Not off the Press: One day later than normal
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Christmas holiday is done and gone for another year, the NBA season has begun, the NFL season is almost in the playoffs and the Highland County basketball season is in a fast-break pace.
We have a lot to talk about.
First, I want to talk about this past Friday's SCOL-SHL Challenge for boys basketball. The event was a long day for some, starting at 10 a.m. until around 9:30 p.m. I was there for just the varsity games … all three varsity games. Yes, it was fun, but I don't prefer having three games in one day, but if a team I cover is there, I only feel it is right to cover all three games.
The best game, in my opinion, was the first game between McClain and Lynchburg-Clay. Though it wasn't the prettiest of games, it still went into overtime, had some clutch shots and I was more alert during this game than any other.
This game did have the least amount of people attending, but maybe that happens when a game is two days before Christmas. Wonder how this tournament would be if it was held to open the season … that'd be something I'd get excited about.
Since I'm a numbers nerd … here are some numbers that stood out for this three-game varsity event, which included: McClain, Lynchburg-Clay, Fairfield, Washington, Hillsboro and Whiteoak.
• 347: The number of combined points by all six teams in the three games. Hillsboro scored the most at 81, and the Fairfield Lions scored the least at 45.
• 9: The number of tied scores in the event. The Hillsboro and Whiteoak game was never tied.
• 2-1: The final tally for the SCOL-SHL Challenge as the SCOL won the event with wins by Washington and Hillsboro. The SHL win was from LCHS.
• 24: The number of points scored by Whiteoak junior Gage Carraher. Carraher was the only player in three games to score 20 or more points.
• 24 (2): The number of 3-pointers combined by all six teams.
• 8: The number of 3-pointers by the Hillsboro Indians in their game on Friday. They have 51 3-pointers this season.
• 89: The total number of free throws attempted in three games.
• 57: The total number of points scored via the free throw.
• 71: Times the officials blew their whistle to call a foul in the event.
• 3: The total fouls in the first half between LC and MHS.
• 109: The number of two-point baskets scored by all six teams combined.
• 2,343: The number of words I typed in three game stories on the event.
• A look at the upcoming week
- Since there were no games Monday, the best places to start is Tuesday with what I'm calling the "Game of the Week" when McClain will visit Fairfield for a boys basketball game.
The non-league game is about county pride, and from watching both of these teams on multiple occasions this season, I feel safe in saying they are close to even. I say this because each team likes to keep the score low and each loves to play a defensive game of basketball.
Fairfield might want to get into a transition game with their athletes, especially with Quentin Williams and Brad Clay wearing the colors of the Lions. Speaking of these players, both Williams and Clay have impressed me a lot in games I've watched this season. They make watching basketball very fun.
As for McClain, they will bring the defense to their game, but in their overtime loss to the Mustangs, they lost a five-point lead, but still the Tigers are able to play some quality defense.
This will be a chess match of sorts once the game tips off at Grandle Gymnasium. I'm excited.
- Another game that has my attention this week is the Fairfield Lady Lions at the Hillsboro Lady Indians. Both teams will enter the game with one win as FHS has defeated the East Clinton Lady Astros and HHS has their win against London.
HHS has lost their last four games, and FHS has lost seven straight.
These are two programs that are rebuilding this season, and one team is guaranteed a second win of the year once the game is over.
- On Thursday and Friday this week, LCHS will be hosting the 2nd Annual Wilkin Memorial Tournament. This year, LC will face Paint Valley, and Whiteoak will take on CNE. The winners of those games will face each other on Friday for the championship. The two teams who lose on Thursday will play on Friday for third place. It costs $5 per day for the event.
If both LC and WHS win or lose on Thursday, that means we will end the '11 year with a rematch of the Highland County rivalry on Friday. That was the most physical game I've covered this season, so it will only be right to see these two teams play one more time this season. For a complete losting of games this week go to the events calander on the main page of the HCP web site.
• The week in review
This past week I covered eight games in five days … let's just say I was really happy when Christmas Eve came up on the calendar. The three-day break away from gyms was nice, but I'm recharged, full of Starbucks and ready to get back at it.
In the games last week, there was the Highland County Shootout on Wednesday where McClain defeated Whiteoak and LC defeated the Lady Indians in girls basketball. This was the seventh time the event took place, but the first time during the month of December, rather than being the event to start the season. Since I've covered it both ways, I liked it better at the start of the year.
