Indianapolis's thrilling comeback win and clips from CHSM-Kalamazoo

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.

OKC Storm claims the 6A Gold Ball

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 wins gold ball game over Green Country: Game Report

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.

Lakeshore routs Wright County in gold ball action: Game Report

Zack Ramos of Lakeshore Thunder

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!

Game Report: Butternut captures the Class C gold ball!

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!

Game Report: Dallas edges MHEA in thriller

Robinson was Tuesday's hero.

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.

Game Report: OKC Storm rolls!

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.

Double Game Report!: Tulsa and Nashville advance to face each other in gold ball round

St Louis couldn't quite run down
Tulsa NOAH Tuesday

When I saw the tournament brackets, I circled a possible Wednesday night Class 5A gold ball championship game between the two top seeds, Tulsa NOAH and Nashville.  Well, after two fantastic semifinal games, I'll get the game I anticipated.  But the road to Wednesday's round was not easy.




After jumping out to a 21-10 advantage over the St Louis Blue Knights, Tulsa saw its lead shrink to 1 (31-30) near the end of the third quarter.  A late flurry gave NOAH the win, but it was certainly hard fought.  And Nashville trailed OKC Storm North 30-19 before one of NCHBC's best players, Caleb Hollander, seemingly converted every opportunity he got in the paint during the second half.  This performance was especially impressive because he played the entire second half with three (eventually four) fouls.

Nashville's Hollander willed the
Warriors to a gold ball game spot

Wednesday's gold ball round finale should be a great one!

After furious Memphis comeback, CHSM holds on... Advances to gold ball

CHSM's Nathan Fontenot did it all in Tuesday's win

The CHSM Crimson Knights sprinted out to an early lead over Memphis Metro, leading 56-39 at one point in the third quarter.  Memphis staged a furious comeback and eventually reduced the deficit to 74-72.  But CHSM was able to make free throws and get enough stops late to advance to the Class 4A gold ball game Wednesday.

CHSM is a very deep team.  All of the players play with a purpose and share the ball.  Sophomore Nathan Fontenot led that charge Tuesday.  In addition to running the offense and regularly breaking down the Memphis Metro defense, he made the free throws that separated his Crimson Knights in the final seconds.

Kalamazoo advances after a late comeback!

With the exception of a flurry or two, the 4th seeded Dallas Thunder controlled the action throughout Tuesday's 4A semifinal round contest, nearly earning a win over top seeded Kalamazoo and a place in Wednesday's gold ball game...

I typed that paragraph after Dallas took a 46-37 lead.  I should have known better than to take my eyes off the action.  It was at this point when Kalamazoo made a furious comeback to cut Dallas's lead to 1 point.  The video above is missing that comeback.  Silly me.  I was typing while the guys on the court were playing their hearts out.  But I turned the camera on in time to see a great exchange of baskets that eventually led to Kalamazoo's capturing the win to advance to Wednesday's gold ball game against the winner of CHSM and Memphis Metro.

Game Report: Noah Oetjn leads Indy to gold ball game with a win overTHESA

Indy's Noah Oetjn was all smiles
Tuesday... Rightfully so!

The Indy Wildcats play fast!  But they do so while appearing under control at all times.  Judging from Tuesday's Class 4A semifinal win over THESA, I will attribute the team's ability to run and gun while at the same time getting great shots to Noah Oetjn's mastery of the game's finer points.  Oetjn whipped left handed passes to teammates, buried jumpers shots from all angles and distances, and even made a nifty post finish with his left hand.

After seeing Indy post near 100 point games throughout the season, I suspect that Tuesday's game, in which Indy and THESA both scored in the 60's, was not one of Indy's best scoring games.  That alone would worry me were I am Aggieland fan.

Indy and Aggieland will meet Wednesday in the Class 4A gold ball game.

Game Report: Aggieland defeats Saline County

Aggieland's Allen is a force inside

I entered this game anxious to see Saline County's Michael Higginbotham and Aggieland's 6'10"center Jeremiah Allen.  Those two did not disappoint.  But I was struck by how complete both teams are.  This was a fast paced and well played game.  And early in the game, it appeared as though my prediction, shared privately with Rob Flatt, that Higginbotham and the Warriors would pull off the 4 vs 1 upset over the Texas state champs would play out.

Cal Evans constantly finds teammates

But I should have known better than to prematurely judge Aggieland.  Allen asserted himself nicely inside and his teammates got him the ball in great positions.  But as good as Allen was, the play of point guard Cal Evans was the catalyst that sparked Aggieland's comeback that turned a second quarter 29-24 deficit into a second half 52-44 lead.  Evans is fun to watch.  He handles the ball extremely well and seems to thrive off making his teammates successful. 

Great point guard and great post play is a combination any coach's dream.  Add the skilled and intelligent players surrounding these two on Aggieland's perimeter and you have a good recipe for success this week in Springfield.

NCHBC Live Coverage from Springfield, MO

I am a proud former NCHBC coach (GAIS Eagles) and a forever fan of the national championship tournament.  Blogging about high school basketball (with articles, videos, pictures, shows, etc) is something I regularly do in my hometown of Augusta, Georgia.  And it's something I've done at times in Springfield.  This is one of those weeks!

I am thrilled to be back in Springfield for the 2015 homeschool hoops national championship tourney.  I missed Monday's round.  But I plan to provide live coverage of the action every day after.  I do my best work when I am familiar with the teams playing, so I will concentrate much of my time on the varsity boys showcase courts.  But I will certainly also follow as much girls varsity action as possible because I know enough to be dangerous covering that group as well.

If you watch my coverage and like it, and if you want to help me expand my knowledge to other age groups, please don't hesitate to introduce yourself to me and help me get educated enough to spend some productive time in other gyms.  I haven't studied the schedules enough to be certain but I'll assume it's correct that by frequenting the most meaningful boys and girls varsity games, especially later in the week, I'll see my share of 16u-12u championship action to be of service to a wide range of NCHBC hoops loving families and fans.

I will "live tweet" the action I witness in Springfield from the @NCHBCLive and/or my @AugBball Twitter account.  And I will blog about it  here.

If you like the videos, pictures, and stories and you want me to make custom videos of specific players or team, please contact me or approach me in the gym for product and pricing information.

Here is my contact information:

Chad Cook

(706) 550-2229

cookchad08@gmail.com

I plan to spend Tuesday covering the following 18u Boys Gold Ball semifinal games at Hillcrest (this schedule is NOT official.  Forgive me if I get a time or a team wrong):

10:45 - Aggieland vs Saline Co

12:10 - Indy Wildcats vs THESA

1:35 - Kalamazoo vs Dallas Thunder

3:00 - Memphis Metro vs CHSM

4:25 - Tulsa NOAH vs St Louis BK

5:50 - Nashville vs OKC Storm North

7:15 - OKC Storm vs vs Austin/IL

8:40 - Dallas HSAA vs MHEA

If the internet connection works well enough, you'll be hearing from me all week.  Like I say to the basketball fans back home... I'll see you in the gym!

Game 1 Live Blog:

Aggieland vs Saline County