Wednesday, December 02, 2009

First basketball game

For the first time in many years, I actually covered a prep basketball game before the Christmas holiday. Went out to Glenn last night to see the Bobcats play West Forsyth, and it was a very entertaining game.
L.A. Williams, Glenn’s broad-bodied shooting guard — whoa! Nice touch. This is a guy who make teams pay dearly if they choose to leave him open. One thing I like about Glenn is they are strong. They have some real physical guys like Tyler Lee and JeVante Crump who can move, and really battle.
And the Bobcats must have some mental toughness after erasing West’s 15-point lead in the third quarter to win 80-74.
This West Forsyth team is way more athletic than any West team in years and years, and yes, that certainly includes the Chris Paul-led teams. The Titans can run, jump — and when motivated — they can defend. Tabarris Hamilton is a 6-3 junior guard and forward who is in his last year of eligibility, and this guy can flat get a shot off whenever he wants it. He was a little rusty with it on Tuesday, but still scored 18.
Both of these teams are going to scare people throughout the season.
Also, it was cool to see Coach LaQuanda Barksdale Quick on the sidelines in her first season of coaching the girls at West Forsyth. LaQuanda is on the short list, and maybe at the very top (along with Camille Little of Carver) as the best girls player ever to suit up in Forsyth County. And while Barksdale was very stoic as a player, she is very, very intense as a coach.