Nobody asked me but...

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Nobody asked me but...the Blytheville Chickasaws look primed for another run at an Arkansas state championship.

Whoever said the Chickasaws were going to be a little down this year was sorely mistaken. They only returned one starter from last year's Class AAAA state champion team, but you couldn't tell that by the performance they gave on Tuesday night against Sikeston in both teams' season-opener.

The Bulldogs learned the hard way that the Chickasaws haven't lost a beat this year. Don't be surprised if Blytheville makes another run at the state title again this year. The only thing holding them back is a true dominant post presence like they had last season.

* "The Factory" keeps right on producing. If the state of Missouri has a team with a better combo of guards than Charleston's Shawn Sherrell and Antonio Riggens, don't play that team. Stay away. Stay far away.

Sherrell and Riggens have overmatched opponents so far this year with speed and quickness. Can any team in the area matchup with those two? Even Horshack of the "Sweathogs" knows this answer Mr. Kotter, and that is a resounding "no."

* Just to make "The Factory" even scarier is the fact that all-stater Jamarcus Williams has been cleared to practice. His return appears to be sooner rather than later. If Charleston is mentally focused and prepared, nobody can beat them. Nobody.

Not just this area, but the entire state.

* We're not even through a full week of high school basketball and one of my predictions has already been crushed. Remember last week when I boldly predicted Oran would defeat Scott Central in the first round of the Oran Tournament? Well they didn't. It was a close game, though. Brownie points?

* Some observations for the upcoming girls basketball season...

-- The two best players in the area are located in towns that I don't believe have paved roads yet. Hailee Deckard from Naylor and Sarah Woodgeard from Greenville are worth the price of admission.

-- It is official, Morgan Davis of Doniphan has never missed an open 3-

pointer. Seriously. Just ask Sikeston.

-- I believe Kelly can start a small army with the number of kids on their basketball roster.

-- Once-dormant programs are receiving a little life in the early going at New Madrid County Central and Charleston. Both teams are undefeated at 2-0. It must be the coaching, right Lance Tollison of NMCC and Michael Minner of the Lady Jays?

Players to watch...Amber Minner, Sikeston; Kellye Penn and Hannah Rone, Portageville; Heavenly Wren and Shameka Williams, NMCC; Brittany Ponder and Debra Hall, Kelly; Amanda Dooley, Dexter; and Kristain Burger, Notre Dame.

In addition, just pick a Jackson player...any player.

And finally, nobody asked me but...What is the deal with the "no child left behind" all-region team in soccer? I've never been confused for Pele, but I believe 11 players make up a starting lineup in a game. So why are 19, yes, 19 players chosen for the first team?

It is not the all-region "very good" team. It should be the best of the best. Why have two goalies?

If we must have this ridiculous way of choosing a team, don't call it a "team". Call it a collection of players, not a team. What team has two goalies start a game?

Make the all-region teams special, a goal to achieve for outstanding play during a season.

Honestly, if Johnny Too-Average complains about why he was left off the team, then simply explain to him that life is not always fair, but more importantly, get better.

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