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Prep hoops roundup
East Rutherford’s boys (12-3, 8-1) and girls swept the two games they played this week. The Cavalier boys on a roll as they have picked seven straight wins and hold second in the SMAC behind Shelby. They possibly host Veritas on Thursday (Jan. 23) and go to Burns (Jan. 28) followed by huge game at Shelby on the Friday (Jan. 31).
East Rutherford’s girls (12-2, 8-1) have the hottest team in the Rutherford County right now. The Lady Cavs are on an 11-game win streak, pending what happened this past Tuesday at East Burke.
R-S Central boys (9-8, 3-6) and girls (6-11, 3-6) split this week by beating Burns and falling at Shelby. They will go to Crest on Friday (Jan. 24) and return home for Chase the following week. The Hilltopper guys hold the fourth and final playoff seed among the SMAC 2A teams at the moment.
On the girls side, they sit one game behind Draughn and that’s who they hosted this past Tuesday. If the Lady Hilltoppers won, they would be tied for the last playoff spot in the conference.
Thomas Jefferson (9-4, 6-0) boys are making a charge for total control of first place and had a big game facing them this past Tuesday as they went to Cherryville.
Among the 1A ranks, they are legit. While they are not that big, they do have some speed and more depth this season. Those two qualities are something Thomas Jefferson hasn’t possessed much of in the programs tenure, especially depth.
This past Friday, they escaped what has become their newest rival in Community School of Davidson 59-57, thanks to four big free throws down the stretch from Mason Fenner. Nick Mintz had 17 points, while Jaylon Simmons added 13 in the win.
“I know we just played a scrappy team, but I thought we missed too many free throws and didn’t play smart tonight,” Thomas Jefferson boys basketball coach Ken Hines said.
“We have to have each others backs and somebody different has to step up every game. I think that is why we have been successful so far. Hopefully, it we can limit Cherryville to one shot down the floor with them missing of course, I think we could have the outright conference lead.”
Thomas Jefferson’s girls (5-8, 3-2) are still hanging around in the playoff discussion. Alethia Griffin (guard) and Alyssa Edwards (forward) played well this past weekend against Community School of Davidson, but it was not enough in a 22-point defeat. They host rival Lincoln Charter on January 28.
Chase boys (4-10, 1-8) and girls (1-15, 0-9) were swept this week in routs. Both teams playoff chances are in dire straits if they can’t find some wins soon. They will host Crest (Jan. 28) and go to R-S Central (Jan 31).
Well, I called it. All season long, I had said it’s going to be a Seattle-Denver Super Bowl. This past Sunday, both teams proved it. Denver’s defense has played better lately and that was the most surprising thing I thought against a New England team that put up 34 on them the last time to two teams meet this season. Denver played soft coverage late in holding a 26-10 lead that led to a New England touchdown, but defensively played outstanding for most of the game.
Seattle may have the best defense in the league. However, if Patrick Bowman’s second half interception could have been overturned, it may have been the 49ers in the Super Bowl instead.
Although, this was my prediction for the Super Bowl, I am going to take another week to think about who is going to win it since the Pro Bowl is this weekend. I will say this, it would nice to see John Fox and Peyton Manning end up as Super Bowl Champions. Fox took Carolina to their only Super Bowl, which they lost. Manning could end up with his second ring. Fox also had heart surgery this year and Manning was told he may never play again after having neck surgery less than two years ago. Those are comeback story lines you can’t beat.
