Second Verse Same as the First; Cats Top Panthers Again

SMS D1 7th Grade Boys Basketball vs Parish

March 2, 2008

     When your resume for the last three years reads "38-0 and the winner of consecutive DPL championship trophies," few games qualify as big games during the regular season.  But the final game of the regular season for the D1 7th grade boys was more than just another regular season game.  The 11-0 Cats were the only undefeated team in D1 and were pitted against the 10-1 Parish Panthers, whose only blemish this season was the epic victory recorded by the Cats in January, who scored the final 17 points in the last 3 minutes of the game to erase a 13-point deficit.  This game would not have nearly the heroics of that January game, nor would it matter for seeding purposes in the upcoming playoffs, as SMS had already clinched the No. 1 seed.  But the game was still a huge game, as SMS sought to record its third consecutive undefeated regular season in what it hopes will be its third consecutive undefeated championship season.  For anyone who wants to know, that is as rare as a Hannibal Lecter steak.

    You knew it was a big game by the size of the crowd.  In addition to the usual parental crowd, SMS had several supporters traveling to Parish for the game.  And there were plenty of "scouts" from other teams in the stands, trying to game plan for these two teams.  Parish brought out all the stops, having players and parents from its other teams present and even employing some of their 34 cheerleaders for the event.  In the end, size did not matter.
 
    Championships are usually won, or lost, on the play of the defense.  That would bode well for the Cats in this game, as the defensive effort was as spectacular as you will ever see, especially after the first quarter.  The game was actually a see-saw battle in the first quarter, with the teams trading baskets throughout.  Hayden Corbin got SMS on the board first, as Joe Payne made a pass to Matt Tulli, and Matt found Hayden cutting to the hoop for two.  After Parish responded with a press-breaking lay up, SMS regained the lead.  Hayden grabbed a steal at mid-court and fired a strike to Charlie Wetzel, who gobbled up the pass like Pac-Man and took it in for two.  But Parish came right back with another press break and easy lay up and it was 4-4.  Another lead for the Cats, with Joe scoring on his patented "hop jump" and, since it's almost Easter, the "hop jump" did not get the usual traveling call.  But Parish got two free throws and one more press-break lay up right before the end of the quarter and SMS trailed 8-6 after one.
 
    As low-scoring as the first quarter was, in the second quarter the teams combined for less scoring than the class nerd with the captain of the cheerleaders.  Joe took a lead pass from Steven Spieth and wowed the crowd with a dazzling reverse lay up to tie the game at 8.  Meanwhile, the defensive effort was picking up steam.  Hayden, Matt, Steven and Joe shut down Parish inside. Jacob Young, Tyler Young, Trent Marrs and Pete and Charlie Wetzel played terrific perimeter defense and Parish could not get an uncontested outside shot.  Parish did manage to score its final basket of the game just before half to take a 10-8 lead into halftime.  You read that right.  Parish scored its last field goal of the game in the second quarter, as some Bearcat adjustments to stop the Parish lay ups on the press defense began to take effect.
 
    Not use to halftime deficits, the Bearcats came out with a relentless defensive effort that would change the course of the game.  But first, the Cats tied the game when Hayden fought hard for position and an offensive rebound, got the ball to Joe and Joe pulled up for a 12-footer in the lane.  The shot was true and we were tied at 10.  On the next trip down, Joe returned the favor, this time with Joe getting the assist on a touch pass to Hayden who banked it home.  When Joe grabbed a steal and whipped a full-court pass to Pete, Pete dropped in the lay up that gave SMS its first two-possession lead of the game, 14-10.  Parish managed its only points of the quarter with two free throws in the last minute.  Despite the total defensive domination, Parish was within 14-12 heading to the final frame.
 
    The fourth quarter of a huge game is always the time that the great players make the great plays.  This one would be no different as SMS had several players make game-changing plays.  Steven had been quiet offensively for three quarters, but he took over the game in the fourth.  First, Hayden made a brilliant pass to Steven cutting to the hoop and it was 16-12.  On the next possession, Joe grabbed an offensive rebound and found Steven open on the perimeter.  It looked like a "3" but Steven only got "2" as he swished the jumper, 18-12.  Matt Tulli then made the best "hustle" play of the day, diving for a loose ball, and flinging it to half court as he was falling to the ground.  Hayden used his speed to run the ball down and he took it all the way for the lay up that all but iced the game, 20-12 with just over three minutes remaining.
 
    Parish called time out, apparently switching to a man-to-man defense in order to try to force the action.  All SMS did was line up at mid-court for the inbounds and Steven, reverting back to his quarterbacking days, fired the "touchdown" pass to Joe, who didn't have a defender within 20 feet of him as he strolled in for the lay up and a 22-13 lead.  Way behind with little time left, Parish had to foul.  That strategy was about as effective as the Bush Administration, as Steven went to the charity stripe for 6 shots and swished 5 of them to run the final score to 27-13.  SMS could have extended the lead further but Jacob showed some serious class, pulling the ball out on a breakaway lay up with three seconds remaining rather than scoring a final hoop.
 
    In the end, it was the defensive effort that defined this game.  Parish got 8 points early on some easy breakaway baskets, but once SMS made their adjustments, a very good Parish team managed one field goal in the final three quarters and ZERO after halftime.  In fact, Parish did not score a basket in their half-court offense FOR THE ENTIRE GAME, something you could have gotten incredible odds on before the game.  SMS had earned a repeat victory over Parish and established themselves as the team to beat as March Madness arrives.
 
    So SMS stands at 12-0 for the season and enters the playoffs as the undisputed No. 1 seed, having defeated every team along the way.  Although this team is battle-tested and certainly ready for another playoff run, you can be sure that every team they face will give their best effort in trying to knock off the undefeated team.  This is a special team with some unsurpassed accomplishments.  Don't miss your chance to see them in the upcoming playoff season.