Into the march – to March

Hard sometimes to get my head wrapped around just how fast a basketball season can go by, but when you have one of those years when the weather seems to be cooperating for the most part, and we don’t have to deal with schedule changes, postponements and cancellations, (knock on wood), then the season seems to move faster than in other years.

That said, take a quick look at the schedule, or rather, what is left of it, and make some plans now to get out to The Castle in the next three – yep, that’s right – three weeks – which is what is left of this regular season.

The Lady Dawgs and Bulldogs travel to Allen County – Scottsville Friday night for a double-header matchup against their Patriot counterparts.

On Saturday, we have a rare, non-holiday game split that will see the Lady Dawgs junior varsity and varsity heading west to Bowling Green to take on Warren Central while the Bulldogs will be active at home in a three-game event that will see the boys’ freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams playing host to Jackson County. The Lady Dawgs will tip off around 11 a.m. while the Dawgs are set for a 3:30 tip off with the freshmen game to begin around 1 p.m.

Both teams will get a few days off at the first of next week, then as we move into February we get things kicked off with the Saturday, February 8 double-header hosting of the Robbie Davis Memorial Classic at The Castle.

Of course, that event is Clinton County’s way of paying tribute to one of our best recognized sports and civic leaders who left us too soon a few years ago, as well as a way to support the Foundation that bears his name and honors his goals and legacy.

Folks – its winding down so get on board now and get in on the fun that is still in front of us.

Paying tribute to a comrade and friend

Readers and basketball fans, as well as baseball fans, will remember the reporting here earlier of the untimely passing of long-time 4th Region basketball and baseball official Joey Shirley.

“Joey Jack” to his friends and colleagues, Shirley died in late November of this year while working at his job as a self employed painter.

Fans at basketball games this season may have noticed the large “JJ” that appears on many of the jackets that are worn by the officials during pre-game warm-ups, which is their way of paying tribute and memorializing their co-worker and friend in his first absence during a season in a long, long time.

What you probably haven’t noticed however is that many of those officials are also memorizing Shirley’s time on the basketball court by using specially marked whistles that bear the name of the late referee – “Joey Jack” on the side.

In this photo, 4th Region official Brian Morgan, of neighboring Burkesville, is shown before a game tip-off last week holding his whistle up in front of the official table to be photographed.

What a fitting, and neat tribute, to Joey Jack Shirley.

In the meantime – I’m in the gym until March