Northwestern 4A Hoops Preview

Couple of things for all, I try not to get too involved but...

Bigdan---Gardin only won it her senior year(state) with a very good supporting cast (Whisnant, Barrier, Tate).

McDowell's Washington and company only got one game farther than we did last year, better record (beat us 4 of 5 times) and the NW4a championship- good year, but...only one game farther. Has she made everyone better, in my mind Greene makes everyone better on your team..Washington's very good but..

Building teams takes time, this team has been in the works for a while and can be good, the supporting cast is now in place ( you must have one--ask MJ) and we will be just fine. As for Ali, her being at her best now is not true, her main focus this year is on the other side of the ball and is working her tail off to be better defensively.

Dan, I'm glad you don't think Ford has the greatness of others here at Freedom, McDowell and the rest of the state. Just keep playing her box and one..

 

So you're saying that Freedom has high expectations this year? That's cool because I would hope the same...

Like you, I also disagree with dookman's claim that Ali has peaked in her level of play. Good players always work on their game.

I just think this is a very crucial year for the Lady Patriots. And again I don't want to sound cruel about it but I don't right now think of Ali as being in the same group as a Kerri Gardin. Of course making a regional or a state championship could very well change my mindset.

 

Novelty Act?

I am shocked that a board moderator would call a high school student a novelty act! This is unacceptable in my opinion!

 

I don't think Ford has reached her level of greatness. I'm just pointing out that many of the Freedom folks have been defending her from any criticism whatsoever and acting insulted about people commenting on her need for improvement.

If she doesn't need improvement, then she has reached her peak. If she has reached her peak, then Freedom is going to remain in their slot from last year as the third or fourth best team in the NW4A.

 

After a year's absence, IM baaaack!!

Here's my take on the whole thing of predicting the Nw4A this year.

1) McDowell: With the main threee returning this year (Greene, Hamilton, and Washington), the stage is set for some good things to happen for the Lady Titans. But I am also curious on the change in coaching will affect them. I hate we lost Mike Silver, but I am looking forwards to what Brian Franklin will bring to the table. From watching the JV boys teams that played under Franklin, we'll see McDowell use a very up-tempo offense and will utilize the press. Also, they're deep - a quality trait that alot of potential championship teams want to have. Hopefully, the addition of Coach Franklin is what brings this all together and propels the Lady Titans to a better showing to last year, and maybe, an appearance or win in the State 4A Championship in Raleigh. I dont see McDowell winning the Nw4A running away - instead, by a game or two. It will be competitive.

2) East Burke/Freedom: It's gonna be a dog fight between the two Burke county schools. Coach Jay Murray has gotten his Lady Cavaliers to be very physical and that has been an intimidating factor in games. If a team knows they're gonna be played very tough, they might not play well. From all accounts on here, they will return everyone except one which will provide them with leadership and from what they will get from JV's, depth.

For Freedom, they've got the tools to be good. We all know how good Ali Ford is, but the player that impressed me greatly was Chelsea Connelly. She does alot of the intangebles that some players in her position miss - rebounding, blocking out, blocking shots, going after loose balls, etc. Also on offense, she has a good outside shot, has good passing skills, able to penetrate, etc. Everyone's gonna be gunning for Ford, but you cant eliminate Connelly. She could be the player that winds up burning you.

4) A.C. Reynolds: The Lady Rockets will be a team that features alot of the fundamentals despite the lack of a star player(s). They're very accurate shooters and always seem to be in the right place at the right times. Defensively, they've always been aggressive and come up with timely steals and defensive stops. They will be the team that disrupts the top 3 and may possibly insert themselves into the race for conference's best.

5) South Caldwell: Don't know much about the Lady Spartans, but with Coach Jeff Parham at the helm, they always seem to do well and make some disruptions themselves.

6) Watauga/Alexander Central: Not certain about these two, but it looks like long seasons for both.

 

Upcoming season

Well, seems like most everyone is on the same page or very close as far as how the season will turn out. McDowell (26-4 last year)will be just too strong for everyone in the conference. It would take a complete idiot to mess up what Coach Silver has established there and Brian certainly is not that. Besides the fact that they have 3 GREAT returning players, their bench will be the strongest and deepest they have had in years. The 4 returning freshman got a great deal of experience and the other players and upcoming JV players will make McDowell a formidable foe. I really hate we lost Coach Silver but look for Brian to follow the successful formula and tradition set by Silver in fast break/uptempo and pressure defense. Maybe with a much deeper bench we may see even more of that. In any case, the success of this team rest in the fact of what tradition Coach Silver has set there in the past. Someone from Freedom mentioned that McDowell only went one game further that they did last year, but also remember in that game, both Kelsie and Kurie were so sick they could hardly stand up. That definately had an effect on the outcome of that game. Ali, from Freedom ,has to be the best shooter in the conference and perhaps in the state. One of the best I've seen and I have watched a lot of high school basketball! Amber does a good job there and Freedom will be fine. Coach Murry also does a good job at EB and as someone else mentioned they will play physical. That may intimidate weaker teams but I do not see that physical play having any negative effect on Mcdowell, Freedom or Reynolds. They are too proud/strong to let someone push them around. Reynolds has a team that could surprize some teams and they are especially strong at home. S. Caldwell will struggle early but look for them to get better as the season goes on. Watauga, with a new coach, is a question mark to me. I do not mean this neg., but if parents would let coaches coach, teams would be better. That goes for everyone and all teams. Alex Cent played very hard at times last year and did improve as the season went on. They will be better but will still be toward the bottom of the conference. Looks like the top 4 teams in the conference will be very strong but I just do not see enyone beating McDowell even with a new coach.

 

In the words of a GREAT ONE

A player who makes a team great is better than a great player!
John Wooden

 

3 (tie) AC Reynolds/Freedom: These two squads could finish in either spot so I figured why not have them tied for 3rd in the conference. I thought the best player on AC Reynolds team last year was the freshmen Brinkley. Her along with Taylor and a cast of others can finish in the top half of the conference.

There has been alot of drama going on with the reynolds team. So who knows how they will end up doing. The AD is now the assistant instead of Tara Alexander. My prediction is they will not do well until they get a new head coach!

 

I have heard that one of the underlying reasons why there has been a lot of coaching turnover is the AD and he is coaching again. How about that.

I think that the only way the varsity team has a winning season and finishes in the top half of the conference is if they concentrate and pray real hard.

 

Well Reynolds has learned that a lifetime assistant coach can't become the head coach. Now I wonder if they will learn if a retired head coach can't become an assistant?