Ahhhh -- spring break is here and this is the week where teachers and students alike can just do what they want to do for a few days and enjoy the new season.
For a lot of Pea Ridge boys, this means playing more baseball without having to go to all those classes, a chance to be unencumbered with having to think about anything but playing America's oldest game. There will be three straight games this week, beginning with Tuesday.
The 'Hawks took on Green Forest Tuesday. And, Wednesday, they will host Junction City. For those who be thinking, "Where is that?" Junction City is way down south hugging the Louisiana border. It is a small school, in the 2A classification, but it is a school that has produced a number of blue chip athletes over the years. While mostly being known for a bunch of football state championships, they are generally good in everything including eight state baseball championships. Their most recent title was in 2014.
Junction City is a pretty far piece from Pea Ridge, 351 miles to be exact. By comparison, Oklahoma City is 120 miles closer, and it is about the same distance to Cairo, Ill.; Memphis, Tenn.; Paducah, Ken.; and Nebraska City, Neb. Because it is so far, the Dragons have a four-game road trip to maximize mileage. Junction City will open with Pea Ridge then travel to Shiloh, then Gentry, and finish up by traveling to Gurdon on the way back home for their last game.
The Blackhawks will finish their three game set Thursday against conference rival Gentry.
You can never relax
Usually, when basketball teams have a 12-point lead with under 40 seconds left in the game, people start heading for the exits. Anyone who left the Texas A&M/Northern Iowa game early missed the game.
The Aggies outscored Northern Iowa 14-2 in those final 30 seconds to tie the game, with Texas A&M winning it in double overtime. The Ags put on a frantic full court press and scored 8 of those points on steals under their own basket. A free throw and a 3-point shot were all that was needed to knot the score by the end. You just never know.
Northern Iowa fans may need a shot of adrenaline after watching their last three games. They were playing Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference championships and won their only chance to get into the NCAA tournament with an outside shot by Wes Washpun to win 56-54 at the buzzer.
Next came favored Texas who the Panthers beat 75-72 on a half-court buzzer beater by Paul Jesperson. The Cinderella Northern Iowa Panthers clock struck midnight with 30 seconds to go against A&M.
Texas A&M is the lone SEC team left in the tournament after losing to Indiana this weekend.
The biggest of the big
The NFL has always been known for their huge players on the line. Lineman in the upper 300s in weight is quite common.
Baylor has a tight end in the draft this year that tips the scales at 405 pounds, on a 6'6" frame. Laquan McGowan will likely go early in the draft as a mammoth sized player with quick feet and good hands. A player like him who gets the ball near the end zone will be hard to get down. The NFL has never had a 400-pound athlete -- yet.
NBA season winding down
With roughly 13 games left for most teams, it will be close for the Golden State Warriors in their quest to tie or break the Chicago Bulls record for most wins in a season. The Michael Jordan led Bulls own the best ever league mark at 72-10, and the Warriors are still on pace to break that record with a current (Monday) mark of 62-7.
Golden State is fresh off their loss to the NBA's second best team in San Antonio. They were held to a season low offensive output of 79 points, well under their 100 point average, in losing 87-79.
They will have to win 10 of their 13 games left on the schedule to tie the mark. Working in the Warriors favor is the fact that nine of the 13 games will be home games. Golden State hasn't lost at home all year and ended last season on a home winning streak.
The 8-point loss to San Antonio saw three Warriors on the bench with injuries, and a 1-12 shooting night for MVP Stephen Curry. To be missing players and for their leading scorer to have such a bad night, losing by only 8 points to the second best team in the NBA is kind of a positive thing. When Golden State is on their game, they are untouchable and will likely defend their NBA title.
If it weren't for the sensational season the Warriors are having, San Antonio would be the toast of the NBA. They have an incredible 59-10 mark, 10 games better than the league's third best team (Cleveland 48-20), but they would have to win all 13 of their final games to tie the Bulls. Also undefeated at home, they are 24-10 away from home, compared to the Warriors 30-7 road record.
•••
Editor's note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].
Sports on 03/23/2016