Wildcats and the Cavs...ESPN Classic caliber?

It's got a shot! Dick Vitale would have went nuts!

It may have been the most exciting game I've seen in that gym or, at least, one of the best. The John Carroll Cavs may be the best team I've seen with less than 10 wins in a season...eight to be exact. Crazy, eh?

Injuries plagued the Cavs all year, but they put together some strong performances when it counted by upsetting Briarwood in the fist round of the Area 8 tournament and was on the brink of knocking off the top seed Shelby County. Most importantly, they are still alive in the road to the Final Four.

It was a game that was not easy on the nerves, but very exciting if you are a basketball fan.

Here is what I know:

• The Cavs had a (slender) "tree" in the low post that turned out to be a crowd favorite as the game rolled along; his mind was more on the crowd and complaining to the refs than the game.


• When you are penciled in as a 6ft 9in center here is what not to do: pop the front of your game jersey out respresentin' your team to the opposing crowd and student section, pull the shaking head, finger waving, and "throat slashing" gesture to your opponent all the while scoring less than 5 points on the night, one good block, and fouling out. Trash talking is groovy until you lose and there is a lot of crow to be eaten.


• Honestly, I'd debate the 6'9'-ness of that individual because McNorton of SCHS stood eye to eye with all night and he is just pushing 6ft 7 in.


• Shady move of the night....SCHS fouls a Cav player and he hits the floor not so softly (but he was ok)...Cavs going to the line shooting two free throws in the double bonus (at a crucial point in the game)....Cavs coach expresses to the ref that his player is too injured to shoot the free throws....THE REF BUYS IT....just so happens the Cavs best player is awaiting to check-in at the scorer's table.....the "injured" player walks off the court with a smile......both free throws good. Odd, that the guy returned shortly thereafter. Oh well.


• Andra Sledge for John Carroll is a major playa and he just a junior. He had 18 in the first half and missed just uno shot! Great effort by him with 28 points on the night.


• I think "cutting down the nets" is a cool thing.


• This area title is SCHS's ninth in thirteen years! That's a good run.

Here is my story on the game: Wildcats win area crown

All the best,

Ricky