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It seems Bracken is on the upswing. I would think it would help them both experience and publicity wise to play several more 9th region teams where they can get more exposure.

Those two players make a hugh difference in te team, along with the added maturity of Bibbens and Flesch. This will be a scarey team to play in the regional.

I agree with the comment on Horner. Is it just me or did she seem to play her best ball while the Adler girl was out? Is there some implied pressure for playing time involved here? Don't know that much about the situation but thought someone closer to the program might have a thought.

I don't think the quote was intended to be "ungracious". As far as changing anytime soon, I only have the box score to go by, but the only Sr. that seemed to have any impact on the game was Adler from Highlands and the only Freshman was Bartels from NCC. So barring any incoming freshman next year it appears to me it only tightes up. Guess the only real way to tell is see what happens in the next 10 games.

I'd probably go to the Boone/Ryle game because you will be able to get in.

We seem to have gotten off the topic which is who will win and why. Everyone(almost) agrees there should be seeding, but as was mentioned "It ain't gonna happen" so lets not beat a dead horse.

A point everyone seems to be missing about getting to the region is: MONEY.Every team that gets to the region gets a cut of the proceeds, and this is usually in the 4 digit range, even if you lose in the first round. I agree the 2 best teams should represent the district for all the reasons mentioned, but as in anything money talks and the small schools see this as their only way to get to the region tourney AND pick up that nice check.

paNDA, I agree completely about the region being COMPLETELY open. I have never seen it even close to being this open. If you could take 3 teams against the field I don't know which 3 teams I would take. Should make for a VERY interesting tourney.

Someone mentioned she was sick and didn't play. Didn't see her name in the box score.

It was scheduled for last Tuesday but the snow/ice cancelled it and no date was available to re-schedule it.

Can't argue much about the 9th region since they hit the NDA/ Ryle and NCC/Dixie games last night right on the nose.

Or district.

Just as a clarification there are 64 districts in the state, 4 to each region.

You missed the point completely. No one is making excuses, just saying 3 of their 4 big wins have come at home. And to say playing there is like any other gym is ridiculous. If you saw the thread about good and bad gyme last month, HHS was the overwhelming favorite as the worst gym. There is a 2ft. area between the one end line and the wall. If you think practicing there every day doesn't give an advantage you are sorely mistaken. Ask anyone who has played there. That aside, it still wasn't an excuse, just an observation that it is a different game away from home.

Sorry about the o instead of e, but I disagree about last year's favorite. ND was the best team all year long.

Just an observation but HHS beat Connor by 4, Boone by 4, and lost to NDA all at their place, which most will agree is a very difficult place to play because of the set up of the gym. No question they are the favorite at this time, but clear favorite? Not a chance. They do get the district at their place also, so that provides an advantage against NCC, but after that games will be at neutral sites. As has been pointed out, being the favorite is not always a good spt to be in. NDA was a clear favorite last year and it was obvious they felt the pressure all through the tourney. Pressure is a great equilizer.

Noticed Towles wasn't in the boxscore. What's up?

If it is so easy to win with talent then I guess what HHS is doing this year is no big deal, since most of their posters on here have been touting their talent for 2 years now. You can't have it both ways. As has been ststed earlier the toughest thing to do IS win when you have the best tlent, because anything less is a failure.

If your original post was "friendly" I would sure hate to see what you say if you were upset.

Amen. Sounds like the Highlands' fans are getting a little hyper about their perceived lack of press. As you say, the article was about matchups this week, not about rankings. I don't think HHS has been lacking for ink this year.

All of the above is true concerning Highlands right now. There is another month to play before anything really matters and having the favorite roll to carry can sometimes become a burden. Not that they won't win, but much bigger favorites have failed come March.

Contrary to what some posters may think, the people I have talked to at the small parocial schools DO take this tourney very seriously. There is no way they don't value the merits of this tourney, and no way any of them would think of not playing in it.

The draw is made in the spring of te previous year. Villa woul have beaten Heritage anyway so it really made no difference. Any redraw would have to have been for the entire bracket and I can't believe the teams in the upper bracket would have wanted that. They probably just wanted a redraw of the upper bracket, and you can't do that.

The fact they only have 17 players total at all three levels really surprises me. They are a decent size school and I would have thought the total would be closer to 23-25. Any reason for the low number? Just curious.

Trust me she was NOT happy playing JV. She is dedicated and did it because, lets face it, she had no choice. My point wasn't that she did or didnt play JV. My point was WHY wasn't she playing more to begin with. I think she has gotten the short end of the "Adler Sisters" transfer for 3 years now, and her play now seems to indicate she should have been playing more all along.