All season I've seen the scores from the Indianapolis Wildcats games. 100 plus point games are not uncommon. But all week I've heard coach Bialek's team is having trouble putting the ball in the basket. I enjoyed watching them play Tuesday and even during Wednesday's first half, even though they trailed Aggieland 38-24 early in the second half. But then the floodgates opened. By that I mean Indy's sharpshooting dynamos began to get hot from everywhere. And before I could count the number of points scored and the time it took to score them, Indy had taken control of the Class 3A gold ball championship game, claiming a 55-51 lead early in the fourth quarter.
My words won't do the Wildcats' justice. Watch the video above to see the onslaught. And the fact that Indy was able to put its run together against a team as good as Aggieland is all the more impressive.
On another note, I have officially hit the wall. After filming, taking pictures, making videos, writing and tweeting about 13 games in the past 31 hours, I will now take a break. Before deciding this, I filmed a decent amount of the CHSM-Kalamazoo game. So I edited and placed those clips below. Thank you for reading. I'll be back soon.
My game report of OKC's blowout win Tuesday was uninspired. It was difficult to give the guys a proper review with clips from a game in which the nation's best homeschool team led 64-24 at halftime. But I did write in that post that the Storm is the best high school team (along with one other) of any type I've seen in recent memory.
This statement caused a high school coaching friend back home (after he watched the highlights from Tuesday's game) to doubt my judgement. I guess he wasn't so impressed. Well if he is not impressed after seeing OKC's performance in Wednesday's gold ball game blowout win over one of homeschool's finest program's, Dallas HSAA, we will just have to agree to disagree.
In the highlights above, you'll see a well oiled machine. I don't know where to start. So I'll start on the perimeter, where 6'4" guard BJ Maxwell plays. Maxwell has a sweet shooting stroke, and he handles the ball like a point guard. He is fluid in attacking the basket and either finishing at the rim or in the mid range. And the fact that he routinely drops floaters and runners over defenders setting up to take the charge or challenge him at the rim makes his package complete.
Kole Talbott, who is one of the fiercest competitors I've seen, is a 6'3" guard who handles and passes the ball extremely well and knocks down long range jump shots. Talbott, guard Wyatt Dressler and power forward Mark Malone have played together since they were twelve. These three have been the heart and soul of OKC's squad for years. And they have established a wonderful culture for winning and excellence.
I haven't mentioned Jalone Friday, the 6'7" Bowling Green bound forward with solid footwork and post moves, and the ability to shoot from deep better than most guards. Or 6'7" Tevin Townsend, whose athleticism and skill allow him to punish teams in the open court and on the boards. And he guards opponents of all sizes and positions.
The OKC Storm is a truly impressive basketball program. It will not be soon that another one comes along like it.
Northwest Indy's Alex Long was fantastic Wednesday
I don't know if Northwest Indy coach Will Tolbert remembers telling me last year that he was ready to get his team "back to this place," referring to the showcase court on "gold ball day" at nationals. But one year later, his team was there. And they were ready! Alex Long played inspired basketball, leading his Warriors to a Class A gold ball championship Wednesday over the Green Country Defenders.
Coach Tolbert is not only one of the nicest guys every year in Springfield. He is also one of the best coaches. There have been times when his team plays a slower, more deliberate style. This team plays very fast. I heard Rob Flatt say on the broadcast of this game that the up tempo style Northwest Indy and the Indianapolis Wildcats play may be the "future of Indiana homeschool basketball." If this is so, it will be very entertaining!
But coach Tolbert is not the only coach hoping to have even more success this year than last. Jeff Francisco's Green Country Defenders won the entire tournament last season in a lower division. And despite playing without injured dynamo Devin Ponder, the Defenders advanced to Wednesday's gold ball game after beating top seeded KC Metro.
And after trailing by double digits early, the Defenders staged two comebacks, including one late in the game to have a chance to win on the final possession. But this year belonged to Northwest Indy just a little bit more than Green Country, although both teams played like true champs.
This is my sixth trip to Missouri for NCHBC tournaments. I've watched the Lakeshore Thunder play during five of those trips. I have come to expect the team to be well coached and patient. And I expect the players to be great passers and play makers. A long time favorite of mine is Zach Ramos. He is a very capable point guard. The type that teammates loved to play with. Jonah Stalker is another dependable producer. The Thunder dominated Wednesday's Class B gold ball game against Wright County. I look forward to seeing them again Thursday!
Tylery Endsley was fantastic in Butternut's gold ball win.
Butternut may be the "Hoosier story" Rob Flatt referred to in the NCHBC selection show last week. Playing with 7 players in the smallest classification, coach Steve Crouse's team plays the right way. What does that mean? It means they share the ball, they play hard, they constantly attack, and they have a great mastery of the game's fundamentals. Tyler Endsley and Isaac Crouse, both sons of Butternut's coaches, were electric in Wednesday's Class C gold ball game rout of Quincy. Congratulations to the team with one name!
I anticipated tuesday night's Class 6A semifinal round game between Dallas HSAA and MHEA (Memphis) being the day's most exciting. And it was! Dennis Robinson's driving score late in the fourth quarter sealed the win, and a spot in Wednesday's Class 6A gold ball game versus the OKC Storm, for Dallas. But both teams should be proud of the way they competed.
I watch a lot of high school basketball. Probably way too much. And I watch all kinds and all levels. I know there are probably high school teams better than the OKC Storm. Somewhere. But I can't think of any I've seen in person in the recent past. This team is very talented, very deep, and very disciplined. They are better than "the best homeschool team." They are the best team (actually tied with another I know) I've seen this season. I'll talk much more about the Storm this week. For now, I'll say they rolled over the Austin Royals Tuesday.