I started the week watching the Lady Indians of HHS host Western Brown. What impressed me about HHS was their second and third quarters in this game where they outscored WB 24-22. What hurt HHS was the first quarter where they were outscored 16-8 and the fourth as they gambled to get points but were outscored 20-8.
Another quality game to cover this past week was Fairfield at Whiteoak. When these two teams play each other, the games are usually exciting. FHS got the win, and it came from a 21-point performance from Quentin Williams and 19 points by Brad Clay. Like I said earlier in this column, they are fun to watch and have a tremendous upside this season.
• Non-high school sports thoughts
- I guess it comes down to the final week to see if I was right or wrong when I said the Cincinnati Bengals wouldn't make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong because I have a big respect for the rookie duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.
- The Bengals begging for fans to come to their games is sad. They aren't giving you a deal with 2-for-1 tickets, they just want your money … that's all. It's a good start, though. A couple more good drafts, and they won't have to beg for fans to attend games.
- I have a bad feeling about the Sunday night game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. I see the G-Men winning the game and the NFC East with the win. So, I'm saying the bad feeling is for the Cowboys.
- Here is my prediction (though some of the seeds are already set) on how the NFL Playoff teams will be seeded. AFC: 1. New England Patriots, 2. Baltimore Ravens, 3. Houston Texans, 4. Denver Broncos, 5. Pittsburgh Steelers, 6. New York Jets. Here are my NFC predictions: 1. Green Bay Packers, 2. San Francisco 49ers, 3. New Orleans Saints, 4. New York Giants. 5. Detroit Lions, 6. Atlanta Falcons.
- I still haven't watched one complete college bowl game this year. I only want to see the BCS National Championship Game … and maybe a couple other BCS games.
- Did you see NBC is getting their own all-sports 24-7-365 channel in 2012? Maybe this will make ESPN raise the level of their game and not have so many shows where people fake argue. The only one that works for me is PTI ... so I'm saying more than one show is too many.
- Best deal of the year: A store had Starbucks on sale for $5, and on the package was a $1.50 off coupon. I am becoming a bargain shopper. Maybe I can be one of those coupon people.
- Very happy the NBA returned, though I didn't watch a full game, but watched parts of all five games.
- NHL mention of the week: The Blue Jackets have nine wins and 21 losses ... and this was going to be a "good" year for the Jackets. They are the Cleveland Browns of hockey (without past success.)
- Charlie Weis went to his old stompin' grounds and got himself a quarterback in Dayne Crist. Big-time move on the part of the former Notre Dame coach to get the former ND quarterback.
- I'm no longer a reigning fantasy football champion. I did get second place, though. I'm like the guy on "Over the Top" … second place is the first loser when it comes to fantasy football.
- Yes, I take fantasy sports very seriously. It's all about the money.
• Stat of the Week
The Hillsboro Indians have 51 3-pointers this season in eight games.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
In back-to-back games this past week, the LC Lady Mustangs scored 106 points for an average of 53 ppg.
• (A third and final) Stat of the Week
All 10 Highland County boys and girls teams combined this season have a total of 28 wins and 46 losses.
• Quote of the Week
"Brooke (Hertlein) led us in scoring, and I give her kudos. She wasn't feeling well, but she's a hard-nosed kid, and she wanted in there as much as she could. She had to sub a little bit more than she's used to, but she was fighting through it." — Whitney Lewis, LC girls basketball coach following their game against Hillsboro.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"I told the kids I'm not faulting their effort … the effort is always great. They give me everything they got, but we need to do a better job executing for 32 minutes. It's not because they aren't trying to do what I tell them, but we just get flustered and look to just get rid of the basketball or take a quick shot. We just need to work on continuing to do things the right way." — Matt Carson, FHS boys basketball coach following their game against the Washington Blue Lions.
• (A third and final) Quote of the Week
"I told my guys afterwards 'It was ugly, but at least it was a win." — LC boys basketball coach Jason McLaughlin said following their win against McClain.
• One last item of business
Since this is my last NOTP of 2011, I just want to thank everyone who has read all or some of them this year. I hope to continue to improve on them in 2012. Thank you for visiting the Highland County Press for your Highland County sports coverage. I appreciate it very much.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]
We have a lot to talk about.
