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Kevin Carver
The Lady Hilltoppers took care of Chase and Freedom this past week.
If Central beats Patton as they are expected to do so this past Tuesday and then Shelby on Friday, then they will have won their first conference crown in 24 years!!! The year 1988 was the last time it happened and this club is led by super scorer, Shannon Hines and a defensive minded, Alyssia Watkins.
Don’t get me wrong, the Lady Hilltoppers have some depth too with Mercedes Davis, Tia Bristol, Taylor Miller, Christian Godlock and Aaliyah Davis.
R-S Central Coach Darius Fuller and the ladies have worked hard to bring a SMAC title home over the last few years, but has fallen short. I don’t know anybody who has put more heart and soul into any program we have in the county than Darius has with R-S Central’s ladies hoops teams. Kudos to Darius and his team who should have locked up a No.1 conference tournament seed and 3A playoff seed.
As for the Lady Hilltoppers, Hines (1,954 points) lacks 21 points from tying the county record for points in a career. That record is currently held by former Lady Hilltopper great, Frances Hernandez at 1,975 points. Many think Hines will atleast tie or break the record on 1/31 at home against Patton, but could get to 2,000, when they host Shelby on Friday.
Over at Chase, it’s junior, Kaitlyn Smart that deserves accolades on the court. Smart, should have reached the 1,000 point plateau for a high school career against Shelby this past Tuesday. She was at 993 points coming into the contest. Congrats to Kaitlyn in her accomplishment of the 1,000-point plateau. She’s very deserving and a good kid that represents her school well.
East Rutherford’s girl’s (13-6) split this week and lost another heartbreaker to Patton this season. I have a feeling should they meet in the conference tourney, East will remember this one.
On the boys side, East Rutherford (17-2, 7-1) is tied with Freedom for the top spot in the SMAC after Shelby beat the Patriots, but Freedom holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. And for those who have wrote Shelby off, the Golden Lions (13-4, 6-2) are playing their best basketball right now.
R-S Central on the other hand, gained a huge victory over Chase this week, but fell to Freedom on the road. The Hilltoppers currently hold the No.3 seed in the SMAC for a 3A playoff berth, but have a chance to make a move for No.2 in these next three contests.
The boys hoops team over at Thomas Jefferson (11-7, 7-4) continues to fight for a No.2 seed out of the Western Highlands. The Gyphons are already in the playoffs, but if they can grab the No.2 seed, they would host their first postseason basketball game in school history.
The Super Bowl Prediction: Round one went the underdog N.Y. Giants four years ago. The Giants I believe are playing the best team ball of anybody right now, but Tom Brady’s offense and Bill Belichick’s coaching is stout enough to scare any opponent on the other side of the field.
I’m not sure that I see a ton of defense in this one unless it comes from the Giants. However, the Patriots hunger of revenge should be up to the task of another Super Bowl win. I will take New England in a 34-24 comeback win in Indianapolis this Sunday night.
