That might be putting it mildly. Head coach Dianna Sager continues to stress to her team the importance of making the opponent work for shots. Active hands are good hands.
“We run a plus or minus grade on deflections,” Sager said. “But what McKinley does is simply because of her instincts. You can’t teach what she does. That’s all a product of what she sees and how she reacts.”
Colleyville Heritage (19-6, 7-0 District 8-5A) understands that it is the team that everybody is chasing for the remainder of the season. It’s unlikely that this team will be challenged very much because of the way it has handled the rest of the district opponents.
Perhaps the only push was on Friday at Grapevine. The Lady Mustangs jumped out to an early 8-2 lead and stayed within striking distance until the fourth quarter.
It simply came down to Colleyville Heritage’s defense and creating disruptions in passing lanes that caused all kinds of turbulence. That’s what this team is going to need if it hopes to make a long postseason run.
For the season, the Lady Panthers have collected 266 steals and created 190 deflections. That’s 456 opponent possessions that didn’t go as planned.
“This defensive team is probably in the top two or three I’ve had,” Sager said. “Our 2007 and 2011 teams were really good defensively as well. We just have to stick with what we do and maintain consistency.”
That defensive effort is something that can cause the negative talk to disappear. Colleyville Heritage has had a history of advancing to going to the postseason but also being eliminated in the bi-district round. The players know that history. They’ve heard it.
Sager has often referred to this team to being as good as the 2007 team that advanced to the then-Class 5A Region I tournament.
“Everybody expects us to get into the playoffs and then get out,” Charles said. “But our playing does the talking for us. We have plan on going quite a bit farther than the first round. We’ve gotten a lot better on defense. That’s why we like how we’re playing.”
Cheers: To two true gentlemen, a father and his 16-year-old son, for saving a place in line for me at the Hurst Department of Public Safety so that I could wait in my car instead of standing for a long time. I won’t forget you. May God bless you!
Cheers: To Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams and the senior recreation department for sponsoring the Mayor’s Luncheon, which was a huge success. The entertainment was wonderful and brought the holiday season to life. Food furnished by Spring Creek Barbeque was the best ever. Arlington cares for its senior citizens.
Cheers: To the lady in line behind me at the 99 Cents Only store on Camp Bowie Boulevard who paid for my purchase, a better gesture than paying for someone’s lunch who can afford to eat out.
Cheers: To the generous people who paid for my food at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in Gainesville. It was an early unexpected Christmas gift. God bless you.
Cheers: To reader Kevin Mannion of Arlington for his letter to the editor Jan. 8 (“Mac on racism”). You nailed it.
Cheers: To the Clemson players for an exciting finish and victory, and for modeling the correct respect during the national anthem. The Alabama players lost that too.
Cheers: To the amazing inpatient rehabilitation unit team at Baylor Medical Center in Irving for your wonderful, compassionate and professional care during my rehabilitation. You not only made a difference in my medical recovery but also provided that all-important mental and emotional confidence and understanding throughout the entire process. Thank you!
Cheers: To Christina in the floral department at the Tom Thumb Food & Pharmacy in Southlake. She went far above her job description to deliver a bouquet of balloons to my grandson. Thank you for your kindness.
Jeers: To the individual who timed the traffic lights at the Chisholm Trail Parkway’s intersections. Evidently they do not drive or use the crossovers.
Cheers: To the wonderful, generous person who paid for our lunch at River Oaks Café. It really made our day! Also, thanks to the waitress, Alyssa, who helped us to a table and fingerspelled her name (I am deaf-blind), and who gave excellent service. The whole experience was a happy one.
Cheers: To Jason, Sean, Zek, Dak, David, Dez, the entire team and coaching staff of the Dallas Cowboys. You have made this 85-year-old grandmother smile the entire season. Thanks to all of you.
Cheers: To whoever paid for our lunch at Miranda’s Mexican Food in Burleson. My husband, David, is a Vietnam vet. We appreciated the thoughtfulness and will pay it forward.
Jeers: To a mattress dealer. We have our third mattress in eight years, and it is doing the same thing as the other two after only 11 months. Different brands. They say it is normal and won’t replace it under warranty or give a refund. If you want quality, buy somewhere else.
Cheers: To Arlington Public Works. The city street light in our cul-de-sac stopped working on Friday night. I called the city on Monday. The light was repaired on Tuesday. Friendly people and an excellent response. Thanks!
Cheers: To Cate and Patrick Ronalder on raising a super teenager. After denting our bumper, their daughter left a note with her name and phone number. The car was fixed by Kennedy and her dad. What an admirable role model who speaks loudly to this teen’s integrity.
Jeers: To a local sports team. During the holidays, I received two sets of tickets for the same three games. I contacted the team about the possibility of exchanging one set. The person was rude and refused to discuss the exchange. Very disappointed.
Cheers: To “la-la land elites” who exercise their First Amendment rights no matter what fascists think.
Jeers: To Haltom City for refusing to take oversight responsibility for ongoing missed trash pickup for those qualifying for side pickup by city-contracted waste service. City management response is “you don’t see Haltom City on side of truck” after contractor would not correct problem.
Jeers: To Sundance Square security. Though Fair Wage Fort Worth marched in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, we were told to put away our banner because supposedly fair wages had nothing to do with King’s legacy. Also, jeers to myself. I should’ve refused and risked arrest.
Cheers: To the Bedford City Council for attempting to recruit a city manager who at least has a college degree and some city management experience. Great job! Good things will happen to the city as a result.
Cheers: To the entire staff at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Day Neuro in Fort Worth. I went there needing help after surviving the West Nile virus. They worked hard to make me whole again and able to live my life as before. My husband and I are so grateful and thankful for your outstanding support.
Cheers: To Jim Kennedy and his crew, Jack Boyd and Patrick Bovea, for volunteering his wagon and mules Kit and Kat to carry around some rowdy breast cancer survivors in the Komen wagon at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo All Western Parade. Jim has volunteered his wagon and mules for the past six years.
Jeers: To those in the Texas Legislature who think they should decide for everyone what circumstances dictate the need or right to file for divorce. Aren’t there more urgent issues to address?
Cheers: To the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who passed out almost 1,500 Confederate battle flags at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo All Western Parade. And to the public who asked for and flew the battle flag proudly. Tell the Stock Show officials we want this flag back in the parade!
Cheers: To the McDonald’s on I-20 and Green Oaks Boulevard in Arlington. Your hospitality to a group of seniors who dropped in three days a week after exercise at Cliff Nelson Recreation Center is appreciated. We brag about our “McDonald’s sports coffee bar!” Friendships — the mainstay of life — have developed and blossomed.
Cheers: To Majella Kioko, pharmacy manager at my Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on West Vickery Boulevard. He and Kennethia on his staff helped resolve a tangled issue with a prescription discount program.
Cheers: To James Bush. He found my granddaughter’s University of Texas class ring and made the effort to find its owner. Good neighbors are around us.
"In context of everything, that’s no votes,’’ Cuban said. "That’s such a small number considering all the different options you have to vote that it’s almost embarrassing.
"If you think it of all the people who go to games, all the people who watch games globally, to have (the top vote-getter have) 1.5 million means the system is broken. Absolutely, positively broken.’’
"I think its time to do away with it because we’re just not getting the response that matters,’’ Cuban said. "Shoot, no one even tried to hack it.