Sunday, February 28, 2010

Local Let Down

Two great high-school tournament basketball games and I get nothing but a score on the scoreboard page. No write-up, no box score, nothing. Same thing over on the alleged website mirror. Games were over by 5. WTF?

Anyhow, I know there are much more important events going on in the world (and will present them and other things shortly); however, my game report is as follows
:

There will be one representative each from the county down at the Cage this week. The one boys team I expected to see there (and have yet to see) advanced with a 3-point win and will face the defending division champions in the next round for a chance to play in the final on Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing the game as it will be my first chance to see the best player (and team) in the county.


The game I attended yesterday ending in disappointment for the locals. The home team came out flat and trailed by 15 points after one period. After cutting the lead to 8 with 3 minutes left in the first half, the visitors from Lenox ended the half on a 10-0 run for a 42-24 halftime lead. I was very impressed with them as they had size (a twin tower pair of brothers) and good guard play (with one guy a dead-eye from three-point range).

My friend and I were not expecting much; however, the home team roared back and actually took a 1-point lead with about 5 minutes left in the game. The place was going crazy, but as often happens, the exertion drained the home team and a relaxation point hit as a sense of urgency was renewed for the lower-seeded visitors.
Lenox climbed back on top as and the home team suffered two critical defensive lapses and one of the brothers (separated by a year) drained two huge foul-line jumpers late.

Nevertheless, the home squad battled back and had a chance to tie with eight seconds left. A three-point attempt by the game's leading scorer and senior co-captain just missed as time ran out. Despite the disappointment my friend had it right: What a great game.

From what I saw, Lenox has a chance to upset the heavily-favored New Leadership charter school in the division semi-final next week. The inside height is key as one local team almost upset New Leadership last year. If Lenox can control the turnovers (something that cost the locals a chance at the final last year after leading most of the way), they may surprise some people.


On the girls' side their is also a lone representative that is favored to reach the final. If they do make it they are expected to run into a buzz-saw of a team that has captured 17 of the last 22 sectional titles. Those games begin Tuesday night and are among the most eagerly anticipated in these quarters, for you see, I enjoy the girls games more than the boys. The girls games are the purest form of basketball as it was intended, and they are just as rough, rugged, intense, and hard-nosed as the boys.


Okay, let's pick up where I left off and move on....

"Utility crews out in force to restore power in Mass., N.H.; Work could take days to complete" by Michael Corcoran, Globe Correspondent | February 28, 2010

Thousands of people remained without power yesterday in Massachusetts and New Hampshire as hundreds of utility crews labored to fix electrical wires that were downed Thursday and early Friday by high winds and heavy rains....

The Salvation Army opened several emergency shelters in both states to assist those without power, said spokesman James Purvis.

But you need taxes and government for.... ????

Some New Hampshire residents will probably remain without power for several days, Katya Brennan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Safety Division in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said. “This is a big event, like the ice storm of 2008.’’

Those in rural areas will probably remain without power for longer than those who live in more populated areas, she said....

I guess I'm glad I live near the metropolis of Hoosiersville out here, 'eh, readers?

--more--"

Related
: Slow Saturday Special: Brown vs. Obama

Update: In looking at the scoreboard page where said scores were found, I noticed a game scheduled for 4 pm down the road a bit and may attend. Will get as much done as I can here before splitting (if I attend).