The Blame Game
Kingston trips on way to finals. The Cardinals season was ended last night, when they lost to Parkway Christian in the State Quarterfinals, 60-55.
After 24 straight wins, the only loss of the season for the Cards is the one game thay they will all remember for the rest of their lives.
I wasn't there (I was in the office putting the paper together) but I listened to the game on the radio and I spoke to Jon, who called the game on 92.1.
The general consensus about the game appears to be this...Parkway was too quick for the Cards and Kingston committed around 22-24 turnovers in the game, which is uncharacteristic for the Cardinals.
But, with that being said, Kingston's stats were built against the slower players they faced in the NCTL, so we really had no idea what their ballhandlers were capable of doing until last night.
Truth be told, the Cardinals went up against their first quality opponent of the year last night, a team that was probably similar in talent to the Cards, and in the end, Kingston just came up a little short.
Just because they lost, that does nothing to diminish what they accomplished this season.
To blame the loss on the Cardinals schedule is insulting.
I have been an outspoken opponent of Kingston participating in the NCTL, but I don't believe that is what doomed them last night.
Yes, it would have been nice to see them play some tougher teams in the regular season, and I do believe that in the long run that playing against tougher opposition would have made them a better team, but does that necessarily translate into a win last night against Parkway.
Playing against tougher teams makes you a better team, not faster.
If Parkway was quicker than the Cardinals, than it wouldn't have mattered if Kingston had played seven or more non-conference games against Class A or Class B teams like Flint SWA or Bridgeport.
Just like speed cannot be coached, it also it very difficult to coach against.
A great team, like Kingston, regardless of the talent level, can be neutralized when facing an opponent with superior speed.
Sounds like that was the case last night, and no matter who Kingston would have played in the regular, it just sounds as if the loss was meant to be.
That's all.
Should they or shouldn't they? Now that the genie is out of the bottle, I guess there's no harm in telling everyone.
Next Wednesday, on March 28, the 2006-07 All-Thumb basketball teams will be announced.
I'm not going to release who made it, but it's not a secret any longer who won the team of year.
Since we had two undefeated teams in the All-Thumb area, the Thumb Sportswriters Association took the noble road (and probably the smart one) and decided that instead of choosing between the two, that we name Cros-Lex and Kingston as co-teams of the year.
Having to choose between two 20-0 teams was something that no one at the meeting wanted to do, which made me glad, because I sure didn't want to have to pick.
Last night, Sandusky Tribune editor Dave Frederick presented Cros-Lex the team of the year trophy at their sports banquet and it seems as though the Pioneers are not happy about being named as co-team of the year.
They want to decide it on the court.
Is this a wise idea?
I think it would be fun and I have no doubt that the game would attract a lot of fans (it has been suggested to play the game next week at Sandusky)...but do we need to settle this on the court? Why do we have a desire to always need a clear cut champion at the top? Is it really that awful to share such an honor as team of the year?
If two players were chosen as co-players of the year, would we make them play a game of one-on-one to decide the better player? Maybe a game of horse? Maybe a free throw contest?
I've heard the two were supposed to scrimmage during the regular season, and that that contest never panned out, but even if it had, that's no way to decide who's better.
I would like to see the game, I guess, but as for me, the team of year has already been decided, regardless of the outcome of a scrimmage.
Check out the TCA website. All content was updated this morning, including the All-Thumb volleyball teams and the player of the year article. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it.
After 24 straight wins, the only loss of the season for the Cards is the one game thay they will all remember for the rest of their lives.
I wasn't there (I was in the office putting the paper together) but I listened to the game on the radio and I spoke to Jon, who called the game on 92.1.
The general consensus about the game appears to be this...Parkway was too quick for the Cards and Kingston committed around 22-24 turnovers in the game, which is uncharacteristic for the Cardinals.
But, with that being said, Kingston's stats were built against the slower players they faced in the NCTL, so we really had no idea what their ballhandlers were capable of doing until last night.
Truth be told, the Cardinals went up against their first quality opponent of the year last night, a team that was probably similar in talent to the Cards, and in the end, Kingston just came up a little short.
Just because they lost, that does nothing to diminish what they accomplished this season.
To blame the loss on the Cardinals schedule is insulting.
I have been an outspoken opponent of Kingston participating in the NCTL, but I don't believe that is what doomed them last night.
Yes, it would have been nice to see them play some tougher teams in the regular season, and I do believe that in the long run that playing against tougher opposition would have made them a better team, but does that necessarily translate into a win last night against Parkway.
Playing against tougher teams makes you a better team, not faster.
If Parkway was quicker than the Cardinals, than it wouldn't have mattered if Kingston had played seven or more non-conference games against Class A or Class B teams like Flint SWA or Bridgeport.
Just like speed cannot be coached, it also it very difficult to coach against.
A great team, like Kingston, regardless of the talent level, can be neutralized when facing an opponent with superior speed.
Sounds like that was the case last night, and no matter who Kingston would have played in the regular, it just sounds as if the loss was meant to be.
That's all.
Should they or shouldn't they? Now that the genie is out of the bottle, I guess there's no harm in telling everyone.
Next Wednesday, on March 28, the 2006-07 All-Thumb basketball teams will be announced.
I'm not going to release who made it, but it's not a secret any longer who won the team of year.
Since we had two undefeated teams in the All-Thumb area, the Thumb Sportswriters Association took the noble road (and probably the smart one) and decided that instead of choosing between the two, that we name Cros-Lex and Kingston as co-teams of the year.
Having to choose between two 20-0 teams was something that no one at the meeting wanted to do, which made me glad, because I sure didn't want to have to pick.
Last night, Sandusky Tribune editor Dave Frederick presented Cros-Lex the team of the year trophy at their sports banquet and it seems as though the Pioneers are not happy about being named as co-team of the year.
They want to decide it on the court.
Is this a wise idea?
I think it would be fun and I have no doubt that the game would attract a lot of fans (it has been suggested to play the game next week at Sandusky)...but do we need to settle this on the court? Why do we have a desire to always need a clear cut champion at the top? Is it really that awful to share such an honor as team of the year?
If two players were chosen as co-players of the year, would we make them play a game of one-on-one to decide the better player? Maybe a game of horse? Maybe a free throw contest?
I've heard the two were supposed to scrimmage during the regular season, and that that contest never panned out, but even if it had, that's no way to decide who's better.
I would like to see the game, I guess, but as for me, the team of year has already been decided, regardless of the outcome of a scrimmage.
Check out the TCA website. All content was updated this morning, including the All-Thumb volleyball teams and the player of the year article. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it.
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