mhalionboy03

I am not "steeped in madness" about tonight's game. I'm not all that upset at all; we showed great resiliancy. I just think that saying "last night, coach froedden lost our semi-final game" comes across a little bit too pointed. I was just pointing out to you that Coach Froeddedn did the best he could under the circumstances with what he had. Gasol was getting the ball way too easily, shown in Overtime. It seemed like you were laying the entire loss at the feet of Coach Froedden, when in fact, he still had us in a position to win the game at the final buzzer. Just as much criticism should be given to the players for missing relatively easy shots. I'm not saying you shouldn't criticize coaching methods, but it's totally unnecessary to lay all of the blame on Coach Froedden like he just handed to the other team, which is how you came across. I'm not rigidly aligned with Coach Froedden. He is a good friend and I will always support his decisions and respect them, but I won't blindly agree with him on everything. I do, however, think that he deserves quite a bit more credit than you were giving him. He had us in a position to win for 3 straight years and led us to 2 district championships. For that, I can proudly stand by him and defend his coaching methods. If you don't think think they work, look at Bartlett's Hubie Smith or Briarcrest's John Harrington. Both have very similar coaching styles and systems and both are having great success. I am a firm believer in Coach Froedden's system. If you will just stick with him, there is no doubt in my mind that he will bring home a championship. It may take a while. It took Hubie Smith 15 years. I have no doubt that it will happen, however. For a championship, though, I'm willing to wait it out and ride the roller coaster.

I have been lucky enough to see both of these players play this season. In the games that I've seen, I concur that Mark Martin of Bartlett is the best at taking the charge. He is not afraid to lay it all on the line every time out, and that is one of the key reason's for Bartlett's success this season. Congrats on the District Championship and good luck in Region, Sub-State, and State.

For the first time since the inception of Division II, a team other than Briarcrest won the West Region Championship. ECS, who had beaten Briarcrest twice in the regular season to claim the district title, beat Briarcrest by one point to dethrone the Saints and win the Region Title. Fittingly, the game was tied at halftime. Briarcrest could have jumped out to a small lead early in the third if they had hit their free-throws, but the hit only 3 of 6 in the 3rd and their only FG was a 3 pointer by Autumn Clark. The Saints were down at the beginning of the 4th, but not out. They fought back and were up one with under a minute to go, but the Eagles had the ball. I believe it was Drace Tashie who hit the basket to put the Eagles up one with 15 seconds to go. Briarcrest passed over to the left elbow, but couldn't find a shot, so the called a timeout with just 5 seconds on the clock. They went to Autumn Clark for 3, but she missed and Jada Mincy was too late with the put-back that didn't hit the rim anyway. SBEC knocked off Hutchison in the girls game, I think it was 43-38. All-Tourney team: Stephanie Williams - ECS Rachel Goodwin - ECS Sarah Hester - Hutchison Brittany Barbee - SBEC Gresh Garman - SBEC Jada Mincy - Briarcrest Autumn Clark - Briarcrest MVP - Julie Martin - ECS Sorry if I missed anyone. Way go! So, the teams advancing to Sectionals are: #1 ECS #2 Briarcrest #3 SBEC Good luck to all of these teams from the West!

