Basketball Blackhawks to 7A state?
With the top six teams in the 7A district advancing to the 7A state basketball tournament, should the ’Hawks’ winning ways with the Rogers Mounties, Springdale HarBer Wildcats and the Ft. Southside Rebels this season qualify them for a spot in the state’s biggest classification state tournament? Of course, no, but it is a sign to how tough the 2012-2013 edition of the hardwood Blackhawks might be this year.
Playing schools from larger classifications is always a tough assignment at best, but the ’Hawks this season are handling it quite nicely. Falling behind in all three previous 7A contests, the ’Hawks came rushing back to snatch victory. The ’Hawks will complete their schedule of playing half of the 7A West Conference when Bentonville comes to town next week. Probably the toughest of the four teams the ’Hawks will play from the 7A West, the game will be in Pea Ridge. If the ’Hawks can replicate their level of play from the Southside game, they might well finish their run through the 7A with a 4-0 record.
How did the ’Hawks become so formidable this year? Center Isaac Mangrum gives the ’Hawks a big man in the middle, an aspect of the game that most championship teams have. Transfer player Nick DeLeon has been solid handling the ball and has a beautiful jump shot, and versatile Jacob Hall can score inside, outside and anywhere else on the court and is also counted on to be an accomplished ball handler. Deadly from the 3-point line, Hall keeps defenses on edge.
Forwards Levi Pitts and Evan Tillman have been scoring threats in every game, and the pair can rebound as well. Logan Rose has been a force off the bench as his point totals can tell you.
The Running Blackhawks play a fast paced, hard running style of play. Watching opposing players tugging at their shorts during a contest belies their winded state. As former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson famously once said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
At any rate, expect the ’Hawks to be an improved product from the 2011-2012 season. How high can they go? I believe there really is no limit to what they can aspire to. and not even the regional papers. The only place you will see anything about that game will be in this edition of The TIMES of N.E. Benton County.
Since the game was over at 4:30 p.m., there was no problem with “late results.” Paper staffs chose to ignore it. Hmmm. round byes into the quarterfinals. On a rotating basis, each region takes a turn having their runner-up take a quarterfinal berth. This spring, the north region will have that distinction, so whoever makes the finals of the North Regional this year will have automatic spots into the state quarterfinals.
The top four teams in the district tournament will qualify for the finals, with the top four in the regions going onto the state finals. 4A-1 this past year but their power ranking and rating is transferable, meaning they would have been fourth in the 4A-1 last year had they been in it.