View from 315A

MPW and I went to Bearden High School for the fifth night of the Rocky Top Basketball League on Thursday. This is the only Thursday night the league plays all summer and many fans forgot that games were in session. It was nice to have leg room.

Having comsumed quite a bit of basketball already this week, we opted to attend only the 7:30 game. We picked a good game. Ray’s ESG defeated Toyota of Knoxville 114-112. The game went down to the wire. Trailing by one and with only seconds remaining, Jared Stevens missed two free throw attempts. Scotty Hopson responded by hitting one of two foul shots to give Rashard Lee a good look at the buzzer, but in a rare moment on this night, his shot was off. My notes:

• The matchup between Brian Williams and Wayne Chism was a draw, with each cancelling the other out.
  
• Rashard Lee hit six three-pointers in the first half and after five minutes had outscored the Ray’s team.
  
• Tony White Jr was great in the clutch, as usual.
  
• Scotty Hopson actually smiled while guarding Wayne Chism. Though physically demonstrative, his face is usually deadpan throughout.
  
• Ray’s coach was out of town on business and it actually affected the game. At one point, they had guard Alex Oliver guarding Wayne Chism (with both Hopson and Williams out) and once the two bigger men reentered the game, Hopson guarded Chism and Williams guarded Lee, creating detrimental mismatches.
  
• The biggest absence was that of Steven Pearl, and on picture night no less. I would like to think somewhere in the world he was flopping drawing charges on nonexistent offenders.
  
• The announcer actually made a funny comment announcing Carlton Hill as “Barack Obama”. They do look alike. He then eliminated the humor by referring to the comparison constantly and laughing excessively at his own joke.
  
• The fact that he has worn thin was evidenced by none of his call and responses receiving any attention Even announcing his own mother’s presence drew crickets.