Cu Chulainn

Scales had a layup in second half of Game 2 and three free throws to finish with 26 on 9/13fg's. Kountze's whole defensive scheme was to stop him in the 2nd half and it baited others into taking quick shots before the ball got back to him. Its a good defensive strategy and something our team has to better understand, and work to get him the ball. He has had quite a few big first halves this season, and then you see them not give him the ball near as much in the 2nd half, It's honestly a basketball IQ Thing for our group that has improved since last season, but could still be better than it is. Our ball movement in the first half seems to always look better than it does in 2nd halves. I don't see Sells fouling out again either, but I do think that gives the assignment to Donald, and if we can get the spacing right, Donald will be in foul trouble guarding Ghost tonight. I'd never expect him to be perfect from the floor in any half of play, but I couldn't be more proud of how he embraced the hype and performed in both Games 1 & 2. Since he was young, it was always about taking the best smart shot there was for our team and embracing the moment. What I mean is, he could be 0/9 or whatever in a half but if they were the right, smart shots, then I'd want him to keep pulling the trigger. I know he has put the work in and he is always one shot away from catching fire. Couldn't agree with your last statement anymore! Orangefiled's supporting cast has been outperformed in the first two games, which in my opinion means they are due! Tonight's matchup is about so much more than Scales/Wrinkle & Sells/ Donald, tonight is about two State Ranked Top 10 TEAMS GOING HEAD TO HEAD FOR THE TRILOGY! Should be another great game and a lot of fun! One final thought, Game 1 we turned the ball over 28 times, but only 14 in game two. More possessions usually means more points and to me that is the glaringly obvious difference.

I agree they probably haven't scored that before, but I figured that when I typed it. I beleive in them though. They are great kids and I believe they are settling in to the bright lights and the pressure that comes with it. They don't call'em the Cardiac Cats for nothing, lol! 9 point win has just been on my mind all week for whatever reason(maybe because we lost by that in the first one), so that wasn't a shot at all. I still think it will be close and whoever is trailing will be fouling to stop the clock which should increase the lead a little. I appreciate what you say about my son, he did have 21 in the first half the other night, and we didnt move the ball around as well in the 2nd half which is why I think Kountze will to neutralize him early. We have seen that strategy all season, so it gives opportunities to the others. If and when they make the most of it, it will free Ghost back up. Smith & Thomas have both had BIG nights just not always on the same night. We will need them both and all of our team to play their very best for us to win tomorrow! I agree with you.

I'm not a gambling man outside of football squares or something like that. Besides both of these groups of young men are too special to let something as evil as money get involved. Just want a fair game and watch all of this talent on both sides be who God chose them to be! I'll for sure be pulling for both of them through the playoffs until we meet again as well and I appreciate you saying that! All in good fun, and 409 shines no matter what!

I predict Kountze commits more into stopping Ghost (faceguard & double) like they did in the second half of the last game, but this time it will be from the opening tip. Wrinkle will be who he is and power through with near triple double numbers, while Ghost distracts the defense and collects fouls on them. Shooters like Smith and Thomas will make Kountze pay for leaving them open early which will force the 1 on 1 matchup with Ghost again, and he will capitalize when that happens. Donald will be in foul trouble this time because Sells will be trying to keep from fouling out like he did in Game 1. Our bigs (Rucker & Rawls) will total double digit block numbers together, because Kountze's scoring opportunities won't come from transition and will be in the halfcourt set. Kountze wont be able to press and if they do it wont be for long because Orangefield has already proven they can break it. In Game 2 when we took care of the ball, they got out of their press. When they get out of their press, we control the game and they will once again have to play out of their element. No secret here, this game like many, comes down to who wins the; turnover battle, rebounds, & free throws. Finally, this will be the trilogy everyone wants and it will be fire! Scales/Wrinkle & Sells/ Donalds numbers will be very respectable but close to even. Both are great teams with great players that have a ton of heart, but Orangefield's supporting cast comes up big in this one! 35+ points will be scored outside of whatever Scales & Wrinkle give us. Orangefield Fighting Bobcats win by 9 or more and go into the playoffs as the #1 Seed! (Biggest concern will be for both teams to be able to have fresh legs again when Playoffs start Monday night.)

Our girls play in Huffman Friday night, and I bet Kountze girls play too. I hate that the fanbases will be split.

That makes sense. I had a co-worker from Evadale asking if we were playing there, so I thought it was available.

It seems Evadale would've made more sense. EC is pretty far for both teams.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. A lot of strategy in this one for sure.

I agree, I wouldn't see either conceding considering the playoff matchups. Another game would be an awesome trilogy, but I had a few folks bring up the risk of injury with these two teams going into another dog fight. Now, I could see how neither would want to risk injury knowing we have to go through some really great teams anyway during the playoffs. I guess a lot of thought will go into this one for sure.

Thats interesting and good info, thank you. Would you or @AggiesAreWe know why some folks would be talking about a coin flip? I'm hearing that is a possibility when the game is only for seeding and not to actually secure a playoff spot. Anything you guys know about that? Also will the game be for sure Friday if we play it? How do they decide location?

My fault, bad choice of words on my part. I should have said their "predictions". Your lines are accurate and come from actually watching the games.

I would have tagged you if I was talking about you or said it to you last night in person. You taking Kountze at -8 isn't offensive in anyway. I like the lines you put out and they are usually pretty close. I thought I was pretty clear about haters and negativity being who I was speaking to.