First, I want to talk about this past Friday's SCOL-SHL Challenge for boys basketball. The event was a long day for some, starting at 10 a.m. until around 9:30 p.m. I was there for just the varsity games … all three varsity games. Yes, it was fun, but I don't prefer having three games in one day, but if a team I cover is there, I only feel it is right to cover all three games.
The best game, in my opinion, was the first game between McClain and Lynchburg-Clay. Though it wasn't the prettiest of games, it still went into overtime, had some clutch shots and I was more alert during this game than any other.
This game did have the least amount of people attending, but maybe that happens when a game is two days before Christmas. Wonder how this tournament would be if it was held to open the season … that'd be something I'd get excited about.
Since I'm a numbers nerd … here are some numbers that stood out for this three-game varsity event, which included: McClain, Lynchburg-Clay, Fairfield, Washington, Hillsboro and Whiteoak.
• 347: The number of combined points by all six teams in the three games. Hillsboro scored the most at 81, and the Fairfield Lions scored the least at 45.
• 9: The number of tied scores in the event. The Hillsboro and Whiteoak game was never tied.
• 2-1: The final tally for the SCOL-SHL Challenge as the SCOL won the event with wins by Washington and Hillsboro. The SHL win was from LCHS.
• 24: The number of points scored by Whiteoak junior Gage Carraher. Carraher was the only player in three games to score 20 or more points.
• 24 (2): The number of 3-pointers combined by all six teams.
• 8: The number of 3-pointers by the Hillsboro Indians in their game on Friday. They have 51 3-pointers this season.
• 89: The total number of free throws attempted in three games.
• 57: The total number of points scored via the free throw.
• 71: Times the officials blew their whistle to call a foul in the event.
• 3: The total fouls in the first half between LC and MHS.
• 109: The number of two-point baskets scored by all six teams combined.
• 2,343: The number of words I typed in three game stories on the event.
• A look at the upcoming week
- Since there were no games Monday, the best places to start is Tuesday with what I'm calling the "Game of the Week" when McClain will visit Fairfield for a boys basketball game.
The non-league game is about county pride, and from watching both of these teams on multiple occasions this season, I feel safe in saying they are close to even. I say this because each team likes to keep the score low and each loves to play a defensive game of basketball.
Fairfield might want to get into a transition game with their athletes, especially with Quentin Williams and Brad Clay wearing the colors of the Lions. Speaking of these players, both Williams and Clay have impressed me a lot in games I've watched this season. They make watching basketball very fun.
As for McClain, they will bring the defense to their game, but in their overtime loss to the Mustangs, they lost a five-point lead, but still the Tigers are able to play some quality defense.
This will be a chess match of sorts once the game tips off at Grandle Gymnasium. I'm excited.
- Another game that has my attention this week is the Fairfield Lady Lions at the Hillsboro Lady Indians. Both teams will enter the game with one win as FHS has defeated the East Clinton Lady Astros and HHS has their win against London.
HHS has lost their last four games, and FHS has lost seven straight.
These are two programs that are rebuilding this season, and one team is guaranteed a second win of the year once the game is over.
- On Thursday and Friday this week, LCHS will be hosting the 2nd Annual Wilkin Memorial Tournament. This year, LC will face Paint Valley, and Whiteoak will take on CNE. The winners of those games will face each other on Friday for the championship. The two teams who lose on Thursday will play on Friday for third place. It costs $5 per day for the event.
If both LC and WHS win or lose on Thursday, that means we will end the '11 year with a rematch of the Highland County rivalry on Friday. That was the most physical game I've covered this season, so it will only be right to see these two teams play one more time this season. For a complete losting of games this week go to the events calander on the main page of the HCP web site.
• The week in review
This past week I covered eight games in five days … let's just say I was really happy when Christmas Eve came up on the calendar. The three-day break away from gyms was nice, but I'm recharged, full of Starbucks and ready to get back at it.
In the games last week, there was the Highland County Shootout on Wednesday where McClain defeated Whiteoak and LC defeated the Lady Indians in girls basketball. This was the seventh time the event took place, but the first time during the month of December, rather than being the event to start the season. Since I've covered it both ways, I liked it better at the start of the year.
