Bulldogs in a DOGFIGHT... Go 3-0 on the night versus Jefferson
With my kids playing both high school basketball and JV middle school basketball, I can't make it to all of the games. Sometimes you just have to divide and conquer. After a stretch of 4 away games in a row that didn't have any Boy's JV, I've been missing seeing my WCMS Bulldogs play ball. I heard the game against Jefferson got a little physical - but I was not prepared for how physical it would be tonight. I'm all for "let 'em play Ref!" most of the time - but tonight got absolutely out of hand.
The first game up was the undefeated Boys JV. Not playing since their big November 13th win over Norwood's JV, would the younger boys be rusty? It was their lowest scoring effort out of their games so far - and Jefferson gave them a serious run for their money. The Bulldogs led the whole game until the 4th quarter. The Jefferson Eagles found a temporary weakness for the Bulldogs and started making life difficult to inbound the ball. With a flurry of quick turnovers and scores - the Eagles took the lead - getting up as much as 5 points at one point. The Bulldogs would shake off their temporary woes and come back with a flurry of scores of their own - ultimately coming out on top 24-21.
The next game up was the Girls Varsity. I had to step out to pick up my older son from basketball practice at the high school - and I got back right as the first quarter was ending. To my great surprise, the Lady Bulldogs were losing 14-2... That's not a typo - they scored 2 points in the first quarter of play. I was shocked to see us losing - as the Lady Dogs had beaten the Lady Eagles just over a week ago at Jefferson 48-36. This game was OUT OF HAND - as the Eagles had multiple girls in foul trouble and sprinted into the Bonus every quarter with their ultra-physical play. But like an expert fisherman with a prize fish on the line - the Bulldogs reeled them in slowly - ultimately putting the Eagles away with a 39-34 victory to improve to 8-2 on the season.
Last up were the Boys Varsity. The first meeting with Jefferson didn't go well at all as they lost 60-36. They let one player score 30+ in their first meeting BY HIMSELF. Tonight's meeting wouldn't see either team score 30. It was extremely physical as well. The refs' whistles seemed not to work - and the fanbase got restless. There was a tense feeling in the gym. When the refs don't blow the whistle, the play gets physical... and every point on both sides of the ball comes at a cost. With only 4 players scoring for the Bulldogs - a season low - we needed every clutch basket we could get. Isaac Sills handled the majority of the work with a team-high 17 points - but Marshall Blalock laid the law down going 3 of 4 from the free throw line deep in the 4th quarter when every point mattered... and Jaxon "The Cuban Missile" Williams hit a clutch corner-3 in the 4th that helped ice the game as well. The Bulldogs came out on top in this dogfight - 29-25.
Below are a few musings meant to entertain:
The first game up was the undefeated Boys JV. Not playing since their big November 13th win over Norwood's JV, would the younger boys be rusty? It was their lowest scoring effort out of their games so far - and Jefferson gave them a serious run for their money. The Bulldogs led the whole game until the 4th quarter. The Jefferson Eagles found a temporary weakness for the Bulldogs and started making life difficult to inbound the ball. With a flurry of quick turnovers and scores - the Eagles took the lead - getting up as much as 5 points at one point. The Bulldogs would shake off their temporary woes and come back with a flurry of scores of their own - ultimately coming out on top 24-21.
The next game up was the Girls Varsity. I had to step out to pick up my older son from basketball practice at the high school - and I got back right as the first quarter was ending. To my great surprise, the Lady Bulldogs were losing 14-2... That's not a typo - they scored 2 points in the first quarter of play. I was shocked to see us losing - as the Lady Dogs had beaten the Lady Eagles just over a week ago at Jefferson 48-36. This game was OUT OF HAND - as the Eagles had multiple girls in foul trouble and sprinted into the Bonus every quarter with their ultra-physical play. But like an expert fisherman with a prize fish on the line - the Bulldogs reeled them in slowly - ultimately putting the Eagles away with a 39-34 victory to improve to 8-2 on the season.
Last up were the Boys Varsity. The first meeting with Jefferson didn't go well at all as they lost 60-36. They let one player score 30+ in their first meeting BY HIMSELF. Tonight's meeting wouldn't see either team score 30. It was extremely physical as well. The refs' whistles seemed not to work - and the fanbase got restless. There was a tense feeling in the gym. When the refs don't blow the whistle, the play gets physical... and every point on both sides of the ball comes at a cost. With only 4 players scoring for the Bulldogs - a season low - we needed every clutch basket we could get. Isaac Sills handled the majority of the work with a team-high 17 points - but Marshall Blalock laid the law down going 3 of 4 from the free throw line deep in the 4th quarter when every point mattered... and Jaxon "The Cuban Missile" Williams hit a clutch corner-3 in the 4th that helped ice the game as well. The Bulldogs came out on top in this dogfight - 29-25.
