Hey Jealousy

After watching the Rock Falls Rockets miss a shot to hand the Byron Tigers a rare loss last night, I got back to my desk and thought out loud:

"Byron at Oregon tomorrow night. Hawks are 13-4 and firing on all cylinders. Tigers look tough at 15-1. Battle of 4-0 teams in the BNC West? That's gonna be an awesome game."

I could tell Dan Woessner heard me loud and clear, judging by him responding with a pensive, "Hmmmmmm..."

I figured he would call an audible. Sports writer Larry Brennan was originally slated to cover Prophetstown at Erie boys, another game I pitched a few weeks ago. Sorry, fellas. After the Prophets laid an egg at the Newman tournament, the battle for first in the girls' Big Northern West gets the nod.

So Dan shifted Larry from Whiteside County to Ogle County. Come on, man! Where's my finder's fee?

I kid. Sort of.

With all due respect to my assignment, Streator at Sterling girls, the Golden Warriors should wax and gas the Bulldogs before escorting them back to the bus.

In case you can't tell, I'm a bit jealous of Mr. Brennan. But the good news is my game should be in the books by 7:30, so I can tune in to his Twitter feed while I write my gamer. It'll almost be like I'm there.

If I was, I know the matchup I'd be watching closely.

Get your popcorn ready. The point guard matchup of Oregon's Sam Lambrigtsen vs. Mayson Whipple will be worth the price of admission alone.

Whipple can shoot. I'm pretty sure none of the five 3s she hit last night touched the rim. But she also has handles. She's got some eye-popping sleight of hand for a high school hoopster.

Then you've got Sam "Bam." There might not be another girls basketball player within 100 miles who has her combination of talent and determination. That includes Aquin's Arizona State commit Sophie Brunner.

Not to be overlooked - figuratively or literally - are the Tigers' two 6-plus-foot talented posts, Sophie Reecher and Ellie Lehne. It'll be up to feisty senior Devyn Absher - who was scouting at Tabor Gym last night - to push them around whenever she gets the chance to do so within the rules.