Hello everyone. So sorry for the absence. Since my last post on December 5, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/New Years/Martin Luther King Jr. Day/whatever other significant events happened in your lives. Being a senior, I've had lots of projects and scholarships rear their ugly heads at me. Since a lot of those things have died down, I'll be trying my hardest to start consistently updating the blog again.
Okay. Time to talk some basketball.
Obviously a lot of games have happened since my last post (the Eagles have gone 8-4 since.) But at the risk of making a ridiculously long blog post, I'm going to stick to writing about the most recent stretch of Christian High School basketball.
Unfortunately, it's going to be the least fun to talk about.
It seems that our beloved Eagles have hit a bit of a skid. After taking the Clopton tournament, the Eagles dropped their first home game of the season in ugly fashion to the Winfield Warriors. This loss broke an undefeated streak of 9 games against the Warriors and showed that the Eagles once again have a rival for the district crown. I won't hang around on this loss specifically (maybe some of the stats) because it happened a few weeks ago and getting hung up on the past never does anyone any good. Also, Winfield is clearly an inferior team to the Eagles so I don't think there is much to talk about. In contrast, there is much to talk about regarding this past week. Starting Monday, the Eagles took the floor at Fox High School for the annual Fox Tournament, a tournament which the Eagles took third in last year. They came out of the two week stretch on a strong note, defeating Fort Zumwalt South 58-51, furthering their dominance against the GAC this year (they're 4-0 against GAC opponents this year.) However, the Eagles followed this victory up with an uncharacteristic loss to a clearly weaker Gateway Tech squad. To the Eagles chagrin however, Zumwalt South was able to top Gateway Tech the following night, giving the tiebreaker to the Eagles.
On Friday night, the Eagles took the floor against University City, a team with more athleticism, more height and more prestige. However, the Eagles usually pay no heed to teams with this reputation. Alas, that didn't apply on Friday. The Eagles were toppled 74-61 in a well-fought, if sometimes shaky effort against the UCity Lions. To start off, I want to say that I think this was a legitimate loss for the Eagles. The Lions were an extremely athletic, well-coached team that featured a few explosive scorers and some lights-out shooters. The 13-point margin was not characteristic of how close the game was (I'd say it was about a 5 or 6 point game.) This was clearly seen when the Eagles battled back from a 12 point deficit to cut the lead to 1 point at the beginning of the fourth quarter (courtesy of a trio of Marcksman treys and two Adam Glenville free throws.) Just look at this insert of the stltoday.com article in which David Gammon, head coach of University City, gave the Eagles some very high compliments.
“That's a real good basketball team,'' Lions coach David Gammon said of the Eagles, who battled back several times before University City pulled away late. “That No. 21 (Evan Marcks) can really shoot it, and they just would not quit."
That being said, this game got out of the Eagles hands. Yes, the Lions got off to a 6-6 shooting start. Yes, they had the clear size advantage down low. And yes, Travon Williams, a 23 PPG player was held to 4 points in the first three quarters. To counter those points, however: the Eagles didn't put themselves in a good position by getting off to a cold shooting start; there were too many times when easy rebounds fell into Lion hands or were stripped away due to soft hands; and Williams could not be contained in the fourth, where he put up 15 points and closed the game out for University City. But I digress. I say all this to conclude with this statement: the loss to UCity doesn't bother me in a nagging way. I guess the loss to Gateway Tech doesn't either.
What does bother me is how the two games were lost. And these same reasons relate back to one thing: you guessed it, the Winfield loss.
The first problem I've seen in this 1-3 slide is probably pretty apparent to most of you. If you follow the Twitter account, then you probably got about 10 tweets about it on Friday night. It's a nine-letter word that starts with t and ends with urnovers . The Eagles have averaged two turnovers more in this past four game stretch then they did in their 4-0 beginning to the season, a start that featured wins against Timberland, Winfield (yes, the same team), Fort Zumwalt North and Clopton (the blood donor.) Okay, so two turnovers may not seem like a big difference. But let me ask you something: which number seems larger in this context?
The Eagles had 15 turnovers in the game.
The Eagles had 17 turnovers in the game.
Anyone else see what I mean? It may not seem like much. But seventeen turnovers is way too many. Heck, fifteen is too many. And these aren't just a few mistakes. These are travels. These are double dribbles. These are baseball passes over the heads of everyone on the court. In other words, these are fundamental problems that the Eagles shouldn't have problems with. But for some reason, they are. Instead of dictating the pace like they often did in the early part of the season, the Eagles are letting opposing teams run the floor, putting the Eagles in pressure situations where the ball needs to move faster. This is where the Eagles get out of control. Even still, the guys need to be smarter mentally, even when they find themselves in a bit of a hole or a rut. This is an explosive offensive team that can get steals and run the floor with most teams. Deficits shouldn't last long when the Eagles are playing their game and not someone else's.
The second trend is one that I find puzzling, but coming with an easy fix. The Eagles are almost exactly a 33.34% team from beyond the arc. The Marcksman leads the team with a 47.14 percentage. That's not great, but for a high school team, that's perfectly fine. Especially when you have a sharpshooter like Evan. Does anyone care to guess how the Eagles have shot the long ball in their past three losses? Anyone? Bueller?
13-48
27%
Yikes.
Breaking it down, Evan is 7-22 in the past three losses. The rest of the team is 6-26. I can forgive this lower-than-average stretch for Evan, especially because he seems to come up with his biggest shots when they're most needed. In the Winfield game, he hit a few big treys when the Eagles were making a push to broaden the gap. In Friday night's matchup, he hit three consecutive long balls to take the Lion lead from 12 to 3. He is a key cog in the Eagles' offensive strategy and has more than proven his ability to hit big shots. What I take issue with is the 6-26 from the rest of the team. Now, I don't want to tell anyone how to play their game, especially not a guy who averages more than 20 points per game. He seems to know what he is doing. But I wonder how much farther Adam Glenville's game would go if he wouldn't rely on the three so much. I guess rely isn't the right word. Maybe expose is. Not expose as in show weakness. More of a "letting the cat out of the bag" type of thing. Adam is a good shooter. He has range and that is what makes him a dangerous player. However, the strongest part of his game is around the rim. He is a tenacious forward with a great touch around the basket and a slashing drive. He has the ability to grab rebounds, get fouled and make his shots from the charity stripe (he is shooting 76% on the season, the best on the team.) When he demonstrates his ability to drive, teams will start giving him room, opening up the jump shot. This is where his range becomes dangerous. His multi-dimensional game doesn't have time to develop when he looks for the three.
Also of note is Lance Lehmann. Lance is a good shooter as well. His issue, however, lies in two areas. Shot selection and aggressiveness. With his jumper still developing, Lance needs to look for more spot up jump shots, a shot he has shown that he can hit with some consistency. He also needs to have some more confidence in his drive. Lance, with his long wingspan, has the ability to handle the ball and make his own shots in the paint and a little ways out. Lehmann's big games have come when he aids the Eagles in running the floor, making transition shots (which he has quite a knack for) and making his own shots off of his drive. When Lance plays well, the Eagles seem to be on a whole new level.
Yes, the Eagles are in a bit of a rut right now. And yes, the guys have some reason to be frustrated. But this is still the same team that started the season 10-1. This is still one of the deepest and most talented teams in school history. This is still a team with intensity and heart to match any team in Missouri. And after all is said and done, the Eagles are still the favorite to win this year's district tournament, which is being played on the CHS home floor. All they need to do is find the form to match the talent. And if I've learned anything from watching this team and Coach Meers, the answer shouldn't be too hard to find.
Bold Prediction of the Day: The Eagles will enter districts with a 20-5 record and the number one seed. In the Eagles last ten games, they play two of their tougher opponents on the road (Whitfield and Westminster.) But the Eagles tend to step up for big games and this stretch of losses points to good times ahead. The Eagles will finally get the Westminster monkey off their back and take down the Wildcats. However, if they want to knock off Whitfield for the second year in a row, they're going to need to have a near-perfect game. The rest of the schedule isn't easy, but the Eagles are the better team in the other eight match ups. Look for the Eagles to have their third 20-win season locked up when districts rolls around.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Monday, December 5, 2011
Above the Standard
Has anyone ever noticed that true greatness often goes unappreciated? At least, by a vast majority of people. We see it in sports all the time actually. For example, take Stan Musial. If you take a look at his stats, he is easily one of the greatest players to ever play the game of baseball. However, since he was in the same era of legends such as Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle, who experienced the benefit of playing in the large markets of Boston and New York, he never really got the admiration of everyone at the same level of his peers. Even today, people know Stan the Man's name, but they don't think of him when legendary players are brought up and discussed. It's a sore subject with St. Louis Cardinal fans everywhere. On a much lesser level, the CHS Eagles and their fans can relate.
