In Eckleburg's Eyes - 3/11/2009, Part 1

News & Notes from Monday, March 9th, 2009

-On Monday night, JTH, MPW, and I went to Bearden High School to watch the Bearden Bulldogs play the Morristown East Hurricanes at 7 PM. The stakes were raised for this game and not just due to the $6 ticket price. It was a sectional (substate) game, meaning the winner would advance to Murfreesboro for the state tournament while the loser’s season would end. Win or lose, this would be Bearden’s last game in Knoxville.

-We sat at midcourt in the front row. The seats were not as choice as you might think. We were positioned next to Bearden’s student section. Our view was partially obstructed throughout the game. JTH attended because two of our former pupils from daycare, Ronrico White and Will Winton, play for Bearden. MPW went because he loves good basketball. I went for both reasons. MPW did wear the opposing teams colors but not because his grandfather attended the school. (I know that’s what you were thinking.) It was just a coincidence. The game was an event. We saw too many people from church to list them.

-Prior to the game, Bearden coach Mark Blevins was honored for his 400th win at the school, accumulated during the Bulldogs’ romp through the district tournament. Bearden athletic director Scott Witt presented him with a plaque. In fifteen years at Bearden, his record (after the game) stands at 404-109. That’s 26.9 wins a year! Blevins took over as Bearden coach for Cary Daniels in my sophomore year of high school.

-Bearden’s victory was never in doubt. Had the teams been evenly matched athletically (and they were not), Morristown East would have been dominated as they had no player taller than 6'4". Bearden’s guards exceeded that height. This also does not factor in Bearden’s depth. Morristown East never led but hung on for one quarter. Bearden only led the Hurricanes by four entering the second quarter (13-9). The Bulldogs’ pressure defense held MEHS scoreless for a 5:28 stretch of the second period. This contributed to a 23-2 run that pushed the Bulldogs to a 36-14 halftime lead and all but ended the Hurricanes hopes.

-Morristown East’s strategy was to play physical. This seemed to motivate Bearden all the more. Sophomore guard Ty Greene drew four offensive fouls alone during the game. I don’t know if I have ever seen that before.

-After three quarters the score was 65-23 and when Blevins finally pulled his first two units with 5:05 left in the game, the score was 70-23. The Bearden first wave more than tripled Morristown East and amassed a 47-point lead. The mercy rule was incorporated (meaning the clock did not stop in the final period) and Bearden won 76-34. It was the most lopsided substate victory I have ever witnessed.

-In my biased opinion, the two most impressive plays of the game were a rebound and a dunk. When Ronrico White grabbed a rebound high above the rim in the second half, it drew thunderous applause. When a rebound draws cheers, it is impressive. The dunk came when Nathan Parker grabbed a rebound and dunked over a defender in one motion. The referees called over the back but the kid more or less vaulted his defender.

-JTH and I were very proud of Ronrico (pictured, shooting a free throw). He played great. He and senior Blake Jenkins, both sons of former Tennessee basketball players, led the team with 13 points apiece.

-Morristown East is not a bad team either. They finished their season with a 25-9 record. Bearden, now 35-2, set a school record for wins. It is Blevins’ fourth team in fifteen years to advance to the state tournament. Bearden did not lose to an in-state opponent all season and has gone two straight years without losing to a local (Knox County) school. (Note: In this picture Ronrico White is mugging for the camera while a teammate is interviewed.)

-The smell of popcorn in the gym had made us hungry all night, so we hit Kingston Pike in search of food. We set out to try something none of us had ever eaten before. We stopped at Josephine’s Old World II Pizzeria and Restaurant (pictured, located at 10943 Kingston Pike). Despite its hours of operation indicating it was open, the doors were locked and no one appeared to be inside. Now craving pizza, we drove a few miles down the road and ate at Little Joe’s Pizza’s in Farragut. En route, JTH regaled us with a history of American grocery stores. Evidently he had done a report on them in high school and is a fountain of information on the subject. Of all things to be an expert on...

-Everyone in the restaurant was either a friend or family of our waitress. Her toddler, Cody, received a boisterous response when he walked through the door. Unfortunately, this scared the poor child profusely. While at the restaurant, we were briefly visited by RAW, who needed the keys to my truck. KLTW and KJW remained in the car as the child was sleeping. It was for the best. I would not have wanted to give Cody an inferiority complex...