Thank you very much sir!

I'm with you man, and can't say I disagree. I think it was more of "Protect Your house" type of motivation. Every group of players are different, and at least in this case it did hype them up.

For the record, I think Joubert is an awesome Coach just like I do Whitmire, which I have said in previous posts. I also think the Kountze Players are great (4 of them used to play for me and I will always love those guys) and they are a class act! They are real athletes that compete as hard as they can and leave it all on the floor. So there is nothing but respect there from me. The game last night was the most exciting high school game I have ever seen and its because of the players and coaches. However, like you said folks do get on here and talk smack. I try to take the high road in most cases, but I am always going to defend the kids, regardless of who it upsets. In hindsight, I shouldn't have even brought up the margin of victory mess, but sometimes you get tired of the kids not getting credit when they are due. Neither one of us are going to shoot the ball particularly well against each other, because both teams are dialed in playing their best defense possible due to the magnitude of the game. We were all gifted with watching two great games by two great teams being coached by two of the best in Texas. Im going to just leave it at that, and look forward to both of their playoff runs! Like I said before, SETX shined last night

The negative comments were printed and hung by adults, not the kids. However, these players are Varsity young men, so negativity and being told they couldn't do something did fuel their fire. So, yes whatever it takes is right.

Correct, I was 100% addressing negative comments about how bad Orangefield would get beaten on this post. The boys used it as motivation and played a great game against a great opponent. Brought up margin of victory because it is what some folks used to figure their own lines on the game. Just meant our boys have more fire power than what is shown on the scoreboard in some cases.

Yes ma'am, it was your previous comment above in bold that led me to believe you were from Kountze. Im sorry I have upset you, but this is a sports blog where a lot of things get said, where we all have to "turn the other cheek". The negative comments on this very blog were printed and hung (not by me and I had no knowledge until my son sent me a pic of it) on our players lockers as motivation! They were one of the biggest reasons they were so dialed in last night, so we thank the haters for that! In my initial statement, notice I said, "To all the haters" and that showed who I was addressing, which wasn't you. It was simply to say that a challenge was issued, our boys accepted and delivered. I do apologize for upsetting you ma'am, but please know I felt I was being as respectful as possible when talking about how proud we are of our team.

We have had several games that we were scored near 50 at half, but let off the gas. It wasn't a shot, its just pointing out who our boys are and how their coaching staff leads them. Actions always speak louder than words, so we choose to represent ourselves that way. I have read over and over again on these threads how it was "personal for Kountze this year and they were sending a message". I read how Kountze would have killed us the first game "but they just had an off night shooting". Nobody cares about all that bull. We just know what we got and believe in our boys, we know what they are made of! It's nothing personal, and if yall had 40 pieced us then I wouldn't have been able to say a word, but the fact is yall didn't, so these boys don't have to take a backseat to that crap anymore. They played yall down to the wire in two close games and ended up splitting 1/2 with yall. This is an actual sample and says what we were capable of in District even if the scores didn't reflect it on the point differential. Our boys and Coaches deserve the same credit for winning tonight and playing the game the way they do, that yall would have gotten if yall had beaten us playing the game the way yall do! Life is about choices, and our lives are a reflection of the choices we have previously made, nothing more, nothing less ..............

Guys, it wont let me "like" anymore posts tonight but I really appreciate the kind words about our son! He is special and I love the big games because it gives him the opportunity to put that on display! I have always told him, "cream rises to the top" and he always has, so it is what it is! Great talent on both sides of the ball and great coaching as well, but we knew what we had, and knew what our boys are capable of. They are brothers and we are all family! If you are going to go into battle, make it be with folks you love! To all the haters, humble pie is best served cold and that is exactly what happened tonight! We dont run it up on folks because that isnt who we are. We play the game the right way with respect for our opponents. Not saying Kountze doesnt respect their opponents, but we dont care what our average points per game is or even average margin of victory. We care about the win loss column, but want our boys to understand compassion and empathy for their opponents. Coach Whitmire and his staff are teaching more than basketball! Ghost put on an MVP performance in tonights game as well as Game 1, but what Im most proud of is how when is brother Mason Donald form Kountze went down he asked our trainer to go to his locker and get his pickle juice, he ran that over to Kountze's bench during the timeout! Proud of my dawg for loving his brother and knowing some things are bigger than basketball. So proud of all of these young men, Orangefield and Kountze! Seeding Game Im sure will be another barn fire! I'D LOVE TO PLAY THAT ONE IN WOS'S NEW ARENA AND SHOW SOME LOVE TO THEM!

Guys, girls, we can't thank you enough for all of the positivity on this thread! I promise you I show him everything that is said, some for encouragement, and then some of the other threads to fuel his fire, lol! Just please know that over the years folks haven't always been too kind because its easier to spread negativity and dog someone else rather than actually go and outwork them. We have learned to really embrace those that show support, because those kinds of genuine folks are very rare in today's World! We sincerely thank you! May God bless you all!

Thank you so very much! That really means a lot coming from you because you know the game, and I promise you I mean that!

We really appreciate you saying that sir. He has worked real hard and is on pace so that is a real possibility. Honestly, he tells me, "Daddy, I want to put banners on the wall and win! The points are just a bonus." I'm super proud that his goal is to win and just let the personal accolades come naturally. When you hit goals while doing things the right way, they seem to mean that much more. Thank you all again for the kind words!

Thank you sir!

Thank you sir!