Last week, the Eagles kicked off their varsity season just like they do every year: in the annual Bank of Old Monroe tournament, hosted by the always-friendly Winfield Warriors. A few interesting story lines going into the tournament....
1) The Eagles were the reigning runner-ups. Zumwalt North delivered a crushing 2-point defeat on a last-second shot in last years championship game.
2) Winfield, perhaps Christian's biggest rival in basketball, started the season on the bubble for being ranked in STL Today's Small School Rankings for Boy's Basketball. Christian High, who was coming off a season where they beat Winfield by 20 points in the district final, was left off.
3) The tournament featured 3 GAC schools: Timberland, Zumwalt East, and Zumwalt North. The Eagles had played each team before, but every team was coming back stronger than before.
The first test for the Eagles came against the Timberland Wolves, a team that the Eagles visited in Wentzville and routed during the middle of last year's 19-9 campaign. However, the Wolves were returning players and looked to be a more disciplined team. It was at this time that the Eagles decided to unleash a new weapon on the world of their competition: sophomore Evan Marcks. The Marcksman (as he is being heralded by his fans) exploded in the Eagles first game of the season, going 5-8 from behind the three-point line, leading the Eagles to a convincingly easy 70-46 win over a Timberland team that, in my opinion, was much improved over last years squad. Adam Glenville, the Eagles returning leading scorer promptly added 16, and the Eagles cruised to an easy win in their first contest. Next up: Winfield.
This was an interesting matchup to me for multiple reasons. For one thing, was Winfield really worthy of their status in the preseason rankings? Maybe they'd gotten better over the course of the offseason. Also, WInfield always seems to play the Eagles hard, especially in their own gym. Their fans, while obnoxious at times, are rowdy and are really a factor in how their team plays. They were no doubt aware that they had never beaten the Eagles in a contest before. Obviously, a beginning of the year showdown at their place would be the place to do it. To establish themselves for the first time in a rivalry that includes only losses. Wednesday night rolled around and Winfield came out strong. The Eagles couldn't find their stride and went into the half only winning by 3 (thanks to another 3 by The Marcksman at the buzzer.) Half time, however, proved beneficial for the Eagles. Coach Dave Meers got the Eagles back out on the court in the third quarter and enjoyed a quarter that saw the Eagles outscore their rivals 24-8. In the end, the Eagles once again found themselves on the winning side of the Warrior-Eagle rivalry. Yes, that makes it 12-0 all-time.
Finally, it was time for rematch. On the other side of the bracket, Zumwalt North (on the large school bubble) and the Glotta clan (Chaz, Zach and their dad, the coach) had done their job of cleaning out Wright City and Zumwalt East. Of course. What a story. Redemption time for the Eagles. Statement time for the Panthers. It was setting up for an intense Tom Ginnever battle. Friday night came and the scene was just perfect. The student sections were screaming at each other, the players were locked in and a first-place prize was hanging in the balance. Scene: Set.
The game started out just as it had last year, a neck-in-neck battle for the lead. A steal here, a block there and two squads that knew just how important this game was. At half, the Eagles had built a lead of 6. Half time was where things began to fall apart a bit in last years contest. So how would the Eagles respond to the small, but nowhere near comfortable cushion they had given themselves? They responded with a quarter that saw them build their lead to 12, all but locking up the game. From there, it was all them. And when the buzzer finally sounded, Eagles everywhere could glance at the scoreboard and see that the redemption was indeed complete.
Eagles-60. Panthers-50.
The Eagles were champions. In a game where they never doubted themselves, the Eagles handily defeated one of the best teams in the St. Charles area. A team with two dynamic scorers. A team that won the GAC North the previous year. You get it. Zumwalt North was no pushover. And with the win, the Eagles proved they're no pushover either. So in review of the first week of the season, let's take a look at some surprising and not-so-surprising stories.
Not-So-Surprising
Adam Glenville
I know anytime a player averages 20 points a game, fans tend to go "Wow, he's really good." But come on, were you really expecting anything different from this guy? For two years now, Glenville has been wowing fans of all schools with his diverse style of play. His height allows him to grab rebounds and put back missed shots. His athleticism allows him to drive to the hoop and get fouled. His shot allows him to spot up and hit deep jumpers. Adam is by far one of the most well-balanced players to come through CHS. He is dedicated to being a great player and hustles on the court, attributes that will make any player better, no matter how much raw basketball skill they have. In the tournament, Glenville improved with each game, scoring 16, 20 and 23 points, respectively. He set the pace for each game, inside and out, on the court and off. He is everything a leader and captain should be and he embodies the level of play of great Eagles that came before him. And in the end he got to celebrate a First Place finish and an MVP award. And the awesome thing is, he wants so much more.
Deantrell Prince
The man who does it all on the football field is now stepping into his role on the hardwood. Prince emerged from the season as a starting guard and did a little bit of everything on the court. He averaged 13.3 points a game and led the team in FT percentage at 63%. Most importantly, however, he stopped the firestorm that is Chaz Glotta. Granted, Glotta scored 17 points in the championship game, but most of them came from the charity stripe. He only hit one three in the game, and it came on a one-handed toss up in an attempt to get fouled. Prince effectively shut down the Panthers best player and threw in some steals and breakaway layups to boot. He is also impressing with his ability to bring the ball up the court. Needless to say, Prince is shining and just like Glenville, did you really expect different?
The Triple Threat
You can spot the Triple Threat from the top row of any game you see them at, sporting the teal laces on their black Nikes. The Triple Threat is the anchor of this team. It features the Eagles top scorer, the floor general and the most dominating big man that the Eagles have. In the Winfield tournament, the Triple Threat averaged 32.4 points. Norwine is a more prominent feature in the offense now, averaging 8 points a game. Pickett has found consistency under the basket as a rebounder. And I don't need to talk about Glenville anymore. This trio of seniors is going to lead this team to very good things this year.
Surprises
The Marcksman
Ok, so we all knew Evan would be good. But...wow. Who knew he'd be this good. In his first three games of straight varsity play, Marcks hit 8 threes and averaged 10.3 points. And teams are already starting to take notice. In the championship game against North, every time Marcks hit the floor, North's best defender was all over him. And while The Marcksman's stats took a hit, this helped the team quite significantly. With Zach Glotta on Evan like flies on an old sandwich, Coach Meers was able to keep the ball movement flowing, especially up top, where Glotta had been causing some problems. And you have to remember, not every team will key on Marcks, and even the teams that do will have to contend with him. Marcks showed Eagles fans that he is going to be a very serious contributor on this year's team.
The Bench
I know this may seem strange considering I wrote about this in my first blog this year. But I still feel like it deserves a mention. Coach Meers used his bench to perfection in the first week of the season. He has a wealth of scorers, defenders and hustlers sitting next to him every night. Last week, we saw Frank Davis and Kameron Dunlap make huge defensive contributions. Marcks provided an enormous boost for a bench that contributed 17.3 points a game. That is going to be a huge factor as the season goes on and I expect Coach Meers to continue to be brilliant. After all, he's now 64-21 in his time with the Eagles program. He didn't get that record by accident. He's a fantastic coach and this deep bench of talented young men allows him to effectively manage his team.
Finally I want to get to the surprise that most people have been talking about, especially today. It's the thing that inspired the title of this post. On Monday afternoon, the updated weekly rankings came out on STL Today. Like I mentioned, two of the Eagles opponents had been featured as "bubble" teams in the preseason. The Eagles beat both of these teams in impressive fashion. Yet, when the new rankings came out today, the 3-0 Eagles were once again left off. I know a lot of player and fans were upset. And I'll be the first to tell you that I think the St. Charles Journal is a joke, especially with the rankings (ask anyone who has heard me talk about it.) The guys earned a spot on that list. But then I had a bit of an epiphany. So the Eagles were left off some list of good teams in the area? So what? The Eagles know they earned a spot on that list. And according to last week's standard, the Eagles should be there. But we all know that. If some sub-par sports writers can't see that, then the Eagles have more important things to worry about. They'll get there eventually. Right now, they're above the standard. And sooner or later, they'll get the appreciation that they're due.
Last week, the Eagles kicked off their varsity season just like they do every year: in the annual Bank of Old Monroe tournament, hosted by the always-friendly Winfield Warriors. A few interesting story lines going into the tournament....
