After a brief hiatus from the HSSTM blogging scene, we're back to give you a good 10-minute break from work or another reason to keep procrastinating. You're welcome.
Now to get serious. Or a little more focused, let's put it that way.
One of the great traditions of the boys basketball season kicks off tonight, the Marion County Tournament. I know that most of you in surrounding counties probably get sick and tired of hearing about it every year.
Some of that is justified, because county tournaments all around the area are always ripe for some true high school hysteria. But truth being told, it's hard not to get a little more juiced up for the Marion tourney -- it's a loaded baked potato.
Think about it, in terms of this year. You've got No. 7 Lawrence North (the main base, always there at the end). You've got No. 13 North Central (the butter -- without it, everybody knows it just doesn't taste that good).
Then you've got No. 5 Warren Central (the bacon bits, showing versatility in its use and really and up-and-coming staple). Throw in No. 19 Franklin Central (the chives, giving a nice little kick and extra presentation) and you're really starting to put something together.
Now we're getting a pretty tasty looking potato, right? I still think we're missing a few things. First comes the salt and pepper, which this year has to be Southport and Pike. It's nice to have the extra spice with salt and pepper, but if they don't show up, the rest of the ingredients will suffice and still taste pretty good.
And finally, the last thing this loaded baked potato is missing is a bad cook -- the team/person/school/factor that has the ability to come in and change everything. This year, Decatur Central, Perry Meridian, Roncalli, Park Tudor, Ben Davis, Beech Grove, Brebeuf, Speedway, Lutheran and Lawrence Central all fall under this category.
Wait a minute, this entire analogy just got screwed up. Because if you have a bad cook and the potato tastes like liquid concrete, you're not going to eat it. But if any one of these teams comes into this tournament and shakes things up, you're still going to eat it up. Because it's the Marion County Tournament, and we like this baked potato no matter what.
Posted by: Bryan C. on Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Great analogy...and I don't think it will get screwed up, because LN will dominate. As the poll on your hsstm homepage shows, most people believe LN is coming out on top - and Warren Central, without Walter Offutt, isn't on it (top) anymore in The County.
Posted by: Baked on BBall on Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Hey, Mind...nice job today with the blog. I found the whole comparison kind of cool, but count me among those sick and tired of hearing about Marion County hoops. Tell me the last state champion to come out of there in Class 4A? I think it was North Central in 1999. I just feel like much, much better basketball is played around the metro area as opposed to in it.
Posted by: Zack J. on Tuesday, January 8, 2008
If North Central is the butter, they're about to get melted by the potato. Lawrence North will win this "tournament" and it won't even be close. Nice video on the main page, as well.
Posted by: Jesup on Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Don't count out some of those "factors" as you called them - Roncalli can play with people, as can Beech Grove. In fact, the Hornets could be the surprise team of this tournament. I know you follow BG basketball because it's your job...but they're playing ball there!