Not off the Press: Random basketball thoughts
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It has been a couple weeks or so since I decided I needed a break from this column and recharge after a busy start to the winter sports season. Since I had a few days of rest with the holiday break, it was time to get back to this column, as I'm planning to write this (amongst other columns and such) throughout the remainder of the winter sports season.
Friday and Saturday will be an exciting two days for Highland County basketball. We'll have four games where schools from the county will go toe-to-toe, with Whiteoak traveling to Lynchburg-Clay for a two-day Wilkin Memorial Scholarship Tournament, and on Saturday, the Highland County matchup of Fairfield and McClain will be renewed for the first time in at least a decade in girls basketball.
I'm glad the Wildcats and Mustangs are playing in the first round of the Wilkin Tournament, plus I think it is good the girls teams are playing in the Wilkin Tournament as well, as this is all for a good cause.
I want to take a closer look at the boys matchup as it is set to tip-off around 9 p.m. at Lynchburg-Clay on Friday, Dec. 28.
For LC this season, they are 0-6 as they've scored 51.5 points per game, while allowing 61.6 ppg. WHS, on the other hand, is 2-4 overall with 59.2 ppg while allowing 57.8 ppg. The Wildcats have lost their past two games.
Both teams lost at the SCOL vs. SHAC Challenge at Hillsboro the last time they took the court, with LC falling 44-32 to the McClain Tigers and WHS losing 57-55 to Hillsboro with 3.6 seconds left in the final frame.
I've had the opportunity to watch both these teams on more than one occasion this season. What impresses me about the Wildcats thus far this season is they've only had one home game this year after their first six games and still have been competitive. Their seventh game will also be on the road, so if they can just stay competitive like they have, this could be a dangerous team once they get a few home games in a row later on in the season.
What I like about the Mustangs is I still believe they have the potential to have a productive season, even with their current 0-6 mark.
They were my preseason sleeper team, and once they repair a few aspects of their game here and there, they can still prove my sleeper status correct.
As for these two teams against each other … they are similar in the way they play offensively with the ability to score at the post but can threaten their opponents with their outside shooting.
I've seen both of these teams be held out of the post this season and still score points with their shooting.
WHS is the more veteran team compared to Lynchburg-Clay, but I feel each of these teams present a good matchup with one another, and that can make for some interesting basketball.
This game is worth watching.
• The return of a rivalry in girls basketball
Finally, this game is going to happen in girls basketball and still be played in boys as it is one of my favorite games of the season ... just for the atmosphere both fan bases bring to this game.
In McClain Gym especially, we know the fans will be rocking throughout the boys game, so this will be one to watch for sure.
For the girls game, I've seen the two schools scrimmage in the past but never seem them play in a regular-season game, and I've covered high school basketball here since the '06-07 season.
The teams have somewhat similar records, and each have played tough schedules this year as MHS will enter the girls game at 3-7, and FHS is 1-6 as both teams are in the midst of building or rebuilding their respective programs.
Still, the girls game can be competitive, especially with leading scorers in Shania Massie of MHS and Heather Cox of FHS. Plus, for MHS, Tara Karnes has upped her game as of late.
The FHS and MHS girls game is scheduled to tip-off at 3:15 p.m. in Greenfield.
This is a one-day event on Saturday with both the boys and girls games at the freshman (boys only), JV and varsity levels.
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• A couple words on coach Brian Spicer
This is just a simple "thank you" to Coach Spicer for all his help the past four seasons. There wasn't an email or phone call he didn't answer, and being the football junkie I am, I sent a lot of emails and made a few phone calls in his four-year tenure as Hillsboro's head football coach.
In this job, I'm always disappointed to see any coach resign as Coach Spicer did because in my dealing with him, he was always respectful with me, and as I mentioned earlier, when I have a coach to work with like Spicer, with the detailed way he answered emails or phone calls ... that isn't something I always have.
Best of luck to Coach Spicer in his future coaching endeavors.
• Quick thoughts on the basketball season
- Anyone else surprised by the start of the Hillsboro boys basketball team? They should have everyone's respect after the way they've begun the season. I think it is safe to say they are gaining the varsity experience they lacked at the start of the season.
- I also have enjoyed covering the HHS girls basketball team this season. They play motivated basketball, and the wins will eventually come for this group of ladies.