1) The Eagles were the reigning runner-ups. Zumwalt North delivered a crushing 2-point defeat on a last-second shot in last years championship game.
2) Winfield, perhaps Christian's biggest rival in basketball, started the season on the bubble for being ranked in STL Today's Small School Rankings for Boy's Basketball. Christian High, who was coming off a season where they beat Winfield by 20 points in the district final, was left off.
3) The tournament featured 3 GAC schools: Timberland, Zumwalt East, and Zumwalt North. The Eagles had played each team before, but every team was coming back stronger than before.
The first test for the Eagles came against the Timberland Wolves, a team that the Eagles visited in Wentzville and routed during the middle of last year's 19-9 campaign. However, the Wolves were returning players and looked to be a more disciplined team. It was at this time that the Eagles decided to unleash a new weapon on the world of their competition: sophomore Evan Marcks. The Marcksman (as he is being heralded by his fans) exploded in the Eagles first game of the season, going 5-8 from behind the three-point line, leading the Eagles to a convincingly easy 70-46 win over a Timberland team that, in my opinion, was much improved over last years squad. Adam Glenville, the Eagles returning leading scorer promptly added 16, and the Eagles cruised to an easy win in their first contest. Next up: Winfield.
This was an interesting matchup to me for multiple reasons. For one thing, was Winfield really worthy of their status in the preseason rankings? Maybe they'd gotten better over the course of the offseason. Also, WInfield always seems to play the Eagles hard, especially in their own gym. Their fans, while obnoxious at times, are rowdy and are really a factor in how their team plays. They were no doubt aware that they had never beaten the Eagles in a contest before. Obviously, a beginning of the year showdown at their place would be the place to do it. To establish themselves for the first time in a rivalry that includes only losses. Wednesday night rolled around and Winfield came out strong. The Eagles couldn't find their stride and went into the half only winning by 3 (thanks to another 3 by The Marcksman at the buzzer.) Half time, however, proved beneficial for the Eagles. Coach Dave Meers got the Eagles back out on the court in the third quarter and enjoyed a quarter that saw the Eagles outscore their rivals 24-8. In the end, the Eagles once again found themselves on the winning side of the Warrior-Eagle rivalry. Yes, that makes it 12-0 all-time.
Finally, it was time for rematch. On the other side of the bracket, Zumwalt North (on the large school bubble) and the Glotta clan (Chaz, Zach and their dad, the coach) had done their job of cleaning out Wright City and Zumwalt East. Of course. What a story. Redemption time for the Eagles. Statement time for the Panthers. It was setting up for an intense Tom Ginnever battle. Friday night came and the scene was just perfect. The student sections were screaming at each other, the players were locked in and a first-place prize was hanging in the balance. Scene: Set.
The game started out just as it had last year, a neck-in-neck battle for the lead. A steal here, a block there and two squads that knew just how important this game was. At half, the Eagles had built a lead of 6. Half time was where things began to fall apart a bit in last years contest. So how would the Eagles respond to the small, but nowhere near comfortable cushion they had given themselves? They responded with a quarter that saw them build their lead to 12, all but locking up the game. From there, it was all them. And when the buzzer finally sounded, Eagles everywhere could glance at the scoreboard and see that the redemption was indeed complete.
Eagles-60. Panthers-50.
The Eagles were champions. In a game where they never doubted themselves, the Eagles handily defeated one of the best teams in the St. Charles area. A team with two dynamic scorers. A team that won the GAC North the previous year. You get it. Zumwalt North was no pushover. And with the win, the Eagles proved they're no pushover either. So in review of the first week of the season, let's take a look at some surprising and not-so-surprising stories.
Not-So-Surprising
Adam Glenville
I know anytime a player averages 20 points a game, fans tend to go "Wow, he's really good." But come on, were you really expecting anything different from this guy? For two years now, Glenville has been wowing fans of all schools with his diverse style of play. His height allows him to grab rebounds and put back missed shots. His athleticism allows him to drive to the hoop and get fouled. His shot allows him to spot up and hit deep jumpers. Adam is by far one of the most well-balanced players to come through CHS. He is dedicated to being a great player and hustles on the court, attributes that will make any player better, no matter how much raw basketball skill they have. In the tournament, Glenville improved with each game, scoring 16, 20 and 23 points, respectively. He set the pace for each game, inside and out, on the court and off. He is everything a leader and captain should be and he embodies the level of play of great Eagles that came before him. And in the end he got to celebrate a First Place finish and an MVP award. And the awesome thing is, he wants so much more.
Deantrell Prince
The man who does it all on the football field is now stepping into his role on the hardwood. Prince emerged from the season as a starting guard and did a little bit of everything on the court. He averaged 13.3 points a game and led the team in FT percentage at 63%. Most importantly, however, he stopped the firestorm that is Chaz Glotta. Granted, Glotta scored 17 points in the championship game, but most of them came from the charity stripe. He only hit one three in the game, and it came on a one-handed toss up in an attempt to get fouled. Prince effectively shut down the Panthers best player and threw in some steals and breakaway layups to boot. He is also impressing with his ability to bring the ball up the court. Needless to say, Prince is shining and just like Glenville, did you really expect different?
The Triple Threat
You can spot the Triple Threat from the top row of any game you see them at, sporting the teal laces on their black Nikes. The Triple Threat is the anchor of this team. It features the Eagles top scorer, the floor general and the most dominating big man that the Eagles have. In the Winfield tournament, the Triple Threat averaged 32.4 points. Norwine is a more prominent feature in the offense now, averaging 8 points a game. Pickett has found consistency under the basket as a rebounder. And I don't need to talk about Glenville anymore. This trio of seniors is going to lead this team to very good things this year.
Surprises
The Marcksman
Ok, so we all knew Evan would be good. But...wow. Who knew he'd be this good. In his first three games of straight varsity play, Marcks hit 8 threes and averaged 10.3 points. And teams are already starting to take notice. In the championship game against North, every time Marcks hit the floor, North's best defender was all over him. And while The Marcksman's stats took a hit, this helped the team quite significantly. With Zach Glotta on Evan like flies on an old sandwich, Coach Meers was able to keep the ball movement flowing, especially up top, where Glotta had been causing some problems. And you have to remember, not every team will key on Marcks, and even the teams that do will have to contend with him. Marcks showed Eagles fans that he is going to be a very serious contributor on this year's team.
The Bench
I know this may seem strange considering I wrote about this in my first blog this year. But I still feel like it deserves a mention. Coach Meers used his bench to perfection in the first week of the season. He has a wealth of scorers, defenders and hustlers sitting next to him every night. Last week, we saw Frank Davis and Kameron Dunlap make huge defensive contributions. Marcks provided an enormous boost for a bench that contributed 17.3 points a game. That is going to be a huge factor as the season goes on and I expect Coach Meers to continue to be brilliant. After all, he's now 64-21 in his time with the Eagles program. He didn't get that record by accident. He's a fantastic coach and this deep bench of talented young men allows him to effectively manage his team.
Finally I want to get to the surprise that most people have been talking about, especially today. It's the thing that inspired the title of this post. On Monday afternoon, the updated weekly rankings came out on STL Today. Like I mentioned, two of the Eagles opponents had been featured as "bubble" teams in the preseason. The Eagles beat both of these teams in impressive fashion. Yet, when the new rankings came out today, the 3-0 Eagles were once again left off. I know a lot of player and fans were upset. And I'll be the first to tell you that I think the St. Charles Journal is a joke, especially with the rankings (ask anyone who has heard me talk about it.) The guys earned a spot on that list. But then I had a bit of an epiphany. So the Eagles were left off some list of good teams in the area? So what? The Eagles know they earned a spot on that list. And according to last week's standard, the Eagles should be there. But we all know that. If some sub-par sports writers can't see that, then the Eagles have more important things to worry about. They'll get there eventually. Right now, they're above the standard. And sooner or later, they'll get the appreciation that they're due.
Monday, November 28, 2011
A New Challenge
Those who follow athletics at Christian High School are no doubt familiar with all of the following things: football is on the rise at CHS, both in competition and popularity; the softball program, only a few years old, has won back-to-back district titles and is coached by a former Olympic softball player; the baseball team plays at T.R. Hughes ballpark; the boys' soccer team won its first district title since it entered MSHSAA and so on. The point is, Christian High School has no shortage of news and headlines coming from the athletic department. Every year, the school is putting out competitive teams in nearly every sport. However, within the school there is one part of the sporting year that changes the very atmosphere of CHS. You feel it in the voices of excited students, you feel it in the chill of the winter air and you see it in the players, adrenaline pumping through their bodies.
