35 replies to this topic

[grub]

Four way tie with a 4-1 league record. Leipsic a game back.

Arcadia
The Evil Empire
The Cookie Monsters
Arlington

Who ya got?

[JAB]

The national cemetery or the evil empire

[PostPlayer]

Tough call...

Arlington has to play McComb and Arcadia (and PG)
LB has to play McComb and Arcadia
Arcadia has to play LB and Arlington

Something has to give. Leipsic has to sit back and hope everyone beats each other up. I think Arlington is the spoiler, but man this team somehow gets it done so I am optimistic but a tall task. Arcadia has the best player in the league in Palmer, and McComb has plenty of talent/height to get it done. It seems LB is getting it together with Simon emerging as their leading scorer.

Certainly makes for an interesting finish...Go Red Devils.

[lepiota]

"Where's your Moses now!"

From the late, great, but obviously miscast Edward G. Robinson in The Ten Commandments.

[NDLOVER]

Leipsic sorely misses their point guard who is out with injury. They have girls playing out of position and it's not helping. Thinking they are done as far as a league championship.

Lb just might be getting their act together. Have Carey, Kalida, Lima Bath, and Mccomb yet this month. Time will tell.

Coaching will catch up with Mccomb. A-town may just be a hair short on talent but not on effort.

Thinking it comes down to last week of league play when LB travels to Arcadia.

[rstefosu07]

I wouldn't count out Leipsic quite yet. It's entirely conceivable they could end up in a tie at the end of the year. Arlington, Arcadia, LB, and McComb still have to play each other quite a bit. Leipsic has already finished playing the top half of the conference and they're left with just the bottom dwellers.

[countyballer]

After defeating McComb last night, Arcadia is in the driver's seat for the conference title. Their backcourt will have no issues with LB's guards. If Arlington executes Newlove's game plan then they'll will give Arcadia fits, but Arcadia's backcourt is to good. My prediction for the final finish is: 1) Arcadia; 2 & 3 (tie)) Arlington & McComb; 4 & 5 (tie)) LB and Leipsic.

[veteranlefty]

Winner of LB-Arcadia wins it

[DonnyDonuts]

Like I said at the end of last season I will take any team that Miranda Palmer is on !!

[Grace]

Its great to see a tight race in the BVC this year. This is a tough one but I can't go against my precious eaglettes. As Post-eee and a couple others have said LB is getting it together so with that said the pick is LB.

[PostPlayer]

Grace - good to see you back on Rocketcorner...it's been awhile!

Yes, your Eagles are trending upwards but that team is so tough for me to figure out. Myers has the weight of the world on her shoulders with all of the expectations (replacing Craft, getting DI offers, etc) and in my opinion has played like it. SImon is obviously very talented and has been a nice surprise in leading the team in scoring, etc. However...this team had (when I watched) some significant flaws that LB is not used to...in particular, defending quick teams. LB has lots of size and Myers is good up top, but they really lack another guard that can defend b/c Simon and the other tall girl aren't so hot in defending and are very slow. This makes them very vulnerable defensively against teams that are strong up top and have quick post players.

When Arlington beat LB early this year - it was primarily a matchup situation...no one could guard Heaster and we took advantage of that down low. I suspect that is the recipe for defeating LB - get one of the bigs on a forward and isolate them.

Irwin is a top 3 coach in the BVC - he will get them going and apparently is. I just think there are flaws in this team on the defensive end, and if for some reason Simon or Myers gets in foul trouble (particularly Myers) - it could be a tough night. The Arcadia game will be interesting to me - they have exactly what I think will give LB fits, but we will see.

Good luck - it is setting up for an exciting year in the BVC. And by the way, how the heck is Arlington sitting at 10-3 and 1 loss in conference??? I think we all know the answer to that one! Go Red Devils...

[NDLOVER]

Yes, Myers has lots of pressure this year. However this is not new for an Irwin team. Craft faced the same situation her junior year, replacing Hyde, and struggled early with the role. Myers will come around soon like Craft did.

Defense is weak as Post says. Defensive rebounding is also a problem. The bigs like to rely on their height and not box out and move to the ball. The biggest problem is chemistry IMO. Just don't see the togetherness as in years past. If they realize as a team they can be a very nice bball squad it would help. Also would be nice if some scoring would show up from the rest of the girls. I'm sure this season has given Irwin a few gray hairs trying to find the right combination. As said before they have looked better the last few games and will see what happens.

Gracie- What is the daughter doing now?

[countyballer]

Post...LB attempted to play some zone against Arlington. A good zone requires a lot of communication. LB players do not communicate in man to man or zone. They don't call out picks for each other in their man to man. Irwin spends a lot of time calling out the picks on the side line. He had to do this last year too.

LB's team defensive issues start on the perimeter and work inward. LB guards do not deny the post entry pass and do not dig down to help out. Both post and guards do a poor job of jamming cutters and allowing face cuts. The help defense is non existent and was lacking last year too. The lack of defensive help makes their defensive rotations slow. I don't think Simon and Kotey are slow. I think they often get caught in over committing on help taking them out of position on their player.