Below are a few musings meant to entertain:
Hard to Look Tough on a Knee Scooter
The amount of time required to make a functioning, competitive team is substantial. For Head Coach Daniel Byrd and his staff, multiply that responsibility by 2! Byrd heads up both the Boys and Girls programs for Wartburg Central Middle School - and has them out to an 8-2 record for both (and an undefeated 4-0 for the Boys JV). But it might be taking its toll on the big man... Coach Byrd recently had foot surgery that has left him in a walking boot and a knee scooter. There's something about being in a hard fought, dogfight of a game - and then wheeling off the court and into the locker room at halftime in a knee scooter. We at least need to deck it out like a chariot heading to the Gladiator Games... get that man some armor on the outside of that scooter - and some spikes coming off the wheels. It's hard to look tough on a knee scooter - so it's that much more important to win the games. Get well soon Coach Byrd!
Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
Over the last 6 games - Killa' Kam Melton has been on a tear with 60 points in that stretch. She's the leader in the clubhouse in a tight points race with 78, and led the team with 11 tonight. Those points didn't come without bruises, however, as Melton appeared to be targeted - getting shoved to the ground from behind, at one point, 3 times in a row. I'm not talking a little push... I'm talking the kind of shove that sent her across the floor like she was on a slip-n-slide.
Another Wartburg athlete that has made herself indispensable is Ellie Ritter. Ritter is the consistent presence down low that can make or break a team in the tough moments. She was in a physical battle from the word, "Go!" in this one - but she held her own and kept her cool despite the physical Eagles. Ritter is one of three 8th graders on the team with 70+ points... and her rebound count has got to be off the charts.
Another Wartburg athlete that has made herself indispensable is Ellie Ritter. Ritter is the consistent presence down low that can make or break a team in the tough moments. She was in a physical battle from the word, "Go!" in this one - but she held her own and kept her cool despite the physical Eagles. Ritter is one of three 8th graders on the team with 70+ points... and her rebound count has got to be off the charts.
Isaac Sills... MVP?
It may seem like lazy reporting to talk about Isaac Sills having a big impact on the game... I mean, it's every game... But that's what makes it impressive. He is the epitome of a player that the other team knows is coming - and yet they still can't stop him. On his 9th double-digit scoring effort out of 10 games - Sills is now sitting on 146 points for the season. To put that into perspective - that's:
- just short of double the Lady Bulldogs' leader (Kam Melton - 78)
- just short of triple the Bulldogs' 2nd best scorer (Kayman Fritts - 50)
So - Sills for District MVP??? I didn't just say it... I declared it!
- just short of double the Lady Bulldogs' leader (Kam Melton - 78)
- just short of triple the Bulldogs' 2nd best scorer (Kayman Fritts - 50)
So - Sills for District MVP??? I didn't just say it... I declared it!
Gritty Wins Across the Board
Every win of the night were some of the most impressive victories of the season. For the Boys JV - they showed grit and determination. When things started falling apart late - they made some adjustments and charged back into the game with a fury. For the girls - they were down so big early, I wasn't sure they'd be able to come back. But they hung in there and fought and clawed their way back into it. At one point, my wife said, "I feel like they have that "late-in-the-4th-quarter" energy - but it's only late in the third quarter... I hope they don't peak too soon." It was a reasonable fear for the girls as they were charging with all they could muster. But they never let up - and by the end of the game - there was no question which way this one was heading. And for the boys... they came into this one with only 2 losses on the season... but one of those losses was a BIG loss to this Jefferson team. Rather than come in intimidated or beat - they came in with a game plan and executed. Everyone played their part - and they toughed out a grueling victory over a challenging opponent. The point is... Any team can manufacture wins in the easy ones... but great teams find ways to win the hard ones. We may be watching greatness unfold...
That's it for this time! I hope you've enjoyed the DogBlitz... Next up is a home game against Sunbright on Thursday, Dec. 4 where we will see a Girls JV game starting at 5:30 with Varsity games to follow!
Go Dogs!
