KFDM COOP

Thumbs up to watered-down playoffs 01:26 AM CST on Sunday, January 20, 2008 The UIL playoffs are watered down. No question about it. And it's not because Class 4A superintendents recently voted to add another playoff team from each district. Each 4A district having four playoff berths, matching what 5A does, will only add to the number of teams diving into the playoffs after struggling to stay afloat during the regular season. The playoffs became watered down more than a decade ago, when 5A (in 1992) and 4A ('96) started taking three teams from each district. That's when teams with losing records started playing in the postseason instead of watching from the stands. So now we have four playoff teams in each district. Pretty ridiculous, right? Actually, it makes a lot of sense. As ugly as it is to see a basketball team that finishes 9-20 make the playoffs – and there was also an eight-game winner in that same bracket last year – I think back to what Arlington Lamar football coach Eddy Peach said when 5A expanded two years ago. "The experience that those kids get, not just the football team, but the band kids, the drill team, the cheerleaders, everyone that gets involved, it means something to them for a lifetime." It's true, even if they get clobbered in the first round by a team that really does belong in the playoffs. And that's not always what happens. Just last month, Converse Judson nearly knocked off Euless Trinity for the 5A Division I football title. That was after Judson spent the regular season getting knocked around in its district and finishing fourth. That was quite a district, obviously. And there's quite a disparity in the quality of districts throughout the state. So adding a fourth team helps protect schools that get aligned in ultra-competitive districts. Still, we're talking about a lot of teams in the playoffs. In the current alignment, 128 of the 249 5A schools qualify. The 4A playoffs feature 96 teams from a pool of 230 schools. "I've got to be honest with you. I've got mixed feelings about this," McKinney ISD athletic director Keith Garinger said last week. "You set yourself up for some criticism that some teams didn't earn their way into the playoffs." The problem, Garinger said, comes with the districts with fewer than eight teams. In 5A, 22 of the 32 districts have eight or more schools. In 4A, only 13 districts have eight or more. Nine 4A districts have seven schools, nine have six and one district has just five. Four playoff teams from those districts really is ridiculous. JOHN F. RHODES / DMN Pinkston would have made the UIL playoffs last season under the new format in Class 4A. But the districts will change on Feb. 1, when the UIL realigns for the next two school years. More than a dozen new schools will be part of the alignment, which could get more districts closer to eight teams. That may happen. What we know will happen: In 5A, schools with little more than 2,000 students will share districts with schools twice their size. In 4A, big and small will also be district mates. And in all classes, schools with top-notch athletic facilities will compete against schools less fortunate; schools with strong booster clubs will compete against schools that have none; and schools with great coaches will compete against ... Well, you know. In other words, it won't be perfectly fair. It never has been, and there is no possible organization of schools that can make it that way. That's why 4A superintendents got it right when they voted – by an overwhelming 186-38 – to add a fourth playoff team from each district. With so many variables at play, it's best to be as inclusive as possible. Yes, they watered down the playoffs more. But do a few ugly first-round games really affect the integrity of the playoffs? The real effect is on the players who get to play an extra game, or two, or in the case of Judson, six. That fits well with the goal of high school athletics, which is to provide opportunity. When you think of it that way, adding one more really adds up.

I have LU by 10!

For it!!

53-25 Kirbyville

West Brook will play Central, Ozen and maybe Katy or Westfield. Lufkin is a possibility to.

Amazing what some Parents will do.

Predictions?

21-5A West Brook at Channelview PA Memorial at Humble 21-4A Forest Brook at Barbers Hill New Caney at Huffman 22-4A Lumberton at Central LC-M at Ozen Dayton at Vidor Nederland at PN-G 21-3A WO-S at Hardin-Jefferson Bridge City at Jasper Hamshire-Fannett at Silsbee Orangefield at Kirbyville 23-2A Newton at Woden Woodville at Shelbyville 24-2A Anahuac at East Chambers Buna at Hardin Warren at Deweyville 24-1A Evadale at Spurger Big Sandy at High Island Sabine Pass at Hull-Daisetta TAPPS Legacy at Mt. Carmel Non-District San Antonio Cornerstone at Kelly

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Predictions?

