Christmas tournament thread...

No ruffled feathers here! I can respect talent at any age, however Thompson just carried ACR to their Christmas Tournament Championship the other night scoring 33 against Asheville in the finals. She is holding up her end of the deal as well. As for the conference winner, I think it may come down to who is able to win on the road! Seems that most of the "big 4" are all able to win at home, question is who can pick off one of the others on the road, that might make the difference in the conference title....Jan. 3rd ACR travels to Freedom when the fun begins!

 

BINGO!!!

I remember back about six weeks ago when I made conference predictions, I stated that a couple of teams in the conference (Freedom and South Caldwell to be specific) needed to show that they could win in hostile environment in order to contend for the conference championship. With what I have seen so far, I think that is the case even more now.

BTW, I read on charlotte.com where South Caldwell loss to Hopewell down at the First Charter Classic down in Lincolnton. I assume that was the Tourney Championship Game?

 

SCFAN, where r u? would like to have info on Hopewell loss.

Went to see EB in CVCC, Hester from NC sure made a difference, after beating them twice without her...EB got crushed with the big gal.

Got to get to FHS...even though it's NY eve. Sounds like Washington or Ford will be Tourney MVP..depending on who wins. I have seen both play-Ford will work harder but Washington will get easier shots.
Game should come down to turnovers & foul trouble.
i expect the other 4's effort will be paramount , I read where both teams have had supporting cast trouble this season.
If this game is close the loser might learn and be motived the most when the conf match-up occurs.
can't wait

ON another note ...although ACR is 10-0, they have barely survived a mediocre Asheville twice so as a NW4A favorite I would question (according to Asheville's Paper)

 

Yeah, but that 10-0 will be REAL IMPORTANT come WILD CARD time if need be!

 

Dribbles; not been home for a couple days but did make last nights game. Very good game which SC should have won they just didn't finish. Hopewell is a very talented and deep team. Little #22 is the best gaurd I've seen this year. She got tourney mvp. SC lead most of the game but never by more than 9. SC was down 1 at the half but came out and took the lead in the second half and lead the whole time. Hopewell cut the lead to 3 and SC got the ball with 1 minute to go and tried to push it up the floor on a fast break instead of working the clock and got called for a charge. Not a smart play. Hopewell scored twice in about 15 seconds to take the lead by 1 and SC turned it over and had to foul. Final was 72-68.
SC will have to learn to finish these type games to beat the top teams in the conference.

 

McDowell 91
Freedom 69

I think that was the final. MHS won by 20+. Washington had another huge game for MHS scoring 30+ points and was named MVP of the tournament. The freshman (ford) for Freedom also had a big game. Freedom has no inside game at all. This will hurt them in conference play.

 

Actually, 91-70.

All-Tournament Team

Ali Ford (Freedom)
Alex Ervin (Freedom)
Adrianne Griffith (Grayson)
Lea Smith, 23 points (McDowell)
Kelsea Greene, 12 assists (McDowell)

MVP: Kurie Washington, 32 points (McDowell)

 

All Tourney Team:

Adrianne Griffith (Grayson GA)
Kelsea Greene (McDowell)
Lea Smith (McDowell)
Ali Ford (Freedom)
Alex Ervin (Freedom)

MVP: Kurie Washington (McDowell)


Just to clarify...Washington had 32 for the Lady Titans. Kelsea Greene nine points, 11 assists. Lea Smith 23 points.

Ali Ford had 29 for Freedom.

 

Game thoughts...

First off, to whoever thought McDowell didn't have people who could compliment Washington, I think they have seriously mistaken theirselves. Greene, Smith and Hamilton are more than able to put up big numbers, tonight proved that. I'm not sure what Ebonique scored tonight, but I bet it was close to 20 points on her part.

First off, let me say Ali Ford is one hell of a freshmen, she scored 29 points tonight, but until she gets talent around her, Freedom will not be able to hang with McDowell for a 32 minute game. Alex Ervin played well above her head tonight. I highly doubt she'll put together a performance like that again this year. Their interior was no match for the Lady Titans. Teams should and will expose the Lady Patriots and their lack of interior offense and defense.

And finally, Freedom outta be ashamed for the lack of fan support for their team tonight. They played their butts off to a crowd that was about 65 % McDowell and 35 % Freedom folks. Maybe the word hasn't came around yet that Ali Ford is the real deal, I don't know...but the people in Morganton need to better represent their team.

 

My Thoughts....

I watched every game from start to finish as the tournament's PA announcer. The action was top notch and kudos to all teams.

As far as tonight goes...I told Big Dan last night that the game would be won in the point. I was right. I think Briana Morrison is a decent player, but if she played the post and stayed there, it could have been a little different. To me, she is not a roving forward, she does not have range, she does not have the abilities to shoot a jumpshot outside of 10-15 feet. She's tall and could have been used to counter McDowell's post players. Also, Freedom could have used Meredith Michaux and Morrison, or Shatiagre Tate (6'3") and Morrison, or Tate and Michaux... Or whatever. If Freedom used their post players like McDowell's low post presence, things could have been different.

Ali Ford is everything that she was advertised to be. She'll be a great player but just like BigDan said, as long as she doesnt have a supporting cast, she will be a one-man team.

I thought tonight's performance by McDowell was the best all season. Marty Queen and I were talking after the game and we both thought that McDowell showed the confidence and tenacity from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Also, that this game could be the turning point in the season. While McDowell had a lil funk this non-conference, this tournament win could have been the thing that brings everything together and gets the team clicking on all cylinders.

For Freedom's first tournament, I thought it was very successful and very entertaining. Grayson and Forsyth Country Day were good teams and provided tough challenges. But, in the end it was McDowell that made it successful (and also made Freedom HS' money) with their tremendous fan support. Freedom had good crowds for the West Caldwell and Grayson games, but were no where to be found against McDowell.

I wish everyone on here a Happy New Year and that your 2006 is a great year for you all. Cheers!