Folks, that time of the year is basketball season.
No one can deny that there is a rich tradition of basketball at 1145 Tom Ginnever. Names like Scott Grossenbacher, Ryan Kesler and Blake Meers represent generations of great players that have passed through, each generation representing a new step in the development of the program. Trips ranging from North County to Joplin to Clopton hold places in the memories of players and students alike. Up until two years ago, the annual Homecoming festival was centered around basketball rivalries such as North County and Tower Grove. Basketball is a game-changing point of every school year (no pun intended.)
Now why is this? The simple answer is this: basketball and football are the two big high school sports that the Metro area focuses on. And up until three years ago, Christian High didn't have a football team. Therefore, basketball took the place of the main event, the top dog of CHS sports. Even now, the rise of football can't overtake basketball's place of superiority at Christian High. Tradition and history have made basketball the most popular sport at CHS, at least from what I can see.
That being said, with tradition comes expectation. Every year, there are old faces gone and new faces seen. Freshman come and seniors go. Impact players are realized. However, with the constant rotation and graduation that comes with a high school basketball team, the Eagles have managed to put together a competitive team each and every year. And every year the Eagles have been raising expectations for themselves. Perhaps one of the key moments for the program was entering the Missouri State High School Activities Association, the premier association of Missouri high school athletics, three years ago. Even after this monumental leap, the Eagles have surprised. In the '09 season, the Eagles posted a 21-6 record (including 17 consecutive wins) and earned a second place finish in districts. The following year, another 21-6 record was posted, however the season was ended in the semifinal round of districts. Going into last season, the Eagles were the heavy favorite to win their district. They delivered a 19-9 record, including a dominating win over Winfield in the district championship. It was a fitting end to the careers of Blake Meers and Andrew Frank, two of the better players to don the teal, black and white.
However, expectations haven't lowered with the departure of the exit of Meers and Frank. In fact, the team has higher expectations for themselves. They sport a senior heavy team loaded with talent and athleticism. Leading scorer, Adam Glenville, is returning on the heels of a season that saw him average 16.8 points per game. Ben Pickett, probably the most physically dominating player on the team, is back in the paint. He is expected to be a big contributor on the scoreboard and the backboard. Brendan Norwine, makes the transition from quarterback to point guard, leading the team's back court for the third consecutive season. Lance Lehmann figures to be a starting forward for the Eagles. In the past few years, he has shown flashes of being a brilliant scorer and playmaker. Will this be the year that he asserts his dominance and consistency? Not to mention, the Eagles have two benefits going into districts this year: they face the same district that they dominated last year and this year they have home court advantage. That's right. Christian High School will be hosting basketball districts this year. This figures to be a huge advantage, seeing as the Eagles have only lost on their home court twice in three years under coach Dave Meers. This trend of dominance at home doesn't seem to be in danger as Coach Meers preaches dominance at home as a season game plan.
Bringing home our season preview, I want to look at three important factors that could potentially assist the Eagles in making their deepest playoff run in the history of the program:
1) Senior Support
Aside from the self-proclaimed "Triple Threat" of Glenville, Pickett and Norwine, the Eagles have three other seniors on the team: A.J. Wynn, Zach Wetzel and David McNeil and they each serve a different purpose that will be vital in each and every game. Wynn is the teams back up point guard. When Norwine needs a break, Wynn will need to control the ball in a calm fashion. The Eagles game will be dictated by controlling the ball, just as it has in past years. Wetzel is a scorer off the bench. He has the potential to come into a game and put up multiple points in a matter of minutes. His contributions will be a big factor in keeping and building leads. McNeil is a hard-working defensive specialist. Despite his lack of height, you will often see him taking on everyone on the court, even forwards and centers. He's a lot tougher than most players his age and will surprise a lot of opponents.
2) The Younger "Triple Threat"
Even though the "Triple Threat" will see most of the playing time this year, don't count out its sophomore counterpart. Consisting of sophomores Evan Marcks, Jordan Norwine and Deantrell Prince, the younger trio will see significant time this season. All three were called up last year and made big contributions. Prince played shut down defense and shocked Elsberry in the sectional contest, leading what almost turned out to be a big comeback for the Eagles. Jordan, Brendan's younger brother, showed why he is the heir apparent at the point guard position. His ball-handling and passing skills are matched by a knack of finding the basket at big moments. Finally, Marcks has been groomed to become the next Kevin Snow. Marcks has incredible range and can often be found spotting up behind the three-point line, knocking down big shots. However, opponents shouldn't underestimate his ability to drive to the lane and get fouled either.
3) Power in Numbers
Coach Meers has fielded a deep roster this year, consisting of 14 players designed to handle different jobs. Robbie Bone and Kameron Dunlap add some some height to the forward position, while Logan Logsdon and Frank Davis look to keep the guards fresh, all while not missing a beat. Each of the players on the varsity squad this year has played basketball at a very high level. The bench, while always a factor in any teams' success, looks to be deeper and perhaps more prepared to continue the work that is done by the starting line up.
So, Eagle fans, its that time of year. Lace up the high-tops. Bring out your cowbells. Button your jackets and warm up your voices to yell and scream. Pump the Space Jam soundtrack and get ready for another year of CHS Hoops.
It's basketball season, ladies and gentlemen.
Folks, that time of the year is basketball season.
No one can deny that there is a rich tradition of basketball at 1145 Tom Ginnever. Names like Scott Grossenbacher, Ryan Kesler and Blake Meers represent generations of great players that have passed through, each generation representing a new step in the development of the program. Trips ranging from North County to Joplin to Clopton hold places in the memories of players and students alike. Up until two years ago, the annual Homecoming festival was centered around basketball rivalries such as North County and Tower Grove. Basketball is a game-changing point of every school year (no pun intended.)
Now why is this? The simple answer is this: basketball and football are the two big high school sports that the Metro area focuses on. And up until three years ago, Christian High didn't have a football team. Therefore, basketball took the place of the main event, the top dog of CHS sports. Even now, the rise of football can't overtake basketball's place of superiority at Christian High. Tradition and history have made basketball the most popular sport at CHS, at least from what I can see.
That being said, with tradition comes expectation. Every year, there are old faces gone and new faces seen. Freshman come and seniors go. Impact players are realized. However, with the constant rotation and graduation that comes with a high school basketball team, the Eagles have managed to put together a competitive team each and every year. And every year the Eagles have been raising expectations for themselves. Perhaps one of the key moments for the program was entering the Missouri State High School Activities Association, the premier association of Missouri high school athletics, three years ago. Even after this monumental leap, the Eagles have surprised. In the '09 season, the Eagles posted a 21-6 record (including 17 consecutive wins) and earned a second place finish in districts. The following year, another 21-6 record was posted, however the season was ended in the semifinal round of districts. Going into last season, the Eagles were the heavy favorite to win their district. They delivered a 19-9 record, including a dominating win over Winfield in the district championship. It was a fitting end to the careers of Blake Meers and Andrew Frank, two of the better players to don the teal, black and white.
However, expectations haven't lowered with the departure of the exit of Meers and Frank. In fact, the team has higher expectations for themselves. They sport a senior heavy team loaded with talent and athleticism. Leading scorer, Adam Glenville, is returning on the heels of a season that saw him average 16.8 points per game. Ben Pickett, probably the most physically dominating player on the team, is back in the paint. He is expected to be a big contributor on the scoreboard and the backboard. Brendan Norwine, makes the transition from quarterback to point guard, leading the team's back court for the third consecutive season. Lance Lehmann figures to be a starting forward for the Eagles. In the past few years, he has shown flashes of being a brilliant scorer and playmaker. Will this be the year that he asserts his dominance and consistency? Not to mention, the Eagles have two benefits going into districts this year: they face the same district that they dominated last year and this year they have home court advantage. That's right. Christian High School will be hosting basketball districts this year. This figures to be a huge advantage, seeing as the Eagles have only lost on their home court twice in three years under coach Dave Meers. This trend of dominance at home doesn't seem to be in danger as Coach Meers preaches dominance at home as a season game plan.
Bringing home our season preview, I want to look at three important factors that could potentially assist the Eagles in making their deepest playoff run in the history of the program:
1) Senior Support
Aside from the self-proclaimed "Triple Threat" of Glenville, Pickett and Norwine, the Eagles have three other seniors on the team: A.J. Wynn, Zach Wetzel and David McNeil and they each serve a different purpose that will be vital in each and every game. Wynn is the teams back up point guard. When Norwine needs a break, Wynn will need to control the ball in a calm fashion. The Eagles game will be dictated by controlling the ball, just as it has in past years. Wetzel is a scorer off the bench. He has the potential to come into a game and put up multiple points in a matter of minutes. His contributions will be a big factor in keeping and building leads. McNeil is a hard-working defensive specialist. Despite his lack of height, you will often see him taking on everyone on the court, even forwards and centers. He's a lot tougher than most players his age and will surprise a lot of opponents.
