LOOKING BACK

 Well, this was a week Coach Tony Pietrowski’s Corbin Redhounds will remember as a trail by fire. First came an early test against the Clay County Tigers in Manchester. The Redhounds dominated the first half, but faltered in the third quarter and dropped a three-point loss to the Tigers.

Other than the third quarter the Redhounds played very well. The Redhounds had some lapses against Lynn Camp, but won 65-48.

The Jellico game was the third game in four nights for the Redhounds and it looked to me that they were playing on tired legs. But, giving the Blue Devils their due, they played very hard and they were well coached. Jellico had an outstanding player in Cody Malicoat. Malicoat may very well be the best player the Redhounds go up against this entire season. He is around 6’6” and does it all.

Travis Smith continues to play with intensity and led the Redhounds, and Robbie Igo stepped up big time by knocking down the two critical free throws and blocking a shot with time running out to preserve a 53-52 Redhound win. Zack Farley’s play with his all out effort through-out the game was inspiring.

Donnie Wilson caught my eye, coming off the bench and exhibited quickness on both offense and defense, and you can look for Eric Jones to heat up even more from the three-point line.

The three-pointer shot has done more to revolutionize the game of basketball than anything since they successed to cut a hole in the peach basket.

I know it is not baseball season, but it is the time of the year that Major League baseball teams lay the groundwork to prepare for the coming season. General Managers sign free agents and engineer trades that will put their respective teams in a position to compete for pennants.

The Cincinnati Reds have been my favorite team as long as I can remember and unfortunately as the newspapers and television lists daily transactions, the Reds are never visible. It is not as if they have such a great team that they can stand pat and be competitive. The Reds General Manager Walt Jacketty has got the best job in baseball, he does absolutely nothing and I am sure collects a very good salary.

The number one Kentucky Wildcats fell from grace, as the trap was sprung by Indiana. In an unbelievable game Marcus Teague did not show up in the first half and Terrance Jones did not show up at all. Anthony Davis was in foul trouble most of the game and the ‘Cats could not make free throws. And add to that Indiana hit seven straight threes and you probably would conclude Kentucky would lose by many more points than one. Some things are just meant to be.

There has to be something affecting Jone’s frame of mind, in essence he was not visible in the second half of the North Carolina game and did not show up at all for Indiana. What ever it is, I am sure Coach Cal will correct the situation in short order.

The Redhounds prepare for South Laurel on the road and Carter County, Tennessee, at home this coming week as basketball begins in full swing.