lionsfan9

I haven't seen Columbia play yet this year, but I do know the 02-03 squad was a pretty formidable team too. A little undersized to win it all, but a state semifinal loss to eventual champ White Station and led by Mr. Basketball finalist Wadale Williams. I'm a Central alum, and I've been trying to search through these threads for some info on the caliber of team they have this year. Unfortunately, it seems as though half the people who have formed an opinion on them haven't even seen them play. Regardless, I guess we'll find out tomorrow night. Good luck to all 4 teams in Region 4. It clearly seems as though the top 4 all made it through to the semifinals, and it should make for some entertaining games tomorrow.

Wow. Nothing else to say here except that Columbia just didn't show up. Credit Oakland for showing up and coming ready to play. As consistent as Columbia has played all year, it's disappointing to see their season end like this. The only comfort I take in this is that at least Columbia lost to a better team tonight. If the Patriots play the way they have in the first two games of region against Siegel on Friday, Oakland will not only win but win comfortably. Good luck the rest of the way and prove my prediction right that the winner of this game will go to state. Having said that, good season, Columbia. It was a good run, and there was definite improvement over last year. Congratulations on the year, Coach Graves, and hopefully this year is only the beginning of another Columbia reign in District 8. Go Lions

This is the first I've ever heard of something like this happening. Just curious. Especially when it's a potential Columbia opponent. Scared of Siegel? Ha. Hopefully we'll get the chance to prove it to you Friday. We've already manhandled one team that was supposed to beat us, according to you District 7 fans. If we can just get by Oakland tonight.....

It seems like there would be a hard copy of the stats somewhere. I mean, don't they have scorekeepers for this sort of thing?

That's also why I'm wondering. I've never heard anything like this before. It'd be real interesting to see what they would do. I mean, they can't penalize Lebanon for the scorekeeper's mistake. Do you know if anyone is checking on it, or if it's even been brought to anyone's attention?

I agree. This is probably one of the most bizarre cases I've ever heard. Plus, I'd like to see who Columbia will be playing next

Did no one notice? Not the coach or ANYBODY at the game?

Yeah. They should have records on that kind of stuff. What would they do with something like that?

Can anyone provide updates?

This is pretty much the matchup I saw coming all along. I knew that if Columbia was to advance to sub-state it was going to have to be through Oakland, and the other way around too. This should be one heck of a game. Of course, I'm going to pick my Lions by 3. But I think this game is dead-even. It's almost a shame this game has to come this early in the tournament.....

Wow. If you are claiming that Marable got so ABUSED as you said, and Columbia STILL won by 20+ points. I'll take that as a credit to the Lions. See ya next year, Riverdale.

Maybe you could take a page out of your own book on class.

Ha. I always feel the same way. And it doesn't help that it always seems to be about this time of year when Columbia and Oakland find a way to meet up (a credit to both programs), knowing that one of these two teams' seasons will be over after the game.

I'm not sure what the overall series record is. I do remember when the last time these two teams were in this exact same position though. Two years ago. At the Murphy Center. Good game. One of those where neither team's fans could ever relax. But Columbia came out on top last time on their way to the Final Four.....

Well I guess everybody will just find out everything tomorrow.

Figures...... Let the score speak for itself, dude. And by the way you District 7 folk talked, NO we WEREN'T supposed to win tonight. But we did. And I think will continue to tomorrow night. Should be a good one, but I'm going with Columbia by 3. And by the way, Coffee County was the #7 seed in DISTRICT 8! You know, that district that District 7 people are always bashing for being so WEAK. Did you not EXPECT Oakland to "hose them down"?

Exactly the statement game I was hoping for out of Columbia. Columbia's for real. Riverdale learned the hard way tonight, and Oakland will find out tomorrow. And by the way, I agree. These Lions are just a "little" more improved than the Lions whom the Patriots ran into earlier this year . Should be a great game.

All I know is that this is the game that I have been waiting on for a while now, and it's finally come to pass. This will be one heck of a ball game. I think Columbia moved past the whole "not being able to keep up with the superior District 7" thing tonight with the spanking they put on Riverdale. This comes down to just great basketball between two proven programs. And I'm calling it now. The winner of this game will make the state tournament.

"Could have", "would have", "but if". Well, we don't know, do we? You could sit there and say all 8 of your District 8 teams could have gone undefeated in District 7. But that doesn't make it any more true. The fact is, Columbia DID go 14-0, and even though District 8 is not a superbly strong district, they came to play every night and got the job done. And that was my point. There were no letdowns or games where they didn't show up. And Columbia's consistency is what I like going into the tournament.

???? Well since this is Graves' only second year as coach, I guess "leading up to this year" was just last year. And you're right. I think it took him a year to get adjusted to basketball on the high school level. It's a different story, coaching high schoolers than any other level. But I think he surprised a lot this year. He obviously made all the necessary adjustments. They have pretty much the same players as last year, and look at the improvement. Coach Graves has had the boys ready to play every game. Not a single double-digit loss all year, and 14-0 in the district. There were no letdowns or collapses to inferior teams, and even against the better teams, Columbia was in it the entire game. Maybe this had a little to do with.......coaching? And Graves was Coach of the Year of District 8. If you're right, and this game comes down to coaching, then give me Coach Graves, the man who has had these boys ready every night and the Coach of the Year.

If we're comparing scores, then it seems like a single digit loss to a quality opponent looks a little better than an almost 20-point blowout. But it doesn't matter. I don't know why we're comparing scores in the first place. The game will be decided between COLUMBIA and RIVERDALE tonight. Not anyone else. I think it's been shown that these two teams can play on the same level. I'll give the edge to the home-team Lions though who have momentum on their side and have played consistently tough all year.

You forgot the common opponent Beech. Riverdale lost to them by 19. Columbia lost by 9.

Why? I haven't seen Riverdale play, but several people from District 7 on here have said that Riverdale does not handle speed well. If you're gonna say you disagree, at least back it up. What makes you say that the Warriors will be able to handle Columbia's speed?

What kind of speed has Riverdale matched up with this year?

I think Bradley's loss last night makes this a very interesting bracket when it comes to the sub-state. I used to have Bradley pretty much chalked in as going to state (assuming they won their region), because the loser of Region 4's championship would have had the tough task of going on the road and beating the Bears at home. Now, I like Region 4's chances of sending two teams to state now, because I believe everyone left in Region 3 is very beatable. So, if there are two teams, who does everyone think they'll be? I'll go with Siegel and Columbia. Siegel has drawn the easier side of the region bracket and probably won't be seriously tested until the championship. I'll go with Columbia to fight their way through the bottom half of the bracket. Look for both the Lions and the Stars in the state tournament......