2) The Younger "Triple Threat"
Even though the "Triple Threat" will see most of the playing time this year, don't count out its sophomore counterpart. Consisting of sophomores Evan Marcks, Jordan Norwine and Deantrell Prince, the younger trio will see significant time this season. All three were called up last year and made big contributions. Prince played shut down defense and shocked Elsberry in the sectional contest, leading what almost turned out to be a big comeback for the Eagles. Jordan, Brendan's younger brother, showed why he is the heir apparent at the point guard position. His ball-handling and passing skills are matched by a knack of finding the basket at big moments. Finally, Marcks has been groomed to become the next Kevin Snow. Marcks has incredible range and can often be found spotting up behind the three-point line, knocking down big shots. However, opponents shouldn't underestimate his ability to drive to the lane and get fouled either.
3) Power in Numbers
Coach Meers has fielded a deep roster this year, consisting of 14 players designed to handle different jobs. Robbie Bone and Kameron Dunlap add some some height to the forward position, while Logan Logsdon and Frank Davis look to keep the guards fresh, all while not missing a beat. Each of the players on the varsity squad this year has played basketball at a very high level. The bench, while always a factor in any teams' success, looks to be deeper and perhaps more prepared to continue the work that is done by the starting line up.
So, Eagle fans, its that time of year. Lace up the high-tops. Bring out your cowbells. Button your jackets and warm up your voices to yell and scream. Pump the Space Jam soundtrack and get ready for another year of CHS Hoops.
It's basketball season, ladies and gentlemen.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Take Their Talents to Columbia
As the game clock at Centralia High School slowly approached expiration, the Winfield Warriors, both player and fan alike, averted their eyes. They dared not look at the proverbial timer that, upon hitting zero, would close the book on their season. However, their ears betrayed them. The students and fans of the Class 3 District 8 champions made sure that what the Warriors refused to see was heard by everyone in the gym.
10-9-8...
The players on the Eagles' bench stood to their feet, throwing their arms in the air and their eyes to the sky.
7-6...
Coach Dave Meers stood at the end of the bench, stoic in posture, but excitement and pride beaming off of his face like the lights that illuminated the gymnasium.
5-4...
The Pep Club prepared themselves to storm the court, ready to trample anything in their way.
3-2...
And the clock didn't make it to one. Around 1.7-1.3, the celebration began. The students charged center-court, meeting the players from the floor and bench to create a celebratory mob. And unlike almost every crazed fan you'll ever see on Sportscenter or any giddy college student on ESPN Gameday, the index finger on everyone's hand pointed upwards actually meant something. This age-old sign of victory signified something special. The Eagles were now officially the best. The victors. The winners. #1.
Champions.
Amidst the hugs and shouts and smiles, the players walked about, soaking in the feeling of a hard-fought win (and the sweat that came with it.) After a good 15-20 minutes of celebration, the players made their way back to the locker room to prepare themselves for the trip back to O'Fallon. However, the feeling that dominated the presence of the players and coaches wasn't one of satisfaction. But why not? They had just taken home the first district championship in the basketball program. Wouldn't it make sense if they felt satisfied? Not this team. Now that they've tasted ultimate victory, they're hungry for more. And more is being set before them. The time for celebration has ended. It's time to clean the plate.
I talked to Adam Glenville the day after and his words encouraged me. He said, "We're not done yet. We're not even close to being done yet." That was music to my ears. It's good to hear that this team isn't ready to be finished. So without further ado, let's look at what's ahead for this team...
The boys will travel to Moberly on Wednesday to take on Elsberry. The two squads met earlier this season and the outcome wasn't favorable for the Eagles. The Indians defeated the Eagles 56-46, making the Eagles the runner-up of their second tournament in the season. While this may seem like a sign to make Eagle's fans shake in their boots (along with Elsberry's impressive 23-4 record), this game was actually a turning point in the season. Since that game, the Eagles have a 12-4 record, a deceiving number when you consider they defeated Whitfield and suffered bad losses to Westminster, Crossroads, and North County Tech. This includes their current five-game winning streak, their longest of the season.
Also, if you take a look at the last game against Elsberry versus Wednesday's far-more-important contest, the Eagles should have a clear advantage. When they took on the Indians at the Clopton tournament, it was essentially a home game for Elsberry. Elsberry and Clopton have teamed up in the past in order to form other athletic teams, so there is a strong bond between the schools, resulting in a strong Indian crowd. This should be different on Wednesday as the game is in a neutral location. Also, the game is at a college-sized gym, the same size gym that the Eagles practice on every day. The Elsberry big men had noticable trouble running the floor at a small Clopton gym, making the game on Wednesday about speed. And the Eagles have plenty of that. Another key factor is defense. The Eagles have racked up 80 steals in the last 3 games (30, 26, 24). This is a very important stat, as it plays right into the hands of the Eagles' fastbreaking strategy. Finally, shooting will be a key factor in the outcome of the game. The Eagles, usually a decent shooting team, shot a shocking 30% from the field (15-50), including 4-24 from behind the arc (1-9 for Adam, 0-6 for Andrew.) That shooting percentage is bound to go up now that the Eagles are making better decisions with the ball and have developed their offensive game. The Eagles also shot 70.6% from the free-throw line. They'll need to repeat that in order to stay in the game and maintain a lead.
Yes, indeed, the Eagles are the champions. But only of their district. Now is their chance to take their talents to Columbia and Mizzou Arena and take home a state championship. The path isn't going to be easy. The Eagles' region contains the defending state champion Cardinal Ritter Lions (22-5.) They will be playing on Wednesday against the up-start Orchard Farm Eagles (24-4.) Nevertheless, the road starts Wednesday with a game the Eagles should come away with. And I whole-heartedly believe they will. Just like Adam said...
"We're not even close to being done yet."
10-9-8...
The players on the Eagles' bench stood to their feet, throwing their arms in the air and their eyes to the sky.
7-6...
Coach Dave Meers stood at the end of the bench, stoic in posture, but excitement and pride beaming off of his face like the lights that illuminated the gymnasium.
5-4...
The Pep Club prepared themselves to storm the court, ready to trample anything in their way.
3-2...
And the clock didn't make it to one. Around 1.7-1.3, the celebration began. The students charged center-court, meeting the players from the floor and bench to create a celebratory mob. And unlike almost every crazed fan you'll ever see on Sportscenter or any giddy college student on ESPN Gameday, the index finger on everyone's hand pointed upwards actually meant something. This age-old sign of victory signified something special. The Eagles were now officially the best. The victors. The winners. #1.
Champions.
Amidst the hugs and shouts and smiles, the players walked about, soaking in the feeling of a hard-fought win (and the sweat that came with it.) After a good 15-20 minutes of celebration, the players made their way back to the locker room to prepare themselves for the trip back to O'Fallon. However, the feeling that dominated the presence of the players and coaches wasn't one of satisfaction. But why not? They had just taken home the first district championship in the basketball program. Wouldn't it make sense if they felt satisfied? Not this team. Now that they've tasted ultimate victory, they're hungry for more. And more is being set before them. The time for celebration has ended. It's time to clean the plate.
I talked to Adam Glenville the day after and his words encouraged me. He said, "We're not done yet. We're not even close to being done yet." That was music to my ears. It's good to hear that this team isn't ready to be finished. So without further ado, let's look at what's ahead for this team...
The boys will travel to Moberly on Wednesday to take on Elsberry. The two squads met earlier this season and the outcome wasn't favorable for the Eagles. The Indians defeated the Eagles 56-46, making the Eagles the runner-up of their second tournament in the season. While this may seem like a sign to make Eagle's fans shake in their boots (along with Elsberry's impressive 23-4 record), this game was actually a turning point in the season. Since that game, the Eagles have a 12-4 record, a deceiving number when you consider they defeated Whitfield and suffered bad losses to Westminster, Crossroads, and North County Tech. This includes their current five-game winning streak, their longest of the season.
