JimThorpe

The Tigers have to play. They have to stay sharp. After all Yates is lurking somewhere out there. HF hasn't been a basketball power but it hasn't been quite like this in the past. Is there some back story to this? Injuries?

The first game was a blowout 102-57 and the second game was a comfortable win 103-78. Don't know which was played where but neither was close. So the optimistic me says it's obvious that WOS is simply better than they were last year. The pessimistic me is worried, as usual.

My first wild overemotional, irrational thoughts were pretty much along these lines.... Yates is going to eviscerate us.... if we even get to Region..... it's not going to be pretty.... we don't have a prayer...... who are we kidding....... But I need to just STOP IT! Calm down, take a deep breath. What have I told myself about managing expectations? Come on dude, have a little faith. Plus it's not fair to the kids from Orange who deserve a lot of credit too. What are they, chopped liver or something? They played a whale of a game against the No. 2 ranked team. Okay, I'm better now..... (but the bad me remembers that we blew WOS out last year at their gym 102 - 57 and still thinks WE'RE DOOMED!!! )

Sounds like the Tigers are hanging on for dear life. The girls didn't have this much trouble, 71-17.

Final 71-17 Silsbee.

Yea, that was weird. I was looking forward to that game. Bad decision. Just suit up and play and let the chips fall. But they've got the easiest road to San Antonio.

Yes it was a pretty good game. And I’m choosing to believe it’s because LCM should be in the top 25. They stayed with the No. 2 team.

Bear cave? Isn’t that where bears sleep? Hibernate even? They weren’t sleeping last night. Not a bad game for them.

19? Is that enough? Yes, I guess so. Is LCM better than I think they are? I hope so. Take a deep breath and manage expectations.

Brazosport has the best shot at making it to state in 4A, maybe in any division. They are all alone at No. 5 and the next team in their region is something like 16th. They will be in San Antonio waiting for a rematch with Silsbee. Whether Silsbee can oblige them is another story. I hope so.

The way it looked the third team for Silsbee could have played Orangefield pretty even. It would be a lot more interesting if the district was more competitive. Coach has to work to keep it serious out there sometimes. When you're 40 points ahead it's difficult to keep your concentration. It makes me wish that there could be a no-conference game in the middle of the season. It would really be great to get a chance to play PA Memorial before the playoffs start. Great for us anyway. For them it may represent mostly risk with little reward but I think we could give them a really good game.

Good luck Hawks. I really mean it. I hope you win your district and then we eventually meet up with you again in the playoffs. Because if HJ wins their district and we both survive to meet again it will be in the Region III Final after the Hawks have already upset Yates. Admittedly this is not the likeliest of all scenarios but it would be fun wouldn't it? Just like the good old days.

And all is right with the world.

True, I just get nervous when everything isn't just purrfect. ('purr' - that's like for a cat ?- okay never mind)

Wow! 18 point lead at the half and a low score for the home team. I half to admit that I'm a little surprised. If the Tigers finish it out with that 30 point kind of win that people have talked about it serves notice to Region III that Silsbee is back.

Good start.

I will go 10. But yea, the Tigers are still finding themselves and the Hawks are a good team. Maybe they are better than that 20 ranking. If if the Tigers were to manage a blowout it would put them right back in the Region drivers seat. On the other hand if HJ pulls an upset then it’s anybody’s region. Well, any of the 5 or six better teams anyway.

That would be a headline across the Texas basketball world.

The center is back? The big white kid? We must have misunderstood. That being the case the matchup is an even bigger problem this year. Of the two the tall one is the one I'd be most worried about. Oh well, lots of fun basketball between now and then.

Really brings home just how impressive the programs are at Argyle. Those kids came within one jump shot of sending us packing. And the week before their girls had won the championship.

They lost the guard who scored almost half their points in the finals and they lost their center. We got the center in foul trouble fairly early and he eventually fouled out. We ate lunch with them on the way home from San Antonio the Sunday after the game. It was accidental of course, just happened to pick the same little restaurant. But we met the whole team and of congratulated them on their fantastic season. Found out they were graduating the guard and the big man. But here they are again.

Next Tuesday will be very interesting. It's clear that this team will have to dig deep. They won't be running past everybody like last year. That playoff run was phenomenal, beating decent teams by 40 points. The point differentials were staggering right up to the Yates game. That's not going to happen this year.

A close win will do nicely. I'll be deciding whether or not to go in the next 15 minutes. The latest poll is very interesting. I think they got it just about right. There's probably not more than a 10 point difference between No.1 and No. 10 when everybody is playing their best. It's a real horse race this year. Interesting to see Brazosport climb up to 5. They lost so much to graduation and yet here they are again. Looks like a program is blooming. I wonder about Hardin Jefferson. I can't help thinking maybe they are a little better than the No. 20 spot. We'll find out a lot next Tuesday. That game will be played with playoff intensity.

We'll see. It will be interesting. Coach may come up with some unique small ball strategies. Maybe play everybody at and above the free thrown line in hopes of making the opposition bigs play defense out there.

I'm just saying that from appearances it looks like 12 guards warming up before a game, 12 good guards mind.