I started the week watching the Lady Indians of HHS host Western Brown. What impressed me about HHS was their second and third quarters in this game where they outscored WB 24-22. What hurt HHS was the first quarter where they were outscored 16-8 and the fourth as they gambled to get points but were outscored 20-8.
Another quality game to cover this past week was Fairfield at Whiteoak. When these two teams play each other, the games are usually exciting. FHS got the win, and it came from a 21-point performance from Quentin Williams and 19 points by Brad Clay. Like I said earlier in this column, they are fun to watch and have a tremendous upside this season.
• Non-high school sports thoughts
- I guess it comes down to the final week to see if I was right or wrong when I said the Cincinnati Bengals wouldn't make the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong because I have a big respect for the rookie duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.
- The Bengals begging for fans to come to their games is sad. They aren't giving you a deal with 2-for-1 tickets, they just want your money … that's all. It's a good start, though. A couple more good drafts, and they won't have to beg for fans to attend games.
- I have a bad feeling about the Sunday night game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. I see the G-Men winning the game and the NFC East with the win. So, I'm saying the bad feeling is for the Cowboys.
- Here is my prediction (though some of the seeds are already set) on how the NFL Playoff teams will be seeded. AFC: 1. New England Patriots, 2. Baltimore Ravens, 3. Houston Texans, 4. Denver Broncos, 5. Pittsburgh Steelers, 6. New York Jets. Here are my NFC predictions: 1. Green Bay Packers, 2. San Francisco 49ers, 3. New Orleans Saints, 4. New York Giants. 5. Detroit Lions, 6. Atlanta Falcons.
- I still haven't watched one complete college bowl game this year. I only want to see the BCS National Championship Game … and maybe a couple other BCS games.
- Did you see NBC is getting their own all-sports 24-7-365 channel in 2012? Maybe this will make ESPN raise the level of their game and not have so many shows where people fake argue. The only one that works for me is PTI ... so I'm saying more than one show is too many.
- Best deal of the year: A store had Starbucks on sale for $5, and on the package was a $1.50 off coupon. I am becoming a bargain shopper. Maybe I can be one of those coupon people.
- Very happy the NBA returned, though I didn't watch a full game, but watched parts of all five games.
- NHL mention of the week: The Blue Jackets have nine wins and 21 losses ... and this was going to be a "good" year for the Jackets. They are the Cleveland Browns of hockey (without past success.)
- Charlie Weis went to his old stompin' grounds and got himself a quarterback in Dayne Crist. Big-time move on the part of the former Notre Dame coach to get the former ND quarterback.
- I'm no longer a reigning fantasy football champion. I did get second place, though. I'm like the guy on "Over the Top" … second place is the first loser when it comes to fantasy football.
- Yes, I take fantasy sports very seriously. It's all about the money.
• Stat of the Week
The Hillsboro Indians have 51 3-pointers this season in eight games.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
In back-to-back games this past week, the LC Lady Mustangs scored 106 points for an average of 53 ppg.
• (A third and final) Stat of the Week
All 10 Highland County boys and girls teams combined this season have a total of 28 wins and 46 losses.
• Quote of the Week
"Brooke (Hertlein) led us in scoring, and I give her kudos. She wasn't feeling well, but she's a hard-nosed kid, and she wanted in there as much as she could. She had to sub a little bit more than she's used to, but she was fighting through it." — Whitney Lewis, LC girls basketball coach following their game against Hillsboro.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"I told the kids I'm not faulting their effort … the effort is always great. They give me everything they got, but we need to do a better job executing for 32 minutes. It's not because they aren't trying to do what I tell them, but we just get flustered and look to just get rid of the basketball or take a quick shot. We just need to work on continuing to do things the right way." — Matt Carson, FHS boys basketball coach following their game against the Washington Blue Lions.
• (A third and final) Quote of the Week
"I told my guys afterwards 'It was ugly, but at least it was a win." — LC boys basketball coach Jason McLaughlin said following their win against McClain.
• One last item of business
Since this is my last NOTP of 2011, I just want to thank everyone who has read all or some of them this year. I hope to continue to improve on them in 2012. Thank you for visiting the Highland County Press for your Highland County sports coverage. I appreciate it very much.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.[[In-content Ad]]