Also, if you take a look at the last game against Elsberry versus Wednesday's far-more-important contest, the Eagles should have a clear advantage. When they took on the Indians at the Clopton tournament, it was essentially a home game for Elsberry. Elsberry and Clopton have teamed up in the past in order to form other athletic teams, so there is a strong bond between the schools, resulting in a strong Indian crowd. This should be different on Wednesday as the game is in a neutral location. Also, the game is at a college-sized gym, the same size gym that the Eagles practice on every day. The Elsberry big men had noticable trouble running the floor at a small Clopton gym, making the game on Wednesday about speed. And the Eagles have plenty of that. Another key factor is defense. The Eagles have racked up 80 steals in the last 3 games (30, 26, 24). This is a very important stat, as it plays right into the hands of the Eagles' fastbreaking strategy. Finally, shooting will be a key factor in the outcome of the game. The Eagles, usually a decent shooting team, shot a shocking 30% from the field (15-50), including 4-24 from behind the arc (1-9 for Adam, 0-6 for Andrew.) That shooting percentage is bound to go up now that the Eagles are making better decisions with the ball and have developed their offensive game. The Eagles also shot 70.6% from the free-throw line. They'll need to repeat that in order to stay in the game and maintain a lead.
Yes, indeed, the Eagles are the champions. But only of their district. Now is their chance to take their talents to Columbia and Mizzou Arena and take home a state championship. The path isn't going to be easy. The Eagles' region contains the defending state champion Cardinal Ritter Lions (22-5.) They will be playing on Wednesday against the up-start Orchard Farm Eagles (24-4.) Nevertheless, the road starts Wednesday with a game the Eagles should come away with. And I whole-heartedly believe they will. Just like Adam said...
"We're not even close to being done yet."
Friday, March 4, 2011
Theirs For the Taking
You want to know what I love about sports movies? The speeches. The inspirational speeches really get to me. I really liked Gene Hackman's oration before Hickory High School took the floor. I loved the "Remember the Titans" moment when Julius steps up to correct Coach Boone, reminding his teammates and coaches that up to that point in the season, they were perfect. He didn't want to leave without being perfect. And we all know how that ended up (if you don't I'm not sure how you can call yourself a fan of any sport, especially football.) But you want to know what my favorite sports movie speech of all time? It would have to be Kurt Russell's lecture to his team before the 1980 USA hockey team pulled off the legendary Miracle on Ice against the hated Soviets. Out of all the lines in all the speeches in all the movies, there's one line that Russell utters with such confidence and intensity that it inspires a team of rag-tag college athletes to pull off the greatest sports upset in all of history. It gives me chills every time I hear it.
"Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world."
It's moments like these that define athletes and make sports such a widely-loved form of entertainment. And I'm sure that as Coach Dave Meers prepares his team for the Class 3, District 8 championship game on Saturday night, there are lots of things he could talk to his team about. Because when the #1-seeded Eagles take the floor against the #3-seeded Winfield Warriors, it will be much, much more than just another game. Even more than a championship game. This, for many reasons is probably the most important game in CHS Basketball history.
First, this game may influence the outlook of Eagles basketball for years to come. In three short years, the boys basketball program has gone from rookies to favorites. The development has been incredible, and no doubt many families with aspiring basketball stars are considering Christian High School as an option for their child's education. Saturday's game is an opportunity for the program to add a highly impressive mark to their resume.
This game also firmly establishes CHS's first big rivalry. Yes, I know many people consider Barat a rival and the games are heated, but let's be honest. When you clobber a team every time you play them, can they really be your rival? Maybe you enjoy playing them, but you can't in all seriousness consider them your rival. Rivalry consists of back and forth games, intense battles of hustle and skill on the court, rough physical play, and emotional, screaming fans. That being said, Winfield has never beaten the Eagles (0-6 over three years), but every year the Warriors have improved. They've challenged the guys twice this year, and came up 3 points short both times. These two losses came on big nights for Winfield, once in their tournament and the other coming on their own court-warming night. The Warriors are out for blood. Their 3-point shooting, guard-focused, offensive-minded, style of play is a sharp contrast to the Eagles attention to defense, fast-breaks, and forwards. All of the pieces point to a great rivalry in the coming years.
In addition, this game represents redemption for the Eagles. For two years, the Eagles have had a legitimate shot at making their way out of districts, but both efforts resulted in letdowns. In 2009, the Eagles stunned a rowdy Wellston crowd by taking a 23-2 lead after the first quarter, only to lost on the final scoresheet by a 16-point margin. Last year, with an impending rematch with Wellston lurking, the Eagles were toppled by host New Haven. Two years of disappointment could be all but wiped away by a victory on Saturday night.
Finally, and most importantly, this game represents possibly the final game for two of the most electric players in CHS history, Blake Meers and Andrew Frank. For four years, Frank and Meers have entertained students and fans alike as they grew right before our eyes. Frank went from a clean-shaven point guard leading a team of upper-classmen to a bearded, strong all-around guard. Meers started as a role-playing freshman and became one of the most dominant big men CHS will ever see. Both are on the career-leaders list at CHS for points (Andrew eclipsed 1,000 last season, Blake passed the mark this year), they were both present when the coaches role switched hands as long-time athletic director and basketball coach Matt Dillon stepped down, passing the torch to current coach, Dave Meers, and their names have both lingered in the local papers as they topped the area leaderboards in multiple statistical categories. As their careers end, wouldn't it be amazing to see them lead the team to the first of many district championships? Talk about a storybook ending. These two owe it to themselves to feel the pride of being champions, not only in the district, but perhaps in the state.
So, as Saturday night approaches and the Warriors loom, the question that is running through my mind is this: what will be said in the locker room, minutes before tip-off? Will Coach Meers or Lehmann deliver a powerful and moving oration? Will one of the seniors step up and say a few inspirational words? Chances are, we'll never know. But with only a day left before this monumental event, fans can only fantasize and daydream about what may be said and how it may affect CHS basketball in the near and distant future.
"Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world."
It's moments like these that define athletes and make sports such a widely-loved form of entertainment. And I'm sure that as Coach Dave Meers prepares his team for the Class 3, District 8 championship game on Saturday night, there are lots of things he could talk to his team about. Because when the #1-seeded Eagles take the floor against the #3-seeded Winfield Warriors, it will be much, much more than just another game. Even more than a championship game. This, for many reasons is probably the most important game in CHS Basketball history.
First, this game may influence the outlook of Eagles basketball for years to come. In three short years, the boys basketball program has gone from rookies to favorites. The development has been incredible, and no doubt many families with aspiring basketball stars are considering Christian High School as an option for their child's education. Saturday's game is an opportunity for the program to add a highly impressive mark to their resume.
This game also firmly establishes CHS's first big rivalry. Yes, I know many people consider Barat a rival and the games are heated, but let's be honest. When you clobber a team every time you play them, can they really be your rival? Maybe you enjoy playing them, but you can't in all seriousness consider them your rival. Rivalry consists of back and forth games, intense battles of hustle and skill on the court, rough physical play, and emotional, screaming fans. That being said, Winfield has never beaten the Eagles (0-6 over three years), but every year the Warriors have improved. They've challenged the guys twice this year, and came up 3 points short both times. These two losses came on big nights for Winfield, once in their tournament and the other coming on their own court-warming night. The Warriors are out for blood. Their 3-point shooting, guard-focused, offensive-minded, style of play is a sharp contrast to the Eagles attention to defense, fast-breaks, and forwards. All of the pieces point to a great rivalry in the coming years.
In addition, this game represents redemption for the Eagles. For two years, the Eagles have had a legitimate shot at making their way out of districts, but both efforts resulted in letdowns. In 2009, the Eagles stunned a rowdy Wellston crowd by taking a 23-2 lead after the first quarter, only to lost on the final scoresheet by a 16-point margin. Last year, with an impending rematch with Wellston lurking, the Eagles were toppled by host New Haven. Two years of disappointment could be all but wiped away by a victory on Saturday night.
Finally, and most importantly, this game represents possibly the final game for two of the most electric players in CHS history, Blake Meers and Andrew Frank. For four years, Frank and Meers have entertained students and fans alike as they grew right before our eyes. Frank went from a clean-shaven point guard leading a team of upper-classmen to a bearded, strong all-around guard. Meers started as a role-playing freshman and became one of the most dominant big men CHS will ever see. Both are on the career-leaders list at CHS for points (Andrew eclipsed 1,000 last season, Blake passed the mark this year), they were both present when the coaches role switched hands as long-time athletic director and basketball coach Matt Dillon stepped down, passing the torch to current coach, Dave Meers, and their names have both lingered in the local papers as they topped the area leaderboards in multiple statistical categories. As their careers end, wouldn't it be amazing to see them lead the team to the first of many district championships? Talk about a storybook ending. These two owe it to themselves to feel the pride of being champions, not only in the district, but perhaps in the state.