[PostPlayer]

countyballer, on 14 January 2013 - 12:22 PM, said:

Post...LB attempted to play some zone against Arlington. A good zone requires a lot of communication. LB players do not communicate in man to man or zone. They don't call out picks for each other in their man to man. Irwin spends a lot of time calling out the picks on the side line. He had to do this last year too.

LB's team defensive issues start on the perimeter and work inward. LB guards do not deny the post entry pass and do not dig down to help out. Both post and guards do a poor job of jamming cutters and allowing face cuts. The help defense is non existent and was lacking last year too. The lack of defensive help makes their defensive rotations slow. I don't think Simon and Kotey are slow. I think they often get caught in over committing on help taking them out of position on their player.

I am sure you are closer than I to the root issues, but we both agree that something didn't look/feel right about their defense this year. The question is whether or not it improves later this year or next year, as it appears most of the girls are back next year for what would appear to be a legit run at the BVC championship next year. Lots of experience and good players back and the likes of McComb and Arcadia will be down next year significantly.

[Common Sense]

countyballer, on 14 January 2013 - 12:22 PM, said:

Post...LB attempted to play some zone against Arlington. A good zone requires a lot of communication. LB players do not communicate in man to man or zone. They don't call out picks for each other in their man to man. Irwin spends a lot of time calling out the picks on the side line. He had to do this last year too.

LB's team defensive issues start on the perimeter and work inward. LB guards do not deny the post entry pass and do not dig down to help out. Both post and guards do a poor job of jamming cutters and allowing face cuts. The help defense is non existent and was lacking last year too. The lack of defensive help makes their defensive rotations slow. I don't think Simon and Kotey are slow. I think they often get caught in over committing on help taking them out of position on their player.

99% of girls high school teams would never accomplish these things. Many college teams don't do a good job of these things. Recognition, anticipation and communication, easy to say, hard to do. Especially during live action.

[grub]

Actually, it's quite easy to do.........from the stands.

[countyballer]

Common Sense, on 14 January 2013 - 02:55 PM, said:

99% of girls high school teams would never accomplish these things. Many college teams don't do a good job of these things. Recognition, anticipation and communication, easy to say, hard to do. Especially during live action.

Common Sense & Grub...I would suggest that if your schedules permit drive over to Berlin Hiland this weekend. You will see 20 games with teams deploying these defensive fundamentals.

[Common Sense]

countyballer, on 14 January 2013 - 04:20 PM, said:

Common Sense & Grub...I would suggest that if your schedules permit drive over to Berlin Hiland this weekend. You will see 20 games with teams deploying these defensive fundamentals.

Among the best teams in the state of Ohio and surrounding states...Completely different set of circumstances. That's like comparing high school gymnastics to going to the Olympic training center in Colorado and watching those athletes.

[Grace]

NDLOVER, on 13 January 2013 - 02:53 PM, said:

Yes, Myers has lots of pressure this year. However this is not new for an Irwin team. Craft faced the same situation her junior year, replacing Hyde, and struggled early with the role. Myers will come around soon like Craft did.

Defense is weak as Post says. Defensive rebounding is also a problem. The bigs like to rely on their height and not box out and move to the ball. The biggest problem is chemistry IMO. Just don't see the togetherness as in years past. If they realize as a team they can be a very nice bball squad it would help. Also would be nice if some scoring would show up from the rest of the girls. I'm sure this season has given Irwin a few gray hairs trying to find the right combination. As said before they have looked better the last few games and will see what happens.

Gracie- What is the daughter doing now?

Thanks Post-eee!! I'll probably hang around on here until slice-ster or flound-eee kick me off! North Dakato Lover hit it on the head pretty much as in "team chemistry". This particular type of issue is nothing uncommon though. I'm fairly confident Coach Irwin will pull out the glue and piece it together, just hoping not to late. Craft & Hyde are special players that have thrived on big games and pressure. Not all girls can get to that level mental wise especially in girls BB. R. Myers has the goods and I honestly believe she will do fine leading the team. On a personal note she is a fine outstanding young lady raised by great parents!! To be honest I'm not real close to the LB BB program as in the past years so my comments are only opinions of mine through conversations with others close to the team. Coach Irwin might be sporting some grey hairs but I'm sure he is more concerned about keeping the hair than changing colors.

Gracie JR the daughter to Gracie Sr. has finished college and is working with me part-time and also another company part-time. Bottom line, she is not busy enough in my book.

[redbird]

PostPlayer, on 14 January 2013 - 01:54 PM, said:

I am sure you are closer than I to the root issues, but we both agree that something didn't look/feel right about their defense this year. The question is whether or not it improves later this year or next year, as it appears most of the girls are back next year for what would appear to be a legit run at the BVC championship next year. Lots of experience and good players back and the likes of McComb and Arcadia will be down next year significantly.

If I read the paper correctly, doesn't Leipsic return all but one player next year too?