Harding again came out the gates slow to start the game. In every game that I have seen this year, Harding has lost every single one in which they had a slow start to the game. They usually come back and have a good chance, i.e. loss to MUS in 3OT, loss to Lausanne in OT, loss to CBHS by 3, loss to Olive Branch, etc. The only game that Harding successfully rallied and won that I remember was the Hendersonville game at Bartlett. Today, Harding struggled shooting in the 1st, but Byrne didn't light it up either. Harding had a very good 4th quarter, rallying from a double-digit deficiet to pull with in 2 pts. with 30 seconds left and the ball. Trey Williams went to the baseline for a wide-open 3 pointer for the lead with about 10 seconds left. It was a little too strong and rimmed out and the put back was missed. Harding immediately fouled and Byrne hit only one FT. Down 3 with 9 seconds on the clock, no one was open so Williams took the 3 pointer with a hand in his face but missed, earning Byrne a trip to sectionals, 46-43. Harding's biggest problem, however, was not shooting, but rebounding. Byrne did a very good job of limiting the Lions to one shot and crashed the offensive glass. In the other game, Lausanne rolled to an easy victory over Briarcrest. Marc Gasol was named to the All-Tournament team. So were Carlos Taylor and Barry Dickens from Lausanne. Trey Williams from Harding and Charles Hampton from Byrne were as well. There was also another player from Byrne and a player from Briarcrest on there too. So, these teams go to Sectionals: #1 Lausanne #2 Briarcrest #3 Bishop Byrne Good luck to all the teams from the West! P.S. Coachtfan, why are you so down on Coach Froedden. This is the first time since the 1970s that Harding has even been somewhat competitive in boys basketball. I'd say that Coach Froedden has done a darn good job building up this program. It stinks that he hasn't gotten a trip to Murfreesboro yet. Let's look back over the past 3 years at the games that have ended Harding's season. 2001 - loss to Father Ryan in Sectionals in overtime by 3 points. 2002 - loss to ECS in Region Quarter-finals in double-overtime by 2 points. 2003 - loss to Bishop Byrne by 3 points. That's a sum total of 8 points. None of those losses are even two possession ball games. Coach Froedden has had the team in a position to win for three years now. But he can't go out and play for them. You can't blame him for Billy May's 3 pointer at the buzzer with a hand in his face. Or for a terrible call at the buzzer. Or a three point shot from his best player that was just ever so slightly too strong. Teams get tough breaks. Harding just gets them more than others. I think that Coach Froedden is a wonderful Coach and I thank him for the three years of great basketball that I have seen from his club. I supported him in his victories and I'm not about to waver in defeat. Like Ego said, hindsight is 20/20. I'm sure Coach Froedden could now think of 10 different plays he could have called at any given moment of the game last night or tonight that could have changed the outcome, but under those circumstances, there isn't, you don't get to sit down and go through the playbook, or consult with the hundreds of coaches sitting in the stands, a.k.a. fans. A coach couldn't ask for better circumstances: you're best sharpshooter wide open on the baseline for three, your best player gets a putback, your Senior forward get one last chance; your best player is wide open for three on the baseline. That's good coaching, but players miss shots. We could very, very, very easily be sitting here calling him Coach of the Year. Instead, your dissing him. Not I. Congratulations, Coach, on a great year and a great job! Better luck next year. GO LIONS!!! [Edited by mhalionboy03 on 3-1-03 10:47P]

I agree with Harding4ever about holding the ball. Harding had all the momentum, but the refs were not calling fouls and Harding appeared a bit tired. As Lausanne showed late in the 4th and in OT, all they have to do is get it too Gasol for an easy basket. I look at like Harding had 3 chances to win the game in the last half of the 4th quarter. #1, MHA hit a 3 pointer to go up 3 and then Harding turned around and fouled Gasol on a made basket and he hit his FT. #2, Trey should have hit his 2 FTs that could have put Harding up by 2. #3, Harding got 3 looks at the basket in the waning seconds; all drew iron but none went in. I think it was excellent that we got that many good looks for a game-winning shot. They just didn't fall. I am very proud of Harding's 2nd half performance, especially in the 4th. We had 3 chances to win the game, and just couldn't pull it off. On the other hand, Harding did terrible in the 1st quarter and in OT. They had no answer for Gasol and played no perimeter defense. Carlos Taylor should have a hand in his face every time he shoots the ball. Lausanne did a good job early in the game blocking Harding's shots, especially the outside shots. The second half performance, was, again, just great. I predict that Harding will demolish Bishop Byrne today and clinch the sectional bid. Hopefully, Lausanne and Harding will win in Sectionals and Briarcrest will lose so that Harding and Lausanne will be able to meet up in the State Championship game. I want to play this team again, because I really believe that we can beat them. If anyone knows what day the West's third seed will play in Sectionals, please post it here or on the Sectional thread, thanks. GO LIONS!!!

One of the three regions tournaments was completed tonight. So help me set up the Sectional Tournament as results come in. It will be held Mar. 7 and 8 at David Lipscomb University in Nashville. Father Ryan will be the #1 seed from the Middle Region, Brentwood Academy will be the #2 seed from the Middle, and BGA will be the #3 seed from the Middle. Notre Dame and McCallie will advance to sectionals from the East. They'll play for seeding tomorrow at Knoxville Catholic. Either Lausanne or Briarcrest will get the #1 seed from the West, with the other getting #2, game tommorow. The winner of the Harding/Bishop Byrne game will secure the final spot in sectionals in tomorrow's game. Please add any results as they come in or make predictions. Does anyone have the Sectionals bracket? Good luck to all these teams. GO LIONS!!! [Edited by mhalionboy03 on 3-1-03 12:42A]

