The Few, the Proud, Your Islanders!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Meaning of Christmas Charlie Brown

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, tis Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

TOP 10 TEAMS HIGH SCHOOL SA GIRLS BASKETBALL 12-21-14

The clock has struck midnight as District play is underway for the majority of teams in the San Antonio area Girls Basketball.

Lightning notes:

Lightning in the form of Amber Ramirez struck Clemens for 42 points in a Wagner Win! That's after a 40 point performance the week before. Wagner after early season woes is becoming a serious threat to repeat as City Champs. Wagner is essentially doing it with 3 players getting all the scoring done. That's amazing.

O'Connor gets a tough win over Brennan to open up District play.  With Amber Vidal leading the way, O'Connor has 5 players averaging over 6 points a game. They have a legitimate chance of going to state. They might have one of the best defensive teams in the city in terms of scoring after creating turnovers. 

Clark has 6 players averaging over 7 points a game! After their matchup with Brandeis, they should cruise all the way till 24th of January when they play Brennan then. When they press, this team can create havoc with all their athletes they can put on the floor. Their lack of strength of schedule might hurt when it counts. Time will tell.

Brennan is just so tough with their bigs inside. Inside out game going, can hit the long ball, kids that can drive and create. If they can will their half court style of play, its over! Plus their strength of schedule will help tremendously when its all said and done. It is just hard to imagine this team will lose to a team they are heavy favorite against. You can't say that about any team.

Johnson team can be dangerous. They have decent size, great athletes, can shoot it beyond the 3 plus Erica Saunders can be the difference. When they started pressing the ball, they turned the game around against Brennan even though they came up short with some timely missed Free Throws. They can match up against most teams, they have ball handlers, kids that can create AND kids that can fly on the court. Another team that can match up against any team.

Side notes

In another example of how everything is going, Brandeis beats Antonian which beat Churchill which beat Brandeis!

You can find plenty of same examples over and over. Enough to make your head spin.

Looking ahead at Private Schools with Antonian playing great basketball and IWHS trying to compete with some of the larger schools as well, this years matchup is shaping up to be an exciting game to go see.

Here is my Top 10

1. Clark: Wins-Madison, Cedar Park, Churchill, Stevens twice, Killeen, Belton, Boerne. Losses- Liberty Christian

2. O'Connor: Wins- Johnson, Judson, Madison, Reagan, Steele, Brennan. Losses- Waco La Vega, #1 3A Wall, Amarillo


3. Brennan: Wins- Wagner, Manvel, Madison (Twice), Reagan, Steele, Johnson. Losses- Reagan, Georgetown, #1 5A Vista Ridge, #1 6A North Shore, Amarillo, O'Connor


4. Johnson: Wins-Brandeis (3 times), Stevens, Reagan, IWHS, Brandeis, Churchill. Losses- O'Connor, Wagner, Carroll, Amarillo, Brennan


5. Madison: Wins-Wagner, Brandeis, Stevens, IWHS. Losses-Brennan, Clark, O'Connor


6. Wagner: Wins- Johnson, Steven, Brandeis, Schertz Clemens Losses-Brennan, Madison, Antonian, Argyle, Reagan, Cedar Ridge, Austin Westlake, Pflugerville

7. Schetz Clemens: Notable wins-Reagan, FW Timble Tech, Killeen Harker Heights, Stevens, Steele, Roosevelt, Round Rock.   Losses-Corpus Christi Carroll, Liberty Christian, Brandeis, Wagner

8. Reagan: Wins- Wagner, Brennan, Steele, Judson, Smithson Valley. Losses- Stevens, Carrol, MacArthur, RR Cedar Ridge, Clemens, Johnson, O'Connor

9. Steele: Wins-Brandeis, Southwest, IWHS, San Marcos. Losses-Reagan, Clemens, San Marcos, Stevens, Carroll, Navarro, Brennan, O'Connor


Just for fun, 3 way tie for 10th

Brandeis: Wins- Highlands, Antonian, Judson, Clemens Losses-Churchill, Johnson (3 Times), Steele, Madison, Wagner, Madison

Churchill: Wins-Brandeis. Losses-Clark twice, Antonian, Johnson

Antonian: Wins- Wagner, Judson, Churchill. Losses-MacArthur (Twice), CC Ray, Roosevelt, Brandeis

Honorable Mention

Stevens: Wins- Reagan, Killeen Harker Heights, Austin Westlake. Losses-Clemens, Judson, FW Trimble Tech, Johnson, Wagner, Madison, Clark

Incarnate Word: Wins-Marion, RR, Cole Losses-Steele, Johnson, Madison

Judson


Smithson Valley

GO SUPPORT GIRLS BASKETBALL

Sunday, December 14, 2014

TOP 10 TEAMS HIGH SCHOOL SA GIRLS BASKETBALL 12-14-14

Christmas Holidays are upon us and High School girls basketball action has just about heated up, keeping local temperatures nice and warm. In High School gyms around the city, you can go catch some heated, competitive girls basketball action just about any night of the week.

