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Playoff berth belongs to Memorial with win over Stratford |
| Wednesday February 14, 2007 | |
| Written by Ignacio Salazar |
|
 
** A Letter from the Editor ** The Memorial Mustangs and the Stratford Spartans battled it out on Tuesday night to see who would earn the right to play in the post season. With a high profile rival game, one might expect both teams to come out fired up and ready to put points on the board. With a packed gym, Dominique Sachse, a Memorial alum and anchorwoman of Channel 2 hosting the night’s event, the teams were fired up but the points were scarce. The first four minutes of the game were scoreless as both teams ended up with only four points by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was similar with very little scoring by both teams. Stratford’s Adam Elkhatib dropped in a three pointer to give the Spartans their first points of the second period. However, Memorial’s Will Patchell returned the favor on the following possession. Memorial’s Matt Staff closed out the first half with a mid-ranged jumper to give the Mustangs a 14-13 lead heading into halftime. Halftime seemed to fire up the Spartans as they came out energetic and aggressive in the third period. Stratford forced turnovers and crashed the boards to give them the offensive opportunities that allowed them to put points on the board. The Spartans earned a 29-23 lead heading into the final period. The Mustangs started the fourth quarter on a 4-0 run to bring the game back within striking distance. In the fourth quarter it was Memorial who was hustling to make the big plays and it paid off. The Mustangs would not let Stratford pull away and kept the game close and down to the wire. With just over a minute left on the clock the pressure in the packed gym was palpable in this defensive battle. Memorial's Kajander went to the line but came up empty. Stratford's Andrew Luck tipped in a 2 pointer , Patchell was fouled and sunk one. A three pointer by William White of Stratford put Stratford in the lead with just over one second reamining.34-32. Down by two, the Mustangs had one last chance to send the game into overtime. Memorial went to their go-to guy, Patchell, and he earned a trip to the line for two foul shots. The pressure was on Patchell to make both free throws, and he did just that to send the game into overtime. Both teams had foul trouble in the overtime period sending the opposing team to the line for free throws. However, it was Memorial who triumphed in the end as they secured a 44-38 win in the extra period. The win gave Memorial the right to continue on in the post season, and a win by Spring Woods knocked Stratford out of playoff contention. Leading scorers for the Mustangs were Will Patchell with 16 as Matt Brejot dropped in 11. Leading the way for the Spartans was Brad Daniel with 14 and William White with 8.
The playoff bracket is yet undetermined, but should be set by Thursday. Stay tuned for all the postseason info. ***Full game coverage and nights activities available on DVD for $25 + shipping and handling. Contact lsinclair@athletesconnection.com or by phone 713.339.4400 to place your order.*** I can't believe!!
written by Little Momma, February 14, 2007
What a game! Such a fine group of young men playing a great game surrounded by a group of very rude fans, predominatly the Stratford fans!! As I stood there and listen these young people booed a local celebrity who was kind enough to be the emcee of this game, booed the young man who came out to sing our National Anthem, and then booed the senior players and their parents as they came out to recognized, I couldn't believe my ears. While I know there is a long standing rivalry between these two schools, these students have crossed the line with the level of disrespect of their peers and more importantly the adults. I have been to other sporting events where the Stratford fans have held up newspapers and turned their backs on the band, parents tearing up spirit signs that our girls had made. The sad thing is that I have heard many more stories then I just mentioned. While the Memorial fans are not innocent in all this I have not viewed them being rude to the adults or the band. Unfortunely, I have watched the parents act the same way as the children. What I haven't seen is the school leadership or coaches trying to stop this disrespect by their students. While I applaud all these fine young men who were on the court last night playing for their schools, the actions of the Stratford fans disgraced the hard work and sportsmanshp of their own players by their actions!!
Embarrassed
written by BB Fan, February 14, 2007
I'm embarrassed for the Stratford players. The team played their hearts out and their fans (parents and students alike) dishonored them with their behavior. In the end they showed their lack of class. I truly believe that Memorial students and parents would NEVER behave that way. In fact we were visitors at 2 separate "senior nigh" events this seaons. In both cases, we cheered the opposing seniors and their families. Bottom line: We've simply got more class.
CRY,CRY,CRY
written by MIKE, February 14, 2007
Thats funny i do not remeber the straford fans booing the senior players, or the young man who sang the natinol anthem or even the lady who came, When SHS won 17-0 the mhs players out of pure anger tore down signs of players and not to mention the peanut butter incedent, these are just a bunch of rich parents that have to find a reason to cry, oh yeah and the first comment did you not see the