior's dance. And doing it wrong. Unless it's Mike Gundy going off on a reporter.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Horrific accident will call attention to IOC, NBC
Warning: this post has absolutely nothing to do with Houston high school sports.
I feel compelled to write about the horrific accident near Vancouver that resulted in the tragic death of Nodar Kumaritashvili from the Republic of Georgia during an Olympic practice run for the luge competition on the same day as the opening ceremonies of these Olympic Games.
Nothing is harder to watch than the raw footage of the accident, especially when you realize you're viewing the exact moment that a person's life comes to an end, but I believe the thing that will define this tragedy is the way that it is dealt with publicly by the International Olympic Committee and their major broadcast partner, NBC.
The IOC is downright clandestine and they grant no re-broadcast or video rights to any other media organizations besides their official broadcast partners, which means that we will only get as much or as little information about the accident, the track safety, the measures being taken to prevent further accidents and any number of other related issues as the IOC wants us to have.
It will be interesting to see how the journalistic instincts of those reporting for NBC on these games will be challenged as questions come up about the safety of the athletes participating in the Games, and specifically the luge competition, even as the IOC will most certainly try to sweep this under the rug as much as possible. NBC's coverage will basically define whether they are, in fact, journalists first or nothing more than a 'state-controlled' propoganda machine for the IOC.
There had already been many questions raised about the safety of this track. There are concerns among those who are still scheduled to compete. People will want to know if the IOC, which portrays itself as the ultimate in humanitarian organizations, has done everything in its power to create the safest possible environment for its participants.
But if the IOC runs from the media at-large, who will ask them the tough questions?
I've always respected many of the anchors and reporters, from both the realms of sports and general news, who are working the Olympics for NBC this year and I will watch with interest to see if they become complicit in any soft-pedaling or if they risk 'biting the hand that feeds them' to ask the tough questions, speak out and speak up for the facts.
Before today, I had very little interest in the Vancouver Games. Sadly, someone had to die to pique that interest.
I feel compelled to write about the horrific accident near Vancouver that resulted in the tragic death of Nodar Kumaritashvili from the Republic of Georgia during an Olympic practice run for the luge competition on the same day as the opening ceremonies of these Olympic Games.
Nothing is harder to watch than the raw footage of the accident, especially when you realize you're viewing the exact moment that a person's life comes to an end, but I believe the thing that will define this tragedy is the way that it is dealt with publicly by the International Olympic Committee and their major broadcast partner, NBC.
The IOC is downright clandestine and they grant no re-broadcast or video rights to any other media organizations besides their official broadcast partners, which means that we will only get as much or as little information about the accident, the track safety, the measures being taken to prevent further accidents and any number of other related issues as the IOC wants us to have.
It will be interesting to see how the journalistic instincts of those reporting for NBC on these games will be challenged as questions come up about the safety of the athletes participating in the Games, and specifically the luge competition, even as the IOC will most certainly try to sweep this under the rug as much as possible. NBC's coverage will basically define whether they are, in fact, journalists first or nothing more than a 'state-controlled' propoganda machine for the IOC.
There had already been many questions raised about the safety of this track. There are concerns among those who are still scheduled to compete. People will want to know if the IOC, which portrays itself as the ultimate in humanitarian organizations, has done everything in its power to create the safest possible environment for its participants.
But if the IOC runs from the media at-large, who will ask them the tough questions?
I've always respected many of the anchors and reporters, from both the realms of sports and general news, who are working the Olympics for NBC this year and I will watch with interest to see if they become complicit in any soft-pedaling or if they risk 'biting the hand that feeds them' to ask the tough questions, speak out and speak up for the facts.
Before today, I had very little interest in the Vancouver Games. Sadly, someone had to die to pique that interest.
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