JMT

Should be a fun game. It's been a good year for the Little Trojans. This group gets along so well and they all seem to enjoy the team concept, which wasn't the case last year or the year before.

Trip #6 down 35 for the Little Trojans.

Talked to Hillcrest's head coach briefly on his way out of Ellis Davis and he said he thought they were good. Another coach in the building that watched them play said "They wouldn't have been undefeated if they played up this way."...He was not impressed at all with them.

[quote name="ST413" post="1155939" timestamp="1325954519"] That outcome isn't a big surprise to me. It may be a little more lopsided than I would giant l have thought. I am sure many of Madison's losses are to some of those strong Dallas teams. [/quote] They've played another really rough schedule this year. The losses, going from memory, have been to Frenship (top 10 4A), Lincoln (Who they split with.), 4A #1 Kimball who they lost to by 8 in Keith Frazier's first game for Kimball after transferring from Irving High, Plano West who is a top five team in 5A that they lost to by 4, Southlake Carroll in OT in the Flower Mound Tournament (Why they ever go to that tournament I'll never know.), seven point loss to Arlington Seguin (Top 10 4A with one of the best big men in the state that Kimball tried to get to transfer to them), and Arlington Grace Prep who has five high D1 players on the roster and is the best private school in the state. This is probably the most athletic Madison team since the 1997 State Title team and is definitely the tallest. They've played the roughest schedule amongst 3A schools. They have a big game at #10 Hutch on Friday. They beat Ranchview by two on the road (Believe Ranchview is ranked #7 in 3A) last week in the toughest 3A district in the state. Roosevelt would be a playoff team in almost every other district. I said last year that this year's team and the one next year would be probably the best two teams they've fielded since 1997 and they've lived up to that I think. As good as they are, Region II is so rough that they might now even make the regional tournament depending upon who they draw in the playoffs. The 2009 State Champion might've had an easier road compared to what they have to face this year. They're set up pretty good for the next three years after this with the freshman SG that starts. He'll wind up being the best player Madison has ever had. He's that rare kid that gets it if that makes any sense.

[quote name="ST413" post="978690" timestamp="1299433767"] In 3A one third place team made it. I think their may be a benefit a far as keeping a routine going but the rest of it is the luck of the draw. Just depends on where the stronger teams are. [/quote] The 3A 3rd place team that made it, did so because their combined varsity (Carter-Maceo) finally meshed into one unit late in the season and rode their good chemistry to Austin.

I'd like to see Coach Nix win today. We played them (Madison) in our playoff warm-up game at Ellis Davis and won 85-80 if memory serves correct. I never would've thought that team would be playing for the state title, but here they are. Coach Nix is from Burkburnett and has spent his entire three decade coaching career there as well. He also has a long-time assistant, Coach Thannert, who I'd like to see win a state title as well. Their backcourt can play and they gave us some issues when we played them. I don't think the Howling Bears will have enough to bring a state title to region IV for the first time since 1996.

Should be an interesting state final. Kimball, with their three big man recruits in Jairon Henry (Former OU basketball player Skeeter Henry's son who was brought in from Cali a couple of years ago.), Jordan Williams (The kid that forced The Colony to forfeit every win from last year.) and Jalen Jones (Brought in from Mansfield and not eligible to play until December.) might be enough to tip the scales towards Kimball. The Knights have a capable backcourt, but it's not the strength of the team. If Kimball's trio of bigs is scoring at a high clip it's going to be hard to knock them off.

I'm willing to bet that practice on Monday is not going to be a fun one for my Trojans. I'm also fairly certain they're probably getting read the riot act in the lockerroom for losing this one...lol. Oh and I enjoyed the broadcast of this game as well. You guys did a great job.

I bet our lockerroom is a real fun place to be at right now. I'm willing to bet Mobley is tearing into them just a bit...lol.

Both teams are in the top 5 in 3A. Cleveland is ranked #2 and we're #3.

[quote name="BADSANTA" post="925917" timestamp="1291491308"] Kimball will challange Dallas Lincoln this year. [/quote] They already played each other last Saturday night. Lincoln won 81-66. LB Nash and Keaton Miles (Both 6'7") were too physical for Henry and Williams.

Kimball is really, really good. They have 6'7" Jordan Williams (Played for The Colony last year.) and 6'7" Jairon Henry. We played them Monday night and lost to them 79-68 without Bryce Pearson and Ron Wilcots out there. I enjoy watching a lefty like Henry play. He scores so easily.

I enjoyed the broadcast this morning. I know the mom of one of our players was listening to the game as well. Even though Hightower won, I'm glad we were able to play the Hurricanes. Our sophomores need to go against teams like that to get them ready for the playoffs. We have the most brutal non-district schedule in 3A (We have Arlington Grace Prep on Tuesday and they are loaded.). Our schedule was rough last year, but it's nothing like the one Coach Mobley put together for this season. If we play Cleveland in the 3rd place game, that'll be our first game against a 3A school this year and will be our only one until district starts.

I lost it as well. We go through stretches like this where we have problems scoring due to some of the young guys out there that are still trying to get adjusted to the speed of the varsity game.

Bryce Pearson hates being called Cameron just so y'all know...lol.