So, as Saturday night approaches and the Warriors loom, the question that is running through my mind is this: what will be said in the locker room, minutes before tip-off? Will Coach Meers or Lehmann deliver a powerful and moving oration? Will one of the seniors step up and say a few inspirational words? Chances are, we'll never know. But with only a day left before this monumental event, fans can only fantasize and daydream about what may be said and how it may affect CHS basketball in the near and distant future.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Running Out of Time
Usually this would be the point where I (or any other blogger, beat-writer, sports journalist) would write some kind introduction relating to sports, media, or really anything that most people can relate to. Then I would tie that into what our guys have been doing lately. But I'm not gonna do that this time. Mainly because I want this entry to stress the sense of urgency that should be felt for this team. This is gonna be short, sweet, and to-the-point.
Now I want to get one thing straight. I thoroughly believe that this is the most talented boys basketball team that CHS has ever fielded (sorry alumni.) I see more potential on this team than any team I think I've ever watched. And I know others have seen it too (may I remind you of a certain February 4th victory over one Whitfield Academy?) And I know that the guys know this too.
But maybe they know it too well.
I don't want to suggest the guys are cocky. I know most of them too well to suggest that. But after watching them play over the past two weeks, I sometimes wonder if they might be too confident.
The Eagles are 3-3 after their world-beating performance against Whitfield. Let's recap these 6 games. Very quickly.
February 7: The boys follow up an amazing win with a disappointing loss to Crossroads, a talented, but beatable team. Poor shooting and rebounding are big reasons for the loss.
February 9: One of the most anticipated games of the year, the Eagles lay an egg against a very weak Westminster team. First loss on the home floor in Mr. Meers' three years of coaching.
February 12: The Eagles come away with a very impressive road win against district rival Winfield, their second victory at Winfield this year. Riding Andrew Frank's monster fourth quarter, the Eagles prove their dominance against the only team that seems to challenge their shot at a district title.
February 15: A 16-point victory on the road against a GAC opponent was, in reality, a 30-point walloping. Huge nights from Adam Glenville, Blake Meers, and Brendan Norwine are the highlights (also, Evan Marcks gets his first varsity points.)
February 17: The Eagles improve on their winning streak by beating a weakened-by-graduation Brentwood squad. A close game throughout, the Eagles pull away in the end. Frank and Meers combine for 42 of 59 points.
February 19: Once again, the Eagles fall at home. North County Tech revenges their loss in the first game of the year with a 15-point victory.
In case you weren't paying attention, that's 1-2 since the Whitfield win. In the last two weeks, the Eagles have lost 2 more games at home then they have in the past two years. Add those two wins, and they are sporting a 16-6 record heading into the last week of the regular season. Instead, they are 14-8, which is in no way bad. But, in my opinion, it's underachieving. After we all witnessed the win against state-ranked Whitfield Warriors, the Eagles were on the bubble for being ranked. This basically means the Eagles weren't in the Top 10 but the Top 20. 14th to be exact. That is very, very good. And I still believe that the Eagles could do even better. I feel like I should be seeing them in the Top 10. After I saw what they did to Whitfield, I know that they can beat ANY team in Class 3. And, folks, they are poised to do so. Districts are in one week and the Eagles have landed the #1 seed. Like I mentioned earlier, the only team that seems to have any realistic chance to knock off the Eagles is Winfield. The Eagles have beat Winfield twice. At Winfield. Sufficed to say, I am not worried about Winfield. Because the guys seem to have it together when they play the Warriors. However, I am worried about the games before that. This lack of urgency that I seem to notice when I watch the guys play is disturbing. No one wants this to be a repeat of last year. A disappointing end to a promising season, all because of one bad game. Simply put, the guys are running out of time to make sure that doesn't happen.
Now for the positive. Blake and Adam are both having the best years of their respective high school careers. Andrew is consistently producing. Brendan is improving. Fast. And the bench is starting to crank out some very good players. Zach and Lance have shown they can put up points. They just need to do it more consistently. This week the Eagles play teams with a combined 9-43 record (including Barat Academy on Monday night. Everyone be there. Please. They need to get theirs.) I see this as a PERFECT moment to slaughter some weaklings and at the same time work on things, areas that need improvement. And when I say work, I mean perfect. Because if the guys want to take the next step and shock MSHSAA Class 3, they're gonna need to be perfect like they were on February 4. And they have one week to do it. Because in 8 days, it's showtime. The ball is in their court, literally and figuratively. What will they do with it?
Now I want to get one thing straight. I thoroughly believe that this is the most talented boys basketball team that CHS has ever fielded (sorry alumni.) I see more potential on this team than any team I think I've ever watched. And I know others have seen it too (may I remind you of a certain February 4th victory over one Whitfield Academy?) And I know that the guys know this too.
But maybe they know it too well.
I don't want to suggest the guys are cocky. I know most of them too well to suggest that. But after watching them play over the past two weeks, I sometimes wonder if they might be too confident.
The Eagles are 3-3 after their world-beating performance against Whitfield. Let's recap these 6 games. Very quickly.
February 7: The boys follow up an amazing win with a disappointing loss to Crossroads, a talented, but beatable team. Poor shooting and rebounding are big reasons for the loss.
February 9: One of the most anticipated games of the year, the Eagles lay an egg against a very weak Westminster team. First loss on the home floor in Mr. Meers' three years of coaching.
February 12: The Eagles come away with a very impressive road win against district rival Winfield, their second victory at Winfield this year. Riding Andrew Frank's monster fourth quarter, the Eagles prove their dominance against the only team that seems to challenge their shot at a district title.
February 15: A 16-point victory on the road against a GAC opponent was, in reality, a 30-point walloping. Huge nights from Adam Glenville, Blake Meers, and Brendan Norwine are the highlights (also, Evan Marcks gets his first varsity points.)
February 17: The Eagles improve on their winning streak by beating a weakened-by-graduation Brentwood squad. A close game throughout, the Eagles pull away in the end. Frank and Meers combine for 42 of 59 points.
February 19: Once again, the Eagles fall at home. North County Tech revenges their loss in the first game of the year with a 15-point victory.
In case you weren't paying attention, that's 1-2 since the Whitfield win. In the last two weeks, the Eagles have lost 2 more games at home then they have in the past two years. Add those two wins, and they are sporting a 16-6 record heading into the last week of the regular season. Instead, they are 14-8, which is in no way bad. But, in my opinion, it's underachieving. After we all witnessed the win against state-ranked Whitfield Warriors, the Eagles were on the bubble for being ranked. This basically means the Eagles weren't in the Top 10 but the Top 20. 14th to be exact. That is very, very good. And I still believe that the Eagles could do even better. I feel like I should be seeing them in the Top 10. After I saw what they did to Whitfield, I know that they can beat ANY team in Class 3. And, folks, they are poised to do so. Districts are in one week and the Eagles have landed the #1 seed. Like I mentioned earlier, the only team that seems to have any realistic chance to knock off the Eagles is Winfield. The Eagles have beat Winfield twice. At Winfield. Sufficed to say, I am not worried about Winfield. Because the guys seem to have it together when they play the Warriors. However, I am worried about the games before that. This lack of urgency that I seem to notice when I watch the guys play is disturbing. No one wants this to be a repeat of last year. A disappointing end to a promising season, all because of one bad game. Simply put, the guys are running out of time to make sure that doesn't happen.
Now for the positive. Blake and Adam are both having the best years of their respective high school careers. Andrew is consistently producing. Brendan is improving. Fast. And the bench is starting to crank out some very good players. Zach and Lance have shown they can put up points. They just need to do it more consistently. This week the Eagles play teams with a combined 9-43 record (including Barat Academy on Monday night. Everyone be there. Please. They need to get theirs.) I see this as a PERFECT moment to slaughter some weaklings and at the same time work on things, areas that need improvement. And when I say work, I mean perfect. Because if the guys want to take the next step and shock MSHSAA Class 3, they're gonna need to be perfect like they were on February 4. And they have one week to do it. Because in 8 days, it's showtime. The ball is in their court, literally and figuratively. What will they do with it?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Home, Sweet Home
Judy Garland couldn't have said it better. With a light blue dress and those ridiculous red heels, she echoed one of the most famous lines, not only in Hollywood, but quite possibly in history. "There's no place like home."
And, boy, do the guys of the Christian High School Eagles know it.