I said it before, your team can beat a team by 20 and then go lose to a team your team thinks it's better than.

Anytime, Anywhere, Any Team can lose.

Whoever you follow and support, it doesn't matter, you have to love the suspense of what is going to happen when Team A plays Team B.

Some teams have some dominating skilled players. Some teams are loaded with athleticism. Few teams have both but don't have a bench. With some teams, it seems Coaching makes all the difference in the world. 

What's that old saying, Team A's Coach beats Team B and goes on and state, If I was coaching Team B, I would still win!

Some teams have the backcourt but don't have much of a frontcourt. Some teams have a great frontcourt but need help with the backcourt. 

Some teams have the talent, but lack the experience! Some teams have the experience but lack the skill and talent!

How about this, Private School Antonian has beaten Judson, Wagner and Churchill, all power house programs the last few years!

Great match ups make for great games.

The following week will not be any different. It's shaping up to be one great week for girls basketball action.

Games of interest:

What stands out, how about Clemens vs Wagner at Clemens Friday 730pm, where two of the highest scoring players in the city square off with their respective teams. 2015 Kyra Lambert (Clemens) and 2016 Amber Ramirez (Wagner) might go for 40 each. 

Then you have Monday action with Johnson going into Brennan at 730pm. 2015 Erica Saunders can simply take over the game without scoring and she can do it scoring as well. 2017's Megan Valdez and Kenzie Heineman are putting up all around great numbers. If Brennan's grueling schedule is not enough, they open up District play on Friday against O'Connor at 830pm at Taylor gym. Has anyone played a more intense schedule?

O'Connor has only lost to State Ranked teams. They host Steele on Tuesday at 730pm. Then take on Brennan on Friday. They seem to be just rolling along.

Johnson has Brennan on Monday and open up against Churchill in District play on Friday at Littleton gym 8pm. Both contests should be down to the wire match ups.

Stevens goes to Madison HS to take them on Monday 730pm and open District play vs Clark at O'Connor gym. Clark has been steady all season long. Who has the advantage? Time will tell.

Madison finishes the week by hosting IWHS Friday at 730pm. 2018 Sophia Ramos (IWHS) went for 23pts against Johnson in a losing effort and 2016 Alexia Torres (IWHS) is coming off a dramatic 3 pt buzzer beater to win the game at Cole. 2015 Moriah Creswell (Madison) is putting up great numbers helping her team get some good wins.

If your team has had a great Non District and go lose Lose their first District game, then what?

You have to take into account strength of schedule, who your team has beaten, who they have lost to.

That's what makes this fun! And just for fun, following are my Top 10

1. Clark: Wins-Madison, Cedar Park, Churchill twice, Killeen, Belton, Boerne. Losses- Liberty Christian

2. O'Connor: Wins- Johnson, Judson, Madison, Reagan. Losses- Waco La Vega, #1 3A Wall, Amarillo

3. Brennan: Wins- Wagner, Manvel, Madison (Twice), Reagan, Steele. Losses- Reagan, Georgetown, #1 5A Vista Ridge, #1 6A North Shore, Amarillo

4. Johnson: Wins-Brandeis (3 times), Stevens, Reagan, IWHS, Brandeis. Losses- O'Connor, Wagner, Carroll, Amarillo

5. Schetz Clemens: Notable wins-Reagan, FW Timble Tech, Killeen Harker Heights, Stevens, Steele, Roosevelt, Round Rock.   Losses-Corpus Christi Carroll, Liberty Christian, Brandeis

6. Madison: Wins-Wagner, Brandeis. Losses-Brennan, Clark, O'Connor

7. Wagner: Wins- Johnson, Steven, Brandeis, Losses-Brennan, Madison, Antonian, Argyle, Reagan, Cedar Ridge, Austin Westlake, Pflugerville

8. Stevens: Wins- Reagan, Killeen Harker Heights, Austin Westlake. Losses-Clemens, Judson, FW Trimble Tech, Johnson, Wagner

9. Reagan: Wins- Wagner, Brennan, Steele, Judson, Smithson Valley. Losses- Stevens, Carrol, MacArthur, RR Cedar Ridge, Clemens, Johnson, O'Connor