Last year's Region Tournament was a Cinderella year, with sub-500 MUS and the young Lausanne team meeting up for the championships. This year, Lausanne comes in with much more respect, but will have to go through Harding to be able to defend their Championship. On the other side of the bracket, this year's Cinderella team, Briarcrest, knocked off ECS in the Quarter-finals and was pitted against Bishop Byrne, who knocked out MUS, in the Semi-finals. In the early game today, Briarcrest's fairy godmother granted its wish as the Saints pulled out a win over Bishop Byrne and secured a berth in sectionals next weekend. Then they needed an opponent. The Harding Lausanne game was a classic post-season game. Lausanne jumped out early and had a double-digit lead over the Lions throughout most of the second quarter. The Lynx led by 9 at the half. But Harding exploded out of the gates in the third quarter, and by the end of the quarter, they had tied the game. Lausanne got the ball first in the fourth, but Harding stole the ball and Mariun Price layed it in to give Harding their first lead of the second half. With a two point lead, Harding held the ball for about half of the fourth quarter. While many questioned this tactic, it was pretty smart. Harding's Trey Williams was carrying three fouls and Lausanne was having two much success getting the ball to Gasol for easy points. Harding travelled before they scored but forced a Lausanne turnover and went up two. Lausanne's Gasol continued to answer, however. Harding's Trey Williams hit a three-pointer to put the Lions up by 3 late in the game, but Gasol answered by going up strong, getting the basket, and the foul. Tied at 44 with under a minute left, Harding held for the last shot. Adam Rodriguez's shot from the elbow was a little too strong, but Trey Williams got the rebound with 2 seconds left but his put-back rimmed out. John Bradford picked that one up and the short put-back rolled off the back of the rim as time expired, sending the game in to Overtime. Gasol dominated overtime as he led the Lynx to a victory over the Lions. Lausanne clinched a trip to sectionals next weekend and will play Briarcrest for the Region Championship tomorrow night at 7:30 at MUS. Harding will play Bishop Byrne for third place and the final spot in sectionals tomorrow at 4:30 at MUS. GO LIONS!!!

You said they already released the boy's all-district. Would you please post that list on the Boy's board or a link to it.

I've seen ECS play several times this year. Josh Meeks is their best player, but he is NOT the best player in any other category. Not in Memphis, not in DII, not in the state, not in region, or district. He is not bad, but he can't take over a game, if he has, I haven't seen it or heard of it. How 'bout Meeks quote in the CA about beating Harding the second time around. Didn't happen and won't again. I honestly don't know if ECS can make it past a well-coached Briarcrest squad tomorrow, or whenever they decide to play it. If they do, they should be able to beat Bishop Byrne, but will probably lose to MUS. ECS better pull for Byrne, because I don't see that ECS could beat Harding, Lausanne, or CBHS in the consolation game with a trip to Sectionals on the line.

Yeah, itzme, you're right. I only saw them in the Bartlett Hoops Classic vs. Harding. Neither one had an excellent game, but Dunlap looked better than Wright and I heard more about Dunlap. I believe you though.

There is no Division II-AA in Basketball. Are you talking about all Division II schools, or just the 8 schools that are in AA classification for football: Harding, BCS, BGA, Notre Dame, St. Benedict, ECS, Knox. Catholic, Webb

My First Team All-State for DII: 1. Trey Williams, Harding - Mr. Basketball winner 2. Marc Gasol, Lausanne - Mr. Basketball finalist 3. Adarius Bowman, Notre Dame - Mr. Basketball finalist 4. King Dunlap, Brentwood Academy 5. Josh Suddath, McCallie Honorable Mention, no particular order: Everett Bills, Father Ryan John Bradford, Harding Carlos Taylor, Lausanne Charles Hampton, Bishop Byrne Ryan Baum, MUS Matt Lea, ECS Adam Rodriguez, Harding Brandon Wright, Brentwood Academy [Edited by mhalionboy03 on 2-26-03 4:37P]

Just wondering, but couldn't they, if school is in tomorrow, hold boy's and girl's semi-finals on Friday night at MUS and run the quarter-finals schedule? Girls semi at 3 and 6, boys at 4:30 and 7:30. And if they can run tommorrow, they could play boys quarters on Friday, Have the semifinals on Sat. morning, one boys game at Hutch and one at MUS at the same time, and then one girls game at Hutch and one at MUS concurrently, and then consolations/Finals that night. Just thinking about possiblities.

Division 2 has some very good players, especially out of the West. Sr. Marc Gasol, 7 ft, from Lausanne leads Shelby/Metro in scoring, 28ppg. Trey Williams from Harding is not always the lead scorer in a game, but he has extremely good on the court instincts and can take over a game if he needs to. He raises the play of every player on the court. He is a true leader on the floor. Charles Hampton at Bishop Byrne is very good, as is Carlos Taylor from Lausanne. Josh Meeks from ECS puts up good numbers, but I don't think he's really all that great. Same goes for Ryan Baum for MUS, but he plays better team ball than Meeks. Gasol is a player that you can really build a team around, as Lausanne has successfully done and is the Most Valuable player to his team. Williams is a better over-all player, he creates much more than Gasol does and can play better defense and can handle the ball better. He's quicker and smarter. Overall, I think Williams from Harding is the best.

All Division 2 WEST Region Tournament games for today at MUS are cancelled due to snow. This includes ECS/Briarcrest, MUS/Bishop Byrne, CBHS/Lausanne, and Harding/St. Benedict. No word yet about the make-up schedule.