When Dave Meers stepped up and took over the role of varsity coach in the 2008-2009 season, the CHS gymnasium became a place of fear for visiting opponents. Spanning since the '08-'09 season, the Eagles had captured 23 straight home victories. And while there had been some close calls, the Eagles had, for the most part, easily dominated their opponents on their home floor.
But it really isn't a streak until you defeat a ranked school with a reputation for a great basketball team. Right?
Well, Coach Meers, you can check that off your list.
On Friday night, the Eagles triumphed over the Whitfield Warriors, the 8th ranked small school in Missouri. The Warriors had knocked off teams such as Cardinal Ritter (and their D-1 bound forward), Ladue (twice), and GAC schools Zumwalt West and St. Charles West. In one of the most anticipated games of the season, the Eagles not only won...they rolled. The Eagles were sharp in every facet of the game tonight and they dominated everywhere, from the perimeter to the paint. The result? A 61-50 victory that sent the Warriors away, deflated and shocked. I can remember seeing the faces of the players on both teams. As you can guess, both teams carried a different visage. Whitfield was stunned. They were ranked. They were fast. They could shoot. So to them, the question that dominated their face was something along the lines of, "What just happened?"
The Eagles' faces carried the response.
"That just happened."
The Eagles were pumped. Not only were most of their faces covered in ear-to-ear smiles, they were waving their fellow students in to crowd around them. I've never seen anything like what I saw on the faces of the guys tonight. This wasn't just another victory. This wasn't even a great victory. This was something special.
Led by Adam Glenville, the starters contributed every point of the game (Glenville 21, Frank 18, Meers 7, Pickett 8, Norwine 7.) And tonight the Eagles put up 61 of the smartest points they have put up all season. How so you may ask? They found the holes and weaknesses of the Whitfield defense, namely, the paint. Meers, Pickett and Glenville dominated the glass tonight, combining for 25 boards. The Eagles had the clear size advantage and used it to tear apart that wall in the Warrior's defense. Another impressive part of the Eagles game tonight was their shot selection. Unfortunately I don't have all the stats at this point, but the guys' passes were crisp, controlled and accurate. They had great court vision and were quick enough to fool the Warrior's quick guards. And while the Eagles didn't fire up as many threes tonight (nor did they make as many), the threes they did hit came at key points in the game. I remember two specifically. In the first quarter, Glenville knocked home a trey that put the Eagles in a solid position to start the game. Another big three came at the hands of Blake Meers (or, as he was deemed tonight, Jimmer.) Late in the game, when the Eagles had scrapped their way to a small lead, Jimmer buried a top-of-the-key three. This was a nail in the Warrior's coffin and from that point on, the Eagles had the upper-hand. And finally, the Eagles ball-handling was great. Guards Brendan Norwine and Andrew Frank did a great job of moving the ball as far as they could before dishing it off and keeping their moves tight and low. This never gave the fast hands of the opponents to get a clean shot at the ball, and when they did, they fouled. All pieces that worked to create a beautiful puzzle.
Yes, Dorothy, there is no place like home.
But does this win transcend the Eagles' dominance at home? Does it show growth?
I talked to Coach Dave Lehmann after the game and he talked about what he thought was going to be the turning point of the season, the loss to then undefeated St. Louis Christian Cougars. He mentioned how it was the first complete game that the Eagles had played and how the guys were getting used to a faster-paced speed of the game. Well, was Coach Lehmann right about the game? Well here's a telling stat that I think proves his point...
In the three games that the Eagles have played since the St. Louis Christian loss, The Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 12.333 points. Not much, you say? Well when the opponents are Gateway Tech, Fox, and Whitfield, I don't think there's much of an argument anymore.
Now, the rest of the season won't be easy for the Eagles. They still have to face teams like Crossroads, Westminster, Brentwood, and Timberland. Westminster and Brentwood come to CHS. Crossroads and T-Land will be on the road. But other than that, the Eagles are in the home stretch, peaking at the right time; right before districts. If the Eagles can win out, they will enter a weak district with a 20-5 record, most likely earning themselves a #1 seed and a first round bye. And while nothing is guaranteed, there's nothing right now that says the Eagles can't do it. They're playing inspired basketball and it seems like they will get even better. They're becoming a team to fear. And this goes for the on the road as well as home.
Whitfield just had to learn the hard way I suppose.
And, boy, do the guys of the Christian High School Eagles know it.
When Dave Meers stepped up and took over the role of varsity coach in the 2008-2009 season, the CHS gymnasium became a place of fear for visiting opponents. Spanning since the '08-'09 season, the Eagles had captured 23 straight home victories. And while there had been some close calls, the Eagles had, for the most part, easily dominated their opponents on their home floor.
But it really isn't a streak until you defeat a ranked school with a reputation for a great basketball team. Right?
Well, Coach Meers, you can check that off your list.
On Friday night, the Eagles triumphed over the Whitfield Warriors, the 8th ranked small school in Missouri. The Warriors had knocked off teams such as Cardinal Ritter (and their D-1 bound forward), Ladue (twice), and GAC schools Zumwalt West and St. Charles West. In one of the most anticipated games of the season, the Eagles not only won...they rolled. The Eagles were sharp in every facet of the game tonight and they dominated everywhere, from the perimeter to the paint. The result? A 61-50 victory that sent the Warriors away, deflated and shocked. I can remember seeing the faces of the players on both teams. As you can guess, both teams carried a different visage. Whitfield was stunned. They were ranked. They were fast. They could shoot. So to them, the question that dominated their face was something along the lines of, "What just happened?"
The Eagles' faces carried the response.
"That just happened."
The Eagles were pumped. Not only were most of their faces covered in ear-to-ear smiles, they were waving their fellow students in to crowd around them. I've never seen anything like what I saw on the faces of the guys tonight. This wasn't just another victory. This wasn't even a great victory. This was something special.
Led by Adam Glenville, the starters contributed every point of the game (Glenville 21, Frank 18, Meers 7, Pickett 8, Norwine 7.) And tonight the Eagles put up 61 of the smartest points they have put up all season. How so you may ask? They found the holes and weaknesses of the Whitfield defense, namely, the paint. Meers, Pickett and Glenville dominated the glass tonight, combining for 25 boards. The Eagles had the clear size advantage and used it to tear apart that wall in the Warrior's defense. Another impressive part of the Eagles game tonight was their shot selection. Unfortunately I don't have all the stats at this point, but the guys' passes were crisp, controlled and accurate. They had great court vision and were quick enough to fool the Warrior's quick guards. And while the Eagles didn't fire up as many threes tonight (nor did they make as many), the threes they did hit came at key points in the game. I remember two specifically. In the first quarter, Glenville knocked home a trey that put the Eagles in a solid position to start the game. Another big three came at the hands of Blake Meers (or, as he was deemed tonight, Jimmer.) Late in the game, when the Eagles had scrapped their way to a small lead, Jimmer buried a top-of-the-key three. This was a nail in the Warrior's coffin and from that point on, the Eagles had the upper-hand. And finally, the Eagles ball-handling was great. Guards Brendan Norwine and Andrew Frank did a great job of moving the ball as far as they could before dishing it off and keeping their moves tight and low. This never gave the fast hands of the opponents to get a clean shot at the ball, and when they did, they fouled. All pieces that worked to create a beautiful puzzle.
Yes, Dorothy, there is no place like home.
But does this win transcend the Eagles' dominance at home? Does it show growth?
I talked to Coach Dave Lehmann after the game and he talked about what he thought was going to be the turning point of the season, the loss to then undefeated St. Louis Christian Cougars. He mentioned how it was the first complete game that the Eagles had played and how the guys were getting used to a faster-paced speed of the game. Well, was Coach Lehmann right about the game? Well here's a telling stat that I think proves his point...
In the three games that the Eagles have played since the St. Louis Christian loss, The Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 12.333 points. Not much, you say? Well when the opponents are Gateway Tech, Fox, and Whitfield, I don't think there's much of an argument anymore.
Now, the rest of the season won't be easy for the Eagles. They still have to face teams like Crossroads, Westminster, Brentwood, and Timberland. Westminster and Brentwood come to CHS. Crossroads and T-Land will be on the road. But other than that, the Eagles are in the home stretch, peaking at the right time; right before districts. If the Eagles can win out, they will enter a weak district with a 20-5 record, most likely earning themselves a #1 seed and a first round bye. And while nothing is guaranteed, there's nothing right now that says the Eagles can't do it. They're playing inspired basketball and it seems like they will get even better. They're becoming a team to fear. And this goes for the on the road as well as home.
Whitfield just had to learn the hard way I suppose.
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