10. Steele: Wins-Brandeis, Southwest, IWHS, San Marcos. Losses-Reagan, Clemens, San Marcos, Stevens, Carroll, Navarro, Brennan

Honorable Mention

Churchill: Wins-Brandeis. Losses-Clark twice, Antonian

Antonian: Wins- Wagner, Judson, Churchill. Losses-MacArthur (Twice), CC Ray, Roosevelt, Brandeis

Brandeis: Wins- Highlands, Antonian, Judson, Clemens Losses-Churchill, Johnson (3 Times), Steele, Madison, Wagner, Madison


Incarnate Word: Wins-Marion, RR, Cole Losses-Steele, Johnson


Others to watch: Southwest, Roosevelt, Highlands, MacArthur, Jay, Smithson Valley, Boerne, Devine, Hondo, Boerne Champion, Alamo Heights, 

Go Support Girls Basketball!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

SA ISLANDERS ALEXIA TORRES SCORES 1000 POINTS

Congrats to Alexia Torres for reaching the milestone of scoring 1000 points for her High School career. She played her freshman year in the very tough District 27-5A with the Marshall Rams transferring to Incarnate Word High School her sophomore year.

As she would say herself, she couldn't do it without all her teammates! We also like to thank everyone who has supported her, family, friends, coaches, trainers, players and so on.

Below is a small tribute to her reaching the milestone. Congratulations!
click following link


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

TOP 10 TEAMS HIGH SCHOOL SA GIRLS BASKETBALL

What do you get when you have a flurry of basketball tournaments all over the area, you get a lot of match ups between the Top Area Teams. 

In the after math of this weekend, did anything clear up? You had every top team in the area losing at least one game this past week. 

State Ranked Amarillo came down ftp the Alamo City and beat MacArthur, O'Connor, Brennan and Johnson to win the Tournament Championship. That was quite an accomplishment, reminiscent of what CC Carroll did a few weeks ago beating a line of San Antonio Teams in the Corpus Tournament.

Schertz Clemens lost in Championship game to State Top Ranked Private School Liberty Christian which also beat Clark, the last undefeated team in the large Classification in San Antonio.

A couple of observations looking at the TABC Hoops page, Clark moves to #13. San Marcos moves in at #22 in 5A. Devine and Hondo are both in the Top 10 in 4A.

http://www.tabchoops.org/rankings/team-rankings/

SA Express News latest Rankings 
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/high_school_basketball/article/Girls-basketball-E-N-Area-rankings-top-players-5943479.php

The action heats up today with a lot of great action around the city.
Games of interest Tuesday 12-9-14

5pm Wagner vs Stevens (Paul Taylor) Very interesting match up. This could be a very high scoring game. Some of the areas top scorers in action.

6pm Clemens vs Brandeis (O'Connor) Can Brandeis get a big win against their former coach? Clemens looking to bounce back after 2nd loss of the season. How about Gabby Connally vs Kyra Lambert matching up. 

6pm IWHS vs Johnson (Littleton) Two of the best 2018's in Johnson's D. Caldwell and IWHS's Sophia Ramos in action. They both can light it up in a hurry. 

7pm Brennan at Steele. How many teams can play Brennan's grueling schedule and still be up for the challenge. 

730pm Reagan vs O'Connor This could be the days best game. A lot of talent on the court.

There is very little movement in my Rankings compared to last week

1. Schetz Clemens: Notable wins-Reagan, FW Timble Tech, Killeen Harker Heights, Stevens, Steele, Roosevelt.   Losses-Corpus Christi Carroll, Liberty Christian

2. Clark: Wins-Madison, Cedar Park, Churchill twice, Killeen, Belton Losses- Liberty Christian

3. Brennan: Wins- Wagner, Manvel, Madison (Twice), Reagan. Losses- Reagan, Georgetown, #1 5A Vista Ridge, #1 6A North Shore, Amarillo

4. O'Connor: Wins- Johnson, Judson, Madison. Losses- Waco La Vega, #1 3A Wall, Amarillo

5. Churchill: Wins-Brandeis. Losses-Clark twice

6. Johnson: Wins-Brandeis (Twice), Stevens, Reagan. Losses- O'Connor, Wagner, Carroll, Amarillo

7. Stevens: Wins- Reagan, Killeen Harker Heights, Austin Westlake. Losses-Clemens, Judson, FW Trimble Tech, Johnson

8. Madison: Wins-Wagner, Brandeis. Losses-Brennan, Clark, O'Connor

9. Reagan: Wins- Wagner, Brennan, Steele, Judson. Losses- Stevens, Carrol, MacArthur, RR Cedar Ridge, Clemens, Johnson

10. Steele: Wins-Brandeis, Southwest, IWHS, San Marcos. Losses-Reagan, Clemens, San Marcos, Stevens, Carroll, Navarro

Honorable Mention

Wagner: Wins-Johnson, Brandeis, Leander, Houston Westbury Christian. Losses- Brennan, Madison, Antonian, Reagan, RR Cedar Ridge, Argyle, Austin Westlake

