Nice win for Mason. What a performance from Sparks. Any indication where he may attend college?

Great game by Miller as expected; when he gets a little mad is when he's at his best.

 

I agree totally. At one point in the game, I don't recall what happend, but something seemed to get under Darius. Then the next time down the floor he rose up over top of everybody, and look out. I thought the gym was coming down! Mason struggled from the line, but knocked them down when they need to.

Nice comeback by the Royals after being down by 5 or 6 with 6:20 to play and all the momentum on the Creekers' side. Finally stepped up the defense; created several turnovers, HIT A FEW FREE THROWS and sealed the deal. Sparks was unconscious; seemed like everything he threw up went in without even drawing iron. He had 41 up to the time Mason finally stepped to the plate; held to 3 over the final 6 minutes. Mason had to overcome terrible free-throw and 3-point shooting tonight; ultimately defense did it.

 

Great game by Miller as expected; when he gets a little mad is when he's at his best. Great hardnosed complementary play from Downing tonight. For a while there in the second half it looked like the only way Mason County was going to get a call was to bleed a little; Downing' was the guy. In that respect it was a tale of two halves; as TC was called for a whole lot of fouls in the first half; then the trend was reversed in the second half. Very spotty officiating, but ultimately did not affect the outcome. You always have to wonder when calls that are made in the corner are being overruled at halfcourt.

 

Talking with some of the Mason County faithful; we all agree that:

 

- The Royals definitely have the bullseye on their back and although it's a cliche; they're going to get the best effort of a lot of teams. Kind of like what Scott County has had to deal with.

- Sometimes it's hard to turn on the jets for those 3-4 minute spurts; sooner or later there will be an opponent that won't allow Mason County to go on one of those 14-2 runs whenever they feel like it.

- Put a team away as early as possible. Don't let the opposition dictate tempo and hang around.

- Please make some free throws. To his credit, Middleton, who was having problems at the line, made A BUNCH of key plays at crunch time.

 

Lots of heart shown by this Royal team down the stretch tonight!

Thanks for the analysis. I wonder during the first half especially if the Royals were really ready to play as sounded a bit sloopy.Royals have to be ready each and every night with the schedule they have and teams giving best effort. Coaches cant allow this team to become complacent and think they can win by showing up. That "aint goin happen"

Defense in my mind wins big games and seemed as if the defense was not real good until last half of 4th quarter. Sloppy and not executing press.Sparks must have been unconscious but hard to believe anybody can score 41 against the Royals when we are ready to play.

A good win though and Cov Cath will be tough as well. Hope the stripes let these two run up and down the floor will be great hard fought game. I hope the refs let them play not like the TC game.

Downing is more impressive each game. He is one of those players who knows the game and plays it much like Hamm who is giving solid minutes. Middleton is a competitior as show by coming back and making the free throws in the clutch. Setty needs to get going. Darius when going is tough just seems to find a way to win.

The Royals might need to resurrect Tony Browning who last year often provided an emotional spark when we needed it. Not sure who this is but Downing is during it now in his quiet unassuming way.

Nice win for Mason. What a performance from Sparks. Any indication where he may attend college?

 

Someone at the game told me VMI. Anyone know for sure?

This game was an awesome show! Miller and Sparks took it personally and went back and forth all night. The best series of the game was - Miller hits a 3 and does a Jokim Noah pounding his chest and a yell......... Sparks comes back down the floor and nails a 3 from DEEP in the corner over Miller and yells in his face.... Mason Co. comes back down the floor and Miller catches it on the right wing, fakes baseline and drives middle, Sparks comes over from the help side but he's too late and Miller leans in and does a kiss the rim power dunk leaning in like Michael Jordan used to do, right over top of Sparks. It was awesome...

Someone at the game told me VMI. Anyone know for sure?

 

Right on the money as always. :thumb:

 

LEXINGTON, Va. - Virginia Military Institute head coach Duggar Baucom announced the first signee of the 2008-09 recruiting class as Michael Sparks, a 6-4, 185 pounder who plays the wing position, has inked with the Keydets to attend the Institute on a basketball scholarship.

 

Sparks, who attends Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game last year as a junior. Sparks was also named the Tates Creek MVP on a team that went 26-7 in 2006-07. Sparks also shot 80% last year from the free throw line to the lead the team and surpassed the 1,000 point career scoring mark during the season.

 

http://www.vmikeydets.com/article.asp?articleid=89042

I saw Virginia's Head Coach at the game tonight as well.

I saw Virginia's Head Coach at the game tonight as well.

 

I heard he was there to watch #11 from the team from Georgia who played June Buchannon.