It’s election year.
That means businessmen and women across the country are putting together marketing packages to build and expand their brands in an effort to generate interest and maximize their profit potential. Excuse me, I meant that means everyone seeking to be a public servant is showcasing their platform to the masses in hopes of coming into office, healing the world and making it a better place for you and for me.
That being said, it’s almost certain that regardless of who emerges as victors come November, someone will likely have over promised and later under-deliver.
That’s where your boy steps in.
Here are five promises I’m certain will come through in this year’s Northeast Regional hoops tournament.
• Piedmont’s boys will be entertaining: The Bulldogs’ offense is basketball’s version of football’s fun and gun. Playing in coach Tommy Lewis’ offense has to be every player’s dream. It’s organized chaos at its optimum. They get up and down the floor with speedy ball handlers such as Denard Spears and Trevor Ford. That’s not to mention 6-foot-7 North-South game selection Sloan Garner, one of The Star’s coverage area’s finest on the hardwood. The Bulldogs have won four in a row and six of their last eight and should be favorites to wind up in Birmingham for a third straight season.
• The Class 4A girls bracket will be the toughest: Whichever Class 4A girls team represents this portion of the state at next week’s Final 48 will have earned it. The four teams in action are a combined 109-13 on the season. Three of them were ranked in the top five of the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s final poll. Third-ranked Anniston (28-1) will face No. 2 Oneonta (33-0) and fifth-ranked Jacksonville (27-4) will face Springville (21-8). Of course, that’ll have local fans hankering for an all-Calhoun County final. I wouldn’t mind it either.
• You’ll be impressed with point guard play in the Saks-Madison Academy matchup: I’ve looked forward to this one all-year. Saks Addesha Collins has been assassinating defenders for years around these parts. The Star’s 2011 Class 3A Calhoun County Player of the Year’s speed coupled with her hustle and shot-making ability makes her nearly impossible to cover. Madison Academy’s Lydia McGee, a Samford signee, guided the Lady Mustangs to a state title a year ago and was a first-team selection to the all-state squad. Saks coach Michelle Lively could use Destinee Briskey as the primary defender against McGee. Nonetheless, you don’t want to miss either of one of these players do their thing.
• Somebody’s going to make a name for themselves: I can remember a few years ago when former Parker guard Eric Bledsoe took the Pete by storm. He wound up signing with Kentucky and was drafted by the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder a year later before being dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers, his current team. There’s plenty of unsigned hype in this year’s field, but I’ll leave you with two players, one boy and one girl, whose profiles will increase after the regional tourney — Oneonta point guard Keenan Warren and Anniston shooting guard Tiakeefah Huguley. Watch and see.
• I’m going to have a good time: As The Star’s resident hoops head, I’m like the Bruh Man from Martin locked in Subway by himself after hours. Let the games begin.