Smithson Valley- Wins- Brenham, Boerne Champion Losses- Cedar Vista Ridge, Highlands

Antonian: Wins- Wagner, Judson. Losses-MacArthur (Twice), CC Ray, Roosevelt, Brandeis

Brandeis: Wins- Highlands, Antonian, Judson Losses-Churchill, Johnson (Twice), Steele, Madison, Wagner, Madison

Incarnate Word: Wins-Marion, RR Losses-Steele

District games are already starting for some and getting here before you know for others.

Go Support High School Girls Basketball!!!!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Top 10 Teams San Antonio Girls High School Basketball

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday.

There was plenty of action for Girls Basketball around the area this past week but a lot more action coming in the next week with plenty of Tournaments going on in the area featuring some of the best Girl Basketball teams in the area.

I am going to keep this week short and simple. Some teams still have not been tested seriously while some teams like Brennan and Wagner have played some of the toughest competition around. You can argue that every team they have played is an above average contender in the whole scheme of things. Well, you can argue, but its true. Reagan has played at least 7 games against worthy opponents as well.
Madison, Steele and Johnson are not too far behind in their strength of schedules.

So now we get to the point of teams schedules where Team A beat Team B which beat Team C which beat Team A. Who is the better team? 

You can click the following link to see what TABC Hoops thinks

http://www.tabchoops.org/rankings/team-rankings/

The good thing about High School Rankings is that they don't determine the eventual Champions. A committee doesn't decide who is the best. In the end, High School basketball playoffs determine eventually who is playing the best in a single elimination format. Again, what is the Coaches stragedy to get their teams as well prepared for that scenario, Playing the tougher schedule or a lighter schedule.

Quick recap as of today 12-3-2014 and the way I see it as of today.

1. Schetz Clemens: Notable wins-Reagan, FW Timble Tech, Killeen Harker Heights, Stevens, Steele.   Losses-Corpus Christi Carroll

2. Clark: Wins-Madison, Cedar Park, Churchill twice. Only large San Antonio School Still Undefeated! Will be tested this weekend.

3. Brennan: Wins- Wagner, Manvel, Madison. Losses- Reagan, Georgetown, #1 5A Vista Ridge, #1 6A North Shore

4. O'Connor: Wins- Johnson, Judson. Losses- Waco La Vega, #1 3A Wall

5. Churchill: Wins-Brandeis. Losses-Clark twice

6. Johnson: Wins-Brandeis, Stevens. Losses- O'Connor, Wagner, Carroll

7. Stevens: Wins- Reagan, Killeen Harker Heights. Losses-Clemens, Judson, FW Trimble Tech, Johnson

8. Madison: Wins-Wagner, Brandeis. Losses-Brennan, Clark

9. Reagan: Wins- Wagner, Brennan, Steele. Losses- Stevens, Carrol, MacArthur, RR Cedar Ridge, Clemens

Tied for 10th
10. Wagner: Wins-Johnson, Brandeis. Losses- Brennan, Madison, Antonian, Reagan, RR Cedar Ridge
10. Smithson Valley- Wins- Brenham, Boerne Champion

Honorable Mention
Steele: Wins-Brandeis, Southwest. Losses-Reagan, Clemens, San Marcos, Stevens, Carroll, Navarro

Antonian: Wins- Wagner, Judson. Losses-MacArthur, CC Ray, Roosevelt

Brandeis: Losses-Churchill, Johnson, Steele, Madison, Wagner

Incarnate Word: Wins-Marion

Southwest

As far as schedules, Clemens, Clark, Churchill are some of the teams in NB Canyon Basketball Tournament to look out for. 

Stevens and Wagner will be representing at Georgetown Basketball Tournament.

Steele, Smithson Valley, Highlands and Incarnate Word will be facing some stiff competition at Buda Hays Basketball Tournament

And one of the best places to catch some great action will be at the Northside/NEISD Basketball Tournament featuring some of the best San Antonio teams in Johnson, O'Connor, Brennan, Madison, Reagan, Antonian and Southwest.

It is likely we will know more come next week of where teams stand....... or maybe not.
That's the beauty of the sport!

Go Support Girls Basketball!!!!!