Final from the opening round of the LIT.

Impressive win for Waggener, who had beaten Valley 77-74 the first week of the season.

Waggener advances to play the winner of the Central-Jeffersontown match-up in the second round of the LIT on Wednesday.

Impressive win for Waggener, who had beaten Valley 77-74 the first week of the season.

 

What is the ceiling for this Waggener team? Can they win the region?

Trinity certainly is the favorite to win the Seventh Region. Is Waggener good enough to reverse last week's 59-39 loss to Trinity? I think so, on a given night. I noticed that Waggener shot 31.6% from the field against Trinity (including 29.4% on 3-point shooting) and 55.6% on free throws. Three nights later against Valley, Waggener shot 45.5% from the field, 47.4% on 3's, and 85.2% from the free throw line. Its amazing how shooting well improves a team's chance of winning.

 

Of course, there are other contenders in the Seventh Region that Waggener (and everybody else) must contend with. As for how Waggener has fared against them, Waggener has beaten Ballard (the first time ever) and Central. They lost to St. X. They have not played Male.

 

Again, Trinity must be considered the favorite, and likely a heavy favorite. But this is high school basketball. After Trinity, I like Waggener's chances as much as anybody's.