That's A Wrap

Considering it is Oscar week it would have been nice to see a movie script ending. Most people were expecting "Hoosiers" instead what played out looked more like the end of "Coach Carter." Let's just be straight, this is not the way anyone for CHS wanted the end of basketball season to go. Nothing will be able to sugar coat the unfortunate events of Wednesday and Thursday.

The next few paragraphs could be dedicated to picking apart mediocre New Haven records, one sided officiating, or the fact that Wellston's Ben McLemore single-handedly outscored New Haven's varsity boys in the district final Friday, but none of that will be found below. The reason being, that will not help Eagle Nation heal any faster. In sports, just like life, sometimes you get a raw deal. It doesn’t pan out the way it was intended. Nevertheless it is important press on towards your goal.

Rather than bash MSHSAA, or the Shamrocks, or the officials for what happened in New Haven, Missouri let's focus on the great run the Eagle ball clubs made this season.
The boys finished with an overall record of 19-8 (it would have been 21-6 if not for two MSHSAA mandated forfeits), and the girls finished at 17-7. Even though both teams fell to New Haven in the semi-finals of the district tournament the Eagles are undoubtedly the best program in the district on papers. The only team who could legitimately make a case otherwise is the Wellston varsity boys who have a lot of talent up and down the board.

CHS shouldn't be hanging it's collective head because of last weeks results. The program should rest easy and know it put on a solid showing in 2009-2010. There was a whole lot of upside to this year. Take for instance Adam Glenville who emerged as the varsity boys leading scorer averaging 15.3 points per game. The only person in the entire program who outscored Adam was his senior sister, Andrea Glenville, who turned in a 17.5 a contest. Blake Meers held solid this year and Ben Pickett established himself as a valuable asset. Fans entered the season wondering if point guard Brendan Norwine could fill the shoes left by Kyle Wilhelm, and the sophomore answered the bell in a big way. For the girls, Katie Hare and Krista Reese have proven they have what it will take to propel the women's program for the next three years. And, of course, Andrew Frank became the most recent Eagle to score 1,000 career points.

So to keep with the Oscar theme we'll quote the Joker, "Why so serious?" Sadness is understandable considering the expectations these teams originally carried, but this was still a fantastic season. None of the schools Christian High dropped by double digits in the past three months are feeling sorry for the Eagles. For the second year in MSHAA this campaign was above par. Next year the boys look to return almost the entire squad, and there is promise in some up and coming girl's players. Their potential and desire will surprise a lot of people. Everything will be okay. Not all is lost. The CHS Eagles will be back next year. And oh yeah, Wellston merges with Normandy High School in the fall. No more Ben McLemore, ali-oops, or guys lighting it up from three to worry about. The varsity boys will be the favorite to win the class 2, district 5 title next year, without a doubt.

It was been another exciting season of CHS hoops even if it didn't end quite the way it was supposed to turn out. Maybe the end of this season will provide some motivation for next. No matter what CHS has something to look forward to in it's basketball program next winter.

Thank you to all of you who have followed us every week here on CHS Hoops. Your readership has been extremely appreciated. We hope you have enjoyed this year as much as we have. It has been our God-given pleasure and blessing to spend time analyzing Christian High School basketball, and we're sad to see another fantastic season draw to a close. But take heart, summer league action starts in just three short months!