- I'm having trouble picking out who I think is the best team I've seen thus far this season. I can say I was impressed with the way Fayetteville and Washington shot from beyond the arc.
- I think attendance is down at games this season, but that's what happens in this economy.
- Though it made for a long day, I enjoyed the SCOL vs. SHAC Challenge last Saturday … it is always good when I get all five schools I cover under one roof.
- I think the two best boys basketball players I've seen from Highland County thus far are Quentin Williams of FHS and Jarrod Hart of HHS … each player is capable of taking over a game.
- One of the best individual performances I watched thus far this season was Doc Seip against North Adams as he sat the bench a majority of the first half and still finished with 18 points.
- I'm still waiting to see that game that makes me go "WOW." The best game I watched thus far was Hillsboro vs. Whiteoak when the game-winning shot came with 3.6 seconds left in regulation by Jarrod Hart. HHS won the game, 57-55.
- In girls basketball, Lynchburg-Clay senior Laney Lewis is having that breakout season. Her overall game has improved tremendously this season, and she was really good the past three seasons. She's had basically a double-double (one triple-double) in all but one or two games this season.
- I'm glad every girls basketball team in the county already has at least one win this season. Never like seeing any team go winless on a year.
- I have a feeling at the start of the season, the Clinton-Massie basketball team will be well-rested but really busy as they start their season in early January after being delayed following their football season. I'm excited to see this team take the court.
- Here are some makeup dates for a few games for Highland County teams: London at Hillsboro boys basketball moved to Jan. 12, McClain at Clinton-Massie boys basketball moved to Jan. 15 and CM at HHS boys basketball, Jan. 19.
• Stat of the Week
In the Fairfield vs. Washington boys games last Saturday, the two teams combined for a total of 15 3-pointers with Washington's Garrett Phipps with five. The other 3-pointers were by: Washington's Trevor Bain (2), David Harvey (1) and Derek Shaw (1) and Fairfield's Quentin Williams (3), Ryan Bates (1) and Elijah Carmean (2).
• One last item of business
It is hard to believe this is the final week of 2012. I want to thank everyone who clicked to read anything I wrote this year, and as always, I want to continue to improve the product I send out to everyone on a daily basis. I can't thank everyone enough for reading the columns, features and articles I write … it really means a lot because this is more than just a job for me.
Thank you all, and here is to a better 2013.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen Forsha on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
Friday and Saturday will be an exciting two days for Highland County basketball. We'll have four games where schools from the county will go toe-to-toe, with Whiteoak traveling to Lynchburg-Clay for a two-day Wilkin Memorial Scholarship Tournament, and on Saturday, the Highland County matchup of Fairfield and McClain will be renewed for the first time in at least a decade in girls basketball.
I'm glad the Wildcats and Mustangs are playing in the first round of the Wilkin Tournament, plus I think it is good the girls teams are playing in the Wilkin Tournament as well, as this is all for a good cause.
I want to take a closer look at the boys matchup as it is set to tip-off around 9 p.m. at Lynchburg-Clay on Friday, Dec. 28.
For LC this season, they are 0-6 as they've scored 51.5 points per game, while allowing 61.6 ppg. WHS, on the other hand, is 2-4 overall with 59.2 ppg while allowing 57.8 ppg. The Wildcats have lost their past two games.
Both teams lost at the SCOL vs. SHAC Challenge at Hillsboro the last time they took the court, with LC falling 44-32 to the McClain Tigers and WHS losing 57-55 to Hillsboro with 3.6 seconds left in the final frame.
I've had the opportunity to watch both these teams on more than one occasion this season. What impresses me about the Wildcats thus far this season is they've only had one home game this year after their first six games and still have been competitive. Their seventh game will also be on the road, so if they can just stay competitive like they have, this could be a dangerous team once they get a few home games in a row later on in the season.
What I like about the Mustangs is I still believe they have the potential to have a productive season, even with their current 0-6 mark.
They were my preseason sleeper team, and once they repair a few aspects of their game here and there, they can still prove my sleeper status correct.
As for these two teams against each other … they are similar in the way they play offensively with the ability to score at the post but can threaten their opponents with their outside shooting.
I've seen both of these teams be held out of the post this season and still score points with their shooting.
WHS is the more veteran team compared to Lynchburg-Clay, but I feel each of these teams present a good matchup with one another, and that can make for some interesting basketball.
This game is worth watching.
