Month: March 2022

   The Good News for Future Blue Eye Basketball Opponents: The “Youngest Mitchell” has used up his High School Eligibility.  The Bad news for Future College of the Ozarks Opponents: You now have “Another Mitchell” to deal with.

  Isaiah Mitchell has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his basketball and academic careers at C of O.  He will join, his brother, Andrew.

  Mitchell lead the Bulldogs, this season, to an undefeated Southwest Central League Championship, a district title, and a birth in the State Playoffs.  He was first team all-conference and was the League Player of the Year.  Last week he added All-State Honors to his list of accomplishments. 

   He will join Andrew  on Coach Steve Shepherd’s ball club.   Their older brother, Christian, also starred at Blue Eye, before playing his college ball at Kansas Wesleyan.  And older sister, Alexis, was a NCAA D-I volleyball player at the University of Tulsa.

(click player below to hear interview with Isaiah)

 

   Here are my award picks for the year.  As in years past I do not have stats on spread sheets in front of me.  Its more of an eye test than anything.  It’s all in fun.  Another good year of basketball is in the books.  Some folks stood out, some of those are on the list below and some others, I would love to had included but just so many spots.  Congrats to all, and thanks for another fun year…..

 

                                                                           Girls                                     Boys

 

Youngin of the Year(frosh/soph) TAYLOR FOSTER        TANNER BAIRD                   

 

Keep an Eye On                   SAMANTHA GEORGE              MALICHI HENRY          

 

My Final Shot                              JADE WATSON                        JOSH BARLOW

 

Best Floor General:             RILEY ARNOLD               KYLE SCARBROUGH

 

Underrated:                                GRACYN FAIRCHILD                CLAY KEMP 

 

Straight out Player              BRISSA GERE                      ISAIAH MITCHELL

 

Defend 2 win                       AVERY ARNOLD                       TANNER HIRSCHI              

 

Not About Me                       KYLA WARREN                  MATT GREENWALT

 

Coach of the Year                    KEN ELFRINK                           KYLE TURNER

     

Player of the Year           RILEY  ARNOLD                    GARRETT SNYDER  

                 

   

   

 

  For the second consecutive game Blue Eye came out firing on all cylinders and for the second consecutive game they, pretty well, put their opponent away in the first quarter.

  After taking care of Miller Wednesday Night, in Carthage.  The Lady Bulldogs had a lot shorter trip this afternoon.  Republic was the site and Dora was the opponent, as Blue Eye headed into their State Quarterfinal game looking to secure their third consecutive trip to the Show-Me Showdown.

  The Lady Bulldogs, again, came out with hot shooting and a stingy defense that saw them forcing turnovers and bombing away from long range.  Before the Lady Falcons had time to blink, Blue Eye jumped out to a 13-0 lead.  That margin had climbed up to 26-9 by the end of the first quarter and 39-18 by the half.

Before going to the locker room, the Lady Bulldogs had scorched the nets for 9 long range bombs. (Avery Arnold 4, Gracyn Fairchild 3, and Riley Arnold 2.)  About the only thing that Blue Eye struggled with all-afternoon was fouls.  But, not even that, would detour the Lady Bulldogs on this day.

  It was more of the same in the second half.  By time the third quarter ended Blue Eye held a 59-29 lead and we started the fourth quarter with a running clock.  

  The outside shot was the point of emphasis for Blue Eye in the first half, but the second half saw Kyla Warren come to life inside the lane.  She would score 16 of her team high 22 in the second half.

  In the end, Blue Eye had secured a spot in the Final Four for the third year in a row.  Dora was led by Cassidy Hambelton, who finished with a game high 27 points.

  In addition to Warren, Avery Arnold (15), and Gracyn Fairchild (14) finished scoring in double figures.

  Blue Eye will take on Wellington-Napolean at Noon in the State Semi-Finals.  The game will take place at JQH Arena and can be heard on perryphillipssports.com.