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.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="925680" timestamp="1291440319"] Final 4 is set. 11am Semifinal #22 5A Fort Bend Hightower vs. #3 3A Dallas Madison 12:30 Semifinal #3 4A Dallas Kimball vs. #2 3A Cleveland Losers of these two games will play in the 3rd place game at 3:30pm. Winners will play for the championship at 7pm. All 4 of these games will be broadcast here at SETXsports!!!! [/quote] Thanks for broadcasting these games. I couldn't make the trip down to Beaumont for the tournament so I'll be listening to y'all broadcast the game that the Little Trojans play in at 11am.

That's good to hear. I enjoyed watching your Tigers in Austin, Stallworth in particular. I remember you told me that he was going to be really, really good this year. I hope y'all are able to make another run through Region III and find a way to get back to Austin again this season. 

Having 10-11 kids you feel comfortable playing is big at the 3A level. How have your Tigers done so far this season?

[quote name="ST413" post="925718" timestamp="1291444892"] [quote author=JMT link=topic=76954.msg925716#msg925716 date=1291444465] [quote author=ST413 link=topic=76954.msg925660#msg925660 date=1291439693] Madison sounds loaded again! [/quote] We've got a pretty good team again. A lot of sophomores and juniors are having to play big minutes, but they're getting better each game. It's a big step up for the sophomores from the freshman level that they went undefeated on last year. We'll have some growing pains throughout the year, but it's fun to watch them develop. I believe I detailed the basics of our team in this thread a few pages ago. I might be wrong though. [/quote] Yes you did thats part of what I read.  A lot of talent for a 3A team.  [/quote] We do have our fairshare of good players. It's just been a pretty good run for us on kids that really love the game and work hard. I expect to see several big bumps along the way this year though. At least I know this group will always play hard if nothing else.

[quote name="ST413" post="925660" timestamp="1291439693"] Madison sounds loaded again! [/quote] We've got a pretty good team again. A lot of sophomores and juniors are having to play big minutes, but they're getting better each game. It's a big step up for the sophomores from the freshman level that they went undefeated on last year. We'll have some growing pains throughout the year, but it's fun to watch them develop. I believe I detailed the basics of our team in this thread a few pages ago. I might be wrong though.

I can't comment on the YMBL officiating since I'm not down there, but I can say this about what I've seen from the officials up here in the Dallas Chapter. So far this year charging calls are way down. I've seen more blocks called in games than at any point in well, ever. I don't know if they decided to make this a point of emphasis, but honestly I find it comical how officials are calling blocks and charges. There's absolutely no consistency at all early in the season in regards to how this is being called. I've seen kids set their feet and not move and are still called for a block. It hasn't been fun to watch no matter who you support. I really wish that the officials would come up with something uniform in this area. I know our kids at Madison are frustrated with how this is being called. They aren't alone though on that as several other schools are going through the same thing.

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="924294" timestamp="1291316564"] LCM is having all kinds of problems with the press. Taking one or two dribbles and picking it up. Very sloppy. Kimball is too long for them. [/quote] A lot of teams are going to have problems with Kimball this year. If they get one other kid eligible I think that'll be enough to push them past Lincoln and back to Austin.

[quote name="WOSgrad" post="924687" timestamp="1291346893"] Dallas Madison beat N.O. Walker 80-51. [/quote] We've got a pretty good team again this year. Going into the spring I honestly didn't know that we'd be able to replace the Flentroys in the backcourt (Both started for four years.), Tevin Harris and Kris Gulley. I just didn't count on Montrael Scott taking a huge step forward and being able to play the 1, 2 or 3. We lost to Lincoln a couple of weeks ago, the probable 4A region II representative in Austin, 83-75 without our starting center who was still with the football team in the playoffs as the starting QB. With Pearson's 6'7" frame out there at center now, I feel better about our chances to make it back to The Drum for a 3rd straight year. Scott hit eight 3's against Lincoln and scored 36 and Anthony Hollins scored 27 in that one. Those two kids are the equal of any duo in 3A when they're on. To have two guys at the 3A level that can give you 30+ on any night is a luxury. Hollins is one of the best players in the Class of 2012 in Texas and he's fully healthy now after breaking his wrist on his shooting hand last year (It cost him the first 20 or so games of the season.). Region II is a minefield though and there's several really, really good teams we'd have to go through just to get to the regional final. We have four guys right now that will at some point receive D1 scholarship offers in Scott, Hollins, Bryce Pearson and JD Wallace. Robert Pearson, a sophomore PG (No relation to Bryce. His brother is actually Anthony Hollins.) will also play some ball at D1 school if he can get to at least 5'10" or so. Wallace, a 6'6" sophomore is probably the best of the group, but he's got a long way to go in understanding the game. He might be the best athlete to ever suit up for Madison's basketball team, but he has the physical tools to get there.

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="924315" timestamp="1291317922"] Kimball 89 LCM.    46.   Final [/quote] Kimball is really good this year. 6'7" Jairon Henry (Son of former Sooner Skeeter Henry.) and 6'7" Jordan Williams (He helped lead The Colony to the 4A state tournament this past March.) are a matchup nightmare for everyone not named Lincoln. We (Madison) played Kimball on Monday on their home floor and lost to them 79-68. We didn't have Bryce Pearson or Ron Wilcots because they were just out of football and weren't ready to play yet due to not being released by the trainer for injuries they had from the playoff game with Carthage. It would've been nice to have the 6'7" Pearson out there at center, but that's okay. The only thing that can keep Kimball from making it to Austin is Lincoln, who they lost to 81-66 last week. Kimball has one of the 5 best teams in Texas regardless of classification. I was honestly glad to see Madison make a game out of it against a team that good, considering we have so many sophomores and juniors playing a lot of minutes.

[quote]So the fact that the opposing coach admitted to 12 late hits including several on the coaches son by his team means nothing? How about Coach Shipley warning the opposing coach at the half to get it under control or he would not let off. If the opposing coach could not control his players than they got what they deserved. [/quote] Using teenage boys as pawns to settle a dispute between two grown men is pretty sad. Both head coaches in that game looked foolish. It appears that doing such things is okay though in some circles.