C4-5 NWMO Sectionals

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

As all here know C4 is tomorrow: Kearney over Nevada. Not being a homer at all with this pick. It is the next round that will be the major, major test for the Lady Dogs.

Benton over Lincoln Prep. The NWMO C4 game of the year part II. Both returned the house from last year's playoff runs and faced off this past January with the Cards winning with surprising ease. This one will be MUCH closer and is nearly a tossup. I saw a lot to like in last year's quarterfinal and think the Blue Tigers will be more than ready for this titanic one at LN.

C5 is Wednesday: Lee's Summit West over Truman. This one, frankly on a neutral court, should not be close at all. Got to see the Titans last Friday night this is a very dangerous team (reminds me a bit of LS North of a few years ago) that could punch a ticket to Springfield.

NKC over Park Hill South. These two were part of that very deadly Northtown tourney but did not face off. Not sure how the Panthers will handle what the Hornets bring to the offensive table plus they have the #1 player in the KC Metro. A very special season rolls on..............

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

Should have gone all in on Lincoln Prep..................shocking Benton 27-8 at the half. Cards look lost. Interesting to see how they react in the second.

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

Should have gone all in on Lincoln Prep..................shocking Benton 27-8 at the half. Cards look lost. Interesting to see how they react in the second.

Benton came out flat as a pancake and never recovered. Shocked as I am that super team is now done gotta turn attention to Saturday's Lincoln Prep-Kearney rematch. One thing to watch is a key injury situation that occurred in the second half at Liberty North. Hopefully the young lady will be back. Prep reversed a double digit regular season loss now again face Kearney after beating them in the regular season albeit the third game of the season waaaay back in early December by double digits. The Lady Dogs avenged last season and it's basketball so no way to gauge this one frankly.

 

[KCHI]

Benton came out flat as a pancake and never recovered. Shocked as I am that super team is now done gotta turn attention to Saturday's Lincoln Prep-Kearney rematch. One thing to watch is a key injury situation that occurred in the second half at Liberty North. Hopefully the young lady will be back. Prep reversed a double digit regular season loss now again face Kearney after beating them in the regular season albeit the third game of the season waaaay back in early December by double digits. The Lady Dogs avenged last season and it's basketball so no way to gauge this one frankly.

I was shocked at the halftime score Benton vs Lincoln prep... Benton is known for their defense.. but scoring only 8 points at halftime? I didn't expect THAT

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

I was shocked at the halftime score Benton vs Lincoln prep... Benton is known for their defense.. but scoring only 8 points at halftime? I didn't expect THAT

It was a snowball rolling down the hill after the first quarter. Sometimes success softens a team up a bit plus the kids never really faced adversity this season and really started pressing. Lincoln Prep had the look of a very hungry, determined team and their focus was spot on as evidenced by their impressive FT shooting percentage especially the first three quarters. They will be very hard to slow down let alone stop even given Kearney's defense which is top of the line at this level. Will definitely return to Silverstein's in Independence this Saturday afternoon for this one.

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

Class 4 quarterfinal was an instant classic albeit with a VERY slow start both ways. You can do lots of "ifs and buts" about a game like this (Kearney got lots of open looks early but literally had zero FGs the first quarter and wonder if LP was playing one down from the aforementioned Tuesday injury...........someone from there would have to elaborate on that) but the bottom line is the Blue Tigers of Lincoln Prep deserved this hard fought one. Felt horrible for the K shooter who missed the last second three, frankly thought it was going in when she released it but that was a game-long theme.

One thing that is absolutely for sure is the Lady Dogs will never, ever be outcoached. MAN are they fortunate to have Ressler he is as good as it gets.

CONGRATS to Lincoln Prep now for one little criticism: Get the school and fans to show up in much larger numbers in Springfield you young ladies and staff deserve no less! I was shocked how small their crowd was today.............

 

[KCHI]

I have not seen Lincoln this year, but saw Kearney vs Chillicothe in Kearney tournament.. I thought K was a final four for sure. (and kearney's new gym is pretty impressive)

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

I have not seen Lincoln this year, but saw Kearney vs Chillicothe in Kearney tournament.. I thought K was a final four for sure. (and kearney's new gym is pretty impressive)

About any other year Kearney would have been a sure fire Final Four team. As I stated way back in December Lincoln Prep and Benton both brought the "house" back from last year's runs. As for next year the Lady Dogs will certainly have some formidable size inside coming back including a very impressive looking forward #44. Could be another big season in 2019-20 up this way.

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

I have not seen Lincoln this year, but saw Kearney vs Chillicothe in Kearney tournament.. I thought K was a final four for sure. (and kearney's new gym is pretty impressive)

Lincoln Prep has a very fast, athletic team and plays a swarming defense that gets in the heads of the opposition. During this run they just displayed that vs. two superpowers and I expect them to roll to the final to face Incarnate Word. That should remind them of their trip down to Strafford earlier in the regular season...............

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

Forgot to make a C5 prediction: Going NKC over LSW in another close one (they played early this season).