• The return of a rivalry in girls basketball
Finally, this game is going to happen in girls basketball and still be played in boys as it is one of my favorite games of the season ... just for the atmosphere both fan bases bring to this game.
In McClain Gym especially, we know the fans will be rocking throughout the boys game, so this will be one to watch for sure.
For the girls game, I've seen the two schools scrimmage in the past but never seem them play in a regular-season game, and I've covered high school basketball here since the '06-07 season.
The teams have somewhat similar records, and each have played tough schedules this year as MHS will enter the girls game at 3-7, and FHS is 1-6 as both teams are in the midst of building or rebuilding their respective programs.
Still, the girls game can be competitive, especially with leading scorers in Shania Massie of MHS and Heather Cox of FHS. Plus, for MHS, Tara Karnes has upped her game as of late.
The FHS and MHS girls game is scheduled to tip-off at 3:15 p.m. in Greenfield.
This is a one-day event on Saturday with both the boys and girls games at the freshman (boys only), JV and varsity levels.
[[In-content Ad]]
• A couple words on coach Brian Spicer
This is just a simple "thank you" to Coach Spicer for all his help the past four seasons. There wasn't an email or phone call he didn't answer, and being the football junkie I am, I sent a lot of emails and made a few phone calls in his four-year tenure as Hillsboro's head football coach.
In this job, I'm always disappointed to see any coach resign as Coach Spicer did because in my dealing with him, he was always respectful with me, and as I mentioned earlier, when I have a coach to work with like Spicer, with the detailed way he answered emails or phone calls ... that isn't something I always have.
Best of luck to Coach Spicer in his future coaching endeavors.
• Quick thoughts on the basketball season
- Anyone else surprised by the start of the Hillsboro boys basketball team? They should have everyone's respect after the way they've begun the season. I think it is safe to say they are gaining the varsity experience they lacked at the start of the season.
- I also have enjoyed covering the HHS girls basketball team this season. They play motivated basketball, and the wins will eventually come for this group of ladies.
- I'm having trouble picking out who I think is the best team I've seen thus far this season. I can say I was impressed with the way Fayetteville and Washington shot from beyond the arc.
- I think attendance is down at games this season, but that's what happens in this economy.
- Though it made for a long day, I enjoyed the SCOL vs. SHAC Challenge last Saturday … it is always good when I get all five schools I cover under one roof.
- I think the two best boys basketball players I've seen from Highland County thus far are Quentin Williams of FHS and Jarrod Hart of HHS … each player is capable of taking over a game.
- One of the best individual performances I watched thus far this season was Doc Seip against North Adams as he sat the bench a majority of the first half and still finished with 18 points.
- I'm still waiting to see that game that makes me go "WOW." The best game I watched thus far was Hillsboro vs. Whiteoak when the game-winning shot came with 3.6 seconds left in regulation by Jarrod Hart. HHS won the game, 57-55.
- In girls basketball, Lynchburg-Clay senior Laney Lewis is having that breakout season. Her overall game has improved tremendously this season, and she was really good the past three seasons. She's had basically a double-double (one triple-double) in all but one or two games this season.
- I'm glad every girls basketball team in the county already has at least one win this season. Never like seeing any team go winless on a year.
- I have a feeling at the start of the season, the Clinton-Massie basketball team will be well-rested but really busy as they start their season in early January after being delayed following their football season. I'm excited to see this team take the court.
- Here are some makeup dates for a few games for Highland County teams: London at Hillsboro boys basketball moved to Jan. 12, McClain at Clinton-Massie boys basketball moved to Jan. 15 and CM at HHS boys basketball, Jan. 19.
• Stat of the Week
In the Fairfield vs. Washington boys games last Saturday, the two teams combined for a total of 15 3-pointers with Washington's Garrett Phipps with five. The other 3-pointers were by: Washington's Trevor Bain (2), David Harvey (1) and Derek Shaw (1) and Fairfield's Quentin Williams (3), Ryan Bates (1) and Elijah Carmean (2).
• One last item of business
It is hard to believe this is the final week of 2012. I want to thank everyone who clicked to read anything I wrote this year, and as always, I want to continue to improve the product I send out to everyone on a daily basis. I can't thank everyone enough for reading the columns, features and articles I write … it really means a lot because this is more than just a job for me.
Thank you all, and here is to a better 2013.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen Forsha on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.