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Baylor game will be interesting!

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UFC is setting torrid pace with its 2008 scheduling David Estrada MMA column for Sunday, Jan 20 The Port Arthur News The Ultimate Fighting Championship is starting 2008 with a torrid pace. From January through April, the UFC is expected to hold five pay per view events and two UFC Fight Nights on cable television. The first UFC Fight Night is going to be free on Spike TV (TWC 39, Dish 168, DTV 325) this Wednesday night. UFC Fight Nights historically showcase young up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters. Wednesday night's lineup will be no different. The main event will feature Houston native Mike "Quick" Swick. Swick appropriately earned his catchy nickname from his defeat of several of his opponents within the first few minutes and even seconds of his fights. Thank goodness he defeated his opponents so quickly because that nickname is just too good to pass up. In contrast, Quick Swick will be fighting Josh Berkman, a fighter whose last four fights lasted the entire three round/fifteen minute distance to judges' decision. If Berkman has a fifth consecutive fight go the entire distance, he may be in danger of earning that moniker "Slow Poke." Needless to say, it's going to be quite interesting to see what gives when these two clash. The entire card has young fighters with promise trying to step up and become the stars of future. The UFC's model of showcasing these young fighters for free today and then adding the successful ones to pay per view events in the future is absolutely brilliant. It's the equivalent to a Hollywood director establishing character development in a film. There's been much debate over who was the MMA Fighter of the Year of 2007. One may wonder how do you define "Fighter of the Year?" Much like the NFL, NBA, and MLB's most valuable player awards, it's nice to leave the term purposely ambiguous. What's the criteria? How do you define "valuable?" It all fuels the debate. That said, here's our 2007 Fighter of the Year. Three fighters stood out above the rest. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson had a mainstream breakthrough. After having success overseas in PRIDE Fighting Championships, Rampage entered the UFC's Octagon last February and defeated Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman. In May he won the UFC light heavyweight title when he defeated Chuck Liddell with a knockout, handing the Iceman his first defeat in three and a half years. Rampage then unified the UFC and PRIDE 205 pound titles with his decision victory over Dan Henderson. If accomplishment were the sole criteria for Fighter of the Year, then Rampage would have it. If dominance were the determining factor, Anderson Silva would be the man.

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Lamar Erases 14-Point Deficit To Defeat Sam Houston, 93-90, In OT LU outscores SHSU 17-14 in overtime Lamar Sanders and Matthew Barrow each scored 18 points as Lamar erased a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat Sam Houston State, 93-90, in overtime at the Montagne Center Saturday night. After falling behind 34-20 with 3:34 to play in the opening period, Lamar fought back and took its first lead of the game, 56-53, on a Barrow 3-pointer with 12:23 to play. The Cardinals used a 21-6 spurt and led 61-55 with just over 10 minutes left, but in the final quarter of regulation had four lead changes and six ties. Tied at 76 following regulation, Lamar made three 3-pointers to jump out to seven point lead and never trailed in the overtime. The Cardinals made all eight free throws and outscored the Bearkats 17-14 in the final frame. Lamar (8-8, 2-1 Southland) won its seventh-consecutive at home and made it two-straight over SHSU. Two days after shooting just 60 percent from the free throw line, the Cardinals made 25-of-27 for 92.6 percent. Brandon McThay and Justin Nabors each had 13 points, while Kenny Dawkins and Darren Hopkins added 10 apiece. Lamar held a 42-35 rebounding edge. SHSU (14-3, 2-2) had all five starters in double figures led by Ashton Mitchell and DeLuis Ramirez netting 19 each. It was Lamar's first overtime game of the season and the third for SHSU who dropped to 1-2. Lamar is now 41-38 all-time in overtime contests and 24-14 at home. The 93 points scored by Lamar were the most against SHSU since the last meeting between the two teams - a 99-98 Cardinal win in the opening round of the 2007 Southland Tournament. Lamar will travel to Central Arkansas (11-7, 1-2 SLC) for a Thursday night contest in Conway, slated for a 7 p.m. tip.

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Huge win!!!

OF's Angelle heart of Bobcats Van Wade The Orange Leader ORANGEFIELD — When it comes to sports, size doesn’t matter as much as we all hear on the tube, the radio and newspapers. Sometimes you have to measure a size of a player’s heart and their determination to achieve sweet goals in helping their squad win. Well, junior Orangefield guard Tyler Angelle isn’t the tallest or biggest Bobcat as far as stature goes, but when he hits the hardwood, he plays with the mentality of a U.S. Army Sherman tank. Angelle has been a tremendous cog in the success of the Bobcats (16-7, 4-3) and for Coach Rea Wrinkle as they are staying busy in the hunt for a playoff berth out of District 21-3A. Angelle, who plays the off-guard spot, is shooting a tremendous 57 percent from the three-point line in district play and 89 percent from the line. He has fit right into the Bobcat system of playing unselfish ball. “With this team, everyone plays so well together,†Angelle said. “If someone is not hitting their shot, they always find a teammate that has the hot hand. We all root for each other and get along great and that makes it all really special.†Angelle, who popped for 23 points in a critical first-half 21-3A win over West Orange-Stark, has certainly caught Coach Wrinkle’s eyes on his first year on the varsity. “We knew we had something special in Tyler, especially after the summer,†Wrinkle said. “He got his feet wet playing in Houston and competing in the summer league. You really saw the competitor come out in him then.†Wrinkle feels size doesn’t have a lot to do with always being successful on a basketball court. “With Tyler, that kid is always full of energy,†Wrinkle said. “He’s not a kid that just stands outside and shoots three-balls all night. He’ll go inside and grab key rebounds for us and he’s not afraid to hit the floor and go after loose balls.†Countless hours shooting the ball has paid dividends for Angelle. “I do spend a lot of spare time shooting the ball, especially last summer,†Angelle said. “I wanted my teammates to be comfortable with me shooting the ball. I do whatever I can to help my teammates out. We have several that can penetrate and dish the ball back out and I’ve been able to hit some shots. I think we play real smart as a team. We’ve been patient and we take anything that the defense can give us.†Angelle’s first year on varsity has been pleasant with the leadership of such seniors as post Jeremy Granger and point guard Jared Helton. “Big Jeremy, it’s so great to have someone inside like him,†Angelle said. “I think he leads the world in rebounding. We feel much better when we launch a three-pointer because if we miss, we know Jeremy is going to find the best way he knows how to get the rebound. He looks so big and strong but he’s also a great guy.†As far as Helton? “Jared is just a natural leader,†Angelle said. “He does all the little things that makes the team better in every game. He’s so unselfish and he hustles all the time. The rest of us take notice of that and want to follow that.†Angelle is also a superb tennis player and finished third as a sophomore at the 21-3A Tennis Championships last year. “I love playing tennis and I still want to do that, but basketball is definitely my true love now,†Angelle said. “Tennis is kinda starting up now but we still have plenty of basketball to play and we’re thinking about playoffs too. That’s our main goal.†The Bobcats are certainly in the heart of the race. In the second half of district play, which starts Tuesday, the Bobcats will welcome first-place Hardin-Jefferson and Silsbee at Bobcat Gym. Orangefield has almost knocked off Silsbee twice, falling 60-59 in the Orangefield Tournament and 48-46 in the first half of district at Silsbee. “We really feel like we’re a playoff team, we just have to go out, execute well and show it,†Angelle said. “The two Silsbee losses were tough, because we thought we had both of those games. We started out slow at Silsbee and that killed us. We need to take care of business and win the games we should win and then try to get past H-J and Silsbee here at home. But, our district is tough, so you have to look at it as just one game at a time and I think we can do that.â€

Baylor men 4-0 in Big 12 Baylor men are off to a 3-0 start in Big 12 men's basketball after a 72-70 win on the road in Lincoln today

Congrats Cards!!!

SETXsports.com will broadcast the game!!

Soon!!