McDowell vs West Charlotte Predictions

Let's hear some prediction for the big game.

 

I guess I'll get it started. First I wish I could be in Winston to support the lady Titan team but thanks to a painful kidney stone that refuses to pass I can't make the trip. As for the game I believe the first 5 minutes will set the tone for this game. If the Lady Titans can stop West from jumping out to an early lead like they did last year they will be in good shape. These Lady Titans have really matured and come together since the Glaxo tourney as has their head coach Brian Franklin. It won't be easy but I see a 5 point win for the lady Titans and a trip to the show next week. Good luck Lady Titans!!

 

Its been awful quiet in here recently...



I'm not going to make an actual prediction but I would like to state a few things in regards to the matchup. First off you have a talented and very athletic team in West Charlotte. Pretty much their entire starting five is D1 or D2 calibur. West Charlotte will have some advantage in height. They have been on a roll pretty much the entire year. Their only losses came to Durham Hillside and Notre Dame Academy (VA), the #1 ranked team in America at the time. This team is indeed good enough to win a state championship.


Then you have the McDowell Lady Titans. McDowell is a team that IMO has matured greatly as the season has progressed. The first month of the season McDowell went through a non-conference schedule with relative ease.

Then on December 21st the Lady Titans went through a rare three game losing streak which I think humbled this team. Losing to Roberson and then taking the bumps that they did at the Glaxo made the team really sit down and look at who they were (at the time). After the loss to Athens Drive, I remember Coach Franklin telling the media what he felt like they learned from being down there. And that was that we needed to get better rebounding and that we needed to be a better team in the half-court setting. Since that point of the season I personally feel that the team has improved significantly in both aspects and that the hard work in those areas have given the girls this chance at playing for a State Championship.

McDowell came back after the Glaxo and ran the table in the Northwestern 4A. I think most everybody who follows the conference knew that McDowell had a good chance in doing that anyway. The question being asked was...Could McDowell continue their improved play through the playoffs? And to this point the answer has been a resounding yes. I know we have three seniors that carry a signifcant load for this team but I have seen a group of sophomores that have came of age in the last couple weeks. Autumn Ward has really stepped up her game going back to the last couple games of the conference schedule. Xandi Gellman has also picked up her game, while not scoring a ton of points, it's her defensive effort and rebounding inside that has improved.


I've heard many different opinions on how tomorrow's game will go. Some people say that all you need to do is to keep Kurie Washington from streaking down court. Three months ago I would have totally agreed with you. A lot of people say that the only thing McDowell goes is transition basketball. Well, I agree that pushing the ball is one of our strengths, but I think some people may underestimate just how much we can grind it out in the half court settting.


Coach Franklin said in today's local paper that we must rebound and value the ball...I couldn't agree with him more.


I think for McDowell to win they must do a few things...

1. Gotta get off to a strong start. That was the big difference to me last year. West Charlotte scored 13 unanswered to begin the game and it was pretty much an up-hill battle from there.

2. You gotta push it, but you gotta be patient. If West Charlotte scores, then we gotta quickly get it in and make them work defensively. We have guards that are capable of handling pressure. We just need to be patient once we break the pressure and find the good look.

3. We gotta challenge defensively. West Charlotte cannot be allowed to get the ball inside without anybody challenging them. Make their offense work hard to find a good shot.

4. No fear...We gotta get in there from the opening bell and scrap for every loose ball on the floor. The refs in these big games tend to swallow the whistle early and then as the game progresses, they start calling more and more.


If we do those things, I think we have a chance at pulling it off. McDowell has shown so far in the playoffs as long as they keep it close, they can win.


The final factor that I haven't gone into much detail is the fact that I think these girls who, all played last year, wanted to get to this point. A motivated team is as dangerous as a ultra-talented team.


That's my take on the game...

 

U got a full day of basketball tommorow dont you tony.two big games as mcdowell plays west charlotte and carolina plays duke.Good luck to mcdowell.

 

Answered 03/06/08 1403 by Langston Wertz
"I don't think Dub is the favored team. They've never been to the state before. They're a young team, too. McDowell has the history, the experience, the age, Kurie Washington and possibly Franklin going for a little personal revenge. That's, what, 10 or 12 points there.

The Marion crowd will be there, so Dub better travel. Right now, I'd say McDowell 75, Dub 69"

Ok so LW is picking McDowell by 6 do we need to say more? Heck even their hometown newspaper is picking McDowell...

Let's go Lady Titans.... we'll be there cheering you on every step of the game, just good old Lady Titan Basketball.. It's a great thing !

 

After all the years of following this team, I've only seen 6 games this year, including the last 3. After the first playoff game, I didn't think they would make it, but the last 2 games were much better performances, and here the Lady Titans are again. The program is a phenomenon among high school sports.

After watching the first half of the WC/Grimsley game, it's hard not to recognize the difference in athletic ability and quickness between those 2 and the Lady Titans. Both of those teams are taller as well (overall).

Common sense tells me WC would be favored by 8-10 points, and that it could possibly get ugly. But, they have to play the game, and you just never know. I hope it can go McDowell's way, but realistically, it's a stretch.

I hope I'm so wrong, and regardless, it's worth going to see, just to be a part of the phenomenon. The crowd will be rocking. Even if it goes the other way, I believe the crowd will let the girls know they're appreciated.

GOOD LUCK, and make a bunch of 3's!!!!!!!!!!! Rebound, limit the turnovers, fight for every ball, tooth and nail, etc., etc., etc.

 

Oh well so much for predictions. It's 21-5 WC in the 1st quarter.

 

Final
West Charlotte 78
Mcdowell 57

I thought the game would be closer and i knew west charlotte was very good.Congradulations to mcdowell to a good season.

 

Turnovers and rebounding killed McDowell in this game. Same thing happened last year when we played West Charlotte. Kurie was the only player that could get any shots to go. She scored 28 I think and had 19 in the first half.

 

Pretty much ditto to what titan90 said. That 8-0 and 23-9 1st quarter did us in again. Congrats to West Charlotte on their 1st ever Regional Championship. It's amazing just how much better the talent and coaching has become in the QC over the past 5 years.


For McDowell, even though it didn't go as we wanted it to the girls had a great season finishing 26-4. I also think Coach Franklin did a good job in his first season. People will never understand the amount of pressure it takes to run a program with as much tradition as McDowell.


Also, big thanks to the seniors (Kelsea, Kurie, Ebonique and Destiny) for their hard work. In particular a big thanks to Kelsea, a four year starter who is as strong a person as you'll ever meet. Also a big thanks to Kurie...who goes down as one of the more prolithic scorers in the school's history. In a three-year varsity career, Washington will finish with over 1900 points. If all time records are kept at McDowell, I would guess Washington is definintely top 5 all-time in points.