Bowl Picks

The 2006-07 NCAA football Bowl season ended last night with the Ohio State Buckeyes taking the top spot in the college game. There were not too many surprises in the bowl competition. I finished with a 20-12 record, not too good, but it was good enough to win a Subway combo courtesy of Trent Knuckles. We were deadlocked at 18-11 going into the final three games and both of us had picked Southern Miss over Ohio University and Ohio State over Florida.
But, with me being the Big East fan that I am, I chose Cincinnati to beat Western Michigan. The Bearcats jumped out to a big lead and I felt great. However, a second-half draught looked bad for the Bearcats and I had to go to a basketball game, so I missed the ending. Thank goodness.
Cincinnati hit a field late field goal in the fourth quarter to win the game by three points. I’m sure if I had been watching that game, the kicker would have missed just like Louisville against Rutgers or the Bengals against the Broncos. I can’t afford another remote for my TV.
The win paid off as I happily savored my turkey and ham sandwich.
Big numbers
Here’s a trivia question for the future. What area player is second in scoring on his team and ninth in the district with a 13.7 and doesn’t start.
It’s Corbin’s Madison Johnson. If there was a category for highest scoring average for non-starters in the state, Johnson would probably head that list. He has three 20-point games with his highest coming of 24 points coming against Cawood.
Milestones
Two area ladies reached the 1,000 point club at their respective schools recently. Whitley County senior Stephanie McCullah scored her 1,000th point against Northeast, Tennessee, in the Berea Holiday Classic while junior Mikkah Rogers scored hers against Whitley County Friday night.
She nearly blew her own surprise. Just before the game I was informed there was going to be a half-time presentation to Rogers for reaching her 1,000th point. She only needed one point.
But, Whitley County made it tough. Rogers didn’t get that point until the 3:13 mark of the second quarter when she hit one of two free throws. I was beginning to wonder what was going to happen if she had not scored. Mikkah finished the game with 11 points as Corbin eeked out a 48-47 win.
Girls’ District
With five minutes to go in its district showdown with South Laurel Monday night, Whitley County faced a number three seed square in the eyes. A basket by Porcha Justice put South Laurel ahead 50-39. “I didn’t know how the girls would respond,” coach Larry Anderson told me after the game.
Holly Jones hit a three pointer that sparked a 15-3 run. Senior Stephanie McCullah, who was struggling from the outside hit a big three-pointer with :54 left and senior Kayla Osborne scored only two points in the game, but that basket came with :17 to put the Lady Colonels ahead by the winning score.
It was by far one of the most exciting games I have watched this season.
It was a huge win for Whitley County, it kept them in the race for the number one seed for the upcoming 50th district that will be played at South Laurel.
The Lady Colonels are 3-2, Corbin is 2-1 and South Laurel is 2-2 in the current standings.