Amey Takes Aim
Amey Takes Aim: Postseason success is still possible for many Valley teams
In the past few weeks, when we’ve been so busy that this column has found neither time nor space to appear, you’ve missed a lot of really good predictions.
I was fully prepared to tell you that the Cardinals were going to win it all in major league baseball and that the Colts would be finishing third in the their division of the National Football League. Now I don’t have to take back those words.
I might also have tried to figure scenarios that would be best for Wabash Valley high school football teams in Indiana to make long playoff runs.
Lots of postseason success is still possible, but certainly not because the Indiana High School Athletic Association did any of our teams any favors. I am hard pressed right now, a little more than 24 hours before postseason football begins, to think of any of my teams with a fortuitous draw.
I guess we’ll have to make our own breaks.
There is still time to tell you about volleyball, which is a good-news, bad-news deal for the three best teams in this area.
The good news is that the Class 4A sectional — which features a defending champion Terre Haute South team that’s beaten Terre Haute North which has beaten Northview which has split with South — includes at least two other teams with similar skills and credentials. Absolutely anything can happen in the five matches that will determine the 2009 champion today and Saturday, and all five could be heart-stopping.
The bad news, of course, is that the tournament is at Martinsville.
Continuing down that path, more good news is that such a situation probably assures a championship match between two of the three western representatives — a match some of their fans probably won’t get to see — just as the 2010 championship match, coming back to a western site, will probably feature Plainfield vs. Martinsville or one of those teams vs. Mooresville.
Which came first, class sports or irony and cynicism?
There is volleyball closer to here, however. West Vigo is host for the Class 3A tournament, during which a lot of teams will probably be scheming to think of a way to beat Sullivan; there are at least three contenders in a Class A sectional at Shakamak; and an entertaining Rockville team is the favorite at Covington.
Any or all of those tournaments are worth a look or two. And for fans of the Braves, Knights and Patriots, try to remember — as I always try to remember — that there are speed traps on Indiana 67 between Gosport and Martinsville, particularly after dark.
• • •
• With gratitude — It’s been almost 20 years since I met Rachel and her friend Evalee while refereeing one of their Clay City basketball games and, as Darcy would say, I had no clue that one day I’d be marrying Rachel’s mother with Rachel and Evalee tending the guest book at the ceremony.
Nor, of course, that I’d be speaking one day at Rachel’s funeral.
You may remember me writing a few years ago about how tough Rachel was as she fought off her second round of cancer. The fifth round proved to be too much, but the Princess in pink was a fighter; it’s going to be fun to watch Garrett grow up with all the great qualities he got from her and from his dad Ryan.
Not all of you were there to hear my speech about her, and its gist needs to be in public domain anyway. A lot of great things have happened in my life in the last 15 years, none of which would have been possible without the girl who helped her mom through some tough times until I could take over that job.
Thanks, Rach.
Andy Amey can be reached after 4 p.m. for comments or news items at (812) 231-4277 or at 1-800-783-8742; by e-mail at andy.amey@tribstar.com; by mail at P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN, 47808; or by fax at (812) 231-4321.
- Amey Takes Aim
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Amey Takes Aim: Robinson proves it takes toughness to win tournaments
If the last two weeks proved anything to Wabash Valley high school basketball fans, it was that toughness is what it takes to win tournaments.
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Amey takes Aim: It’s hard to take in all the great athletic feats going on in the Valley
It’s one of those times of the year again when I really need to be in several places at once; I almost pulled that trick off on Saturday.
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ISU to host Jazz Festival on Saturday
Indiana State University will host a day of jazz Saturday with performances by 21 middle and high school jazz bands; the ISU Jazz Ensemble and guest artist Eric Alexander.
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Entertainment Briefly: Feb. 5, 2010
• Lunsford to sign books downtown
• Heritage Awards Dinner set Feb. 23
• Vintage Camper Rally reservations sought
• Children's Summer Theater play set
• Woods student's work in Visual Arts Show
• Women of Note to begin rehearsals
• House of Hope pancake breakfast set
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AMEY TAKES AIM: Here’s a sneak peek at the All-Amey team
Rebel that I am, I’m going to violate protocol this week. I’m going to reveal one of the captains of the Andy Amey Teams for girls high school basketball who will be appearing in a few weeks.
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Fighting winter ‘blahs’ with some help from MVC basketball
Trying to overcome the January blahs with the help of Missouri Valley basketball, NHL hockey and — dare I say it — even occasionally the NBA and the Big 10 has been semi-successful.
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AMEY TAKES AIM: Pick a skill and Billy ‘The Kid’ Harris had it
This column is for longtime Sycamore fans — emphasize the “long” part — who remember the CMU.
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Amey takes Aim: Classic’s best title game capped great tourney
If it weren’t for last year, we might be talking about the recently completed Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic as the best one ever — and it unquestionably had the most interesting championship game, only the 2003 Terre Haute North-Bloomfield matchup being anywhere comparable.
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Andy Amey: Sometimes there is joy in the simplest of gifts
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in the Amey household. The hopes for St. Nicholas arriving, however, depend upon how much he’s accomplished in the short amount of time between him writing this and you reading it.
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Amey Takes Aim: Mashall’s pride was roaring during unforgettable run
Only 29 seconds remained Saturday afternoon when Marshall’s Lions finally realized their 11-game high school football winning streak had come to an end. Taylor Duncan’s fourth-down pass had fallen incomplete, visiting Maroa-Forsyth had the ball — and a 17-point lead — and the Lions’ offensive unit trooped dejectedly off the field.
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Amey Takes Aim: Robinson proves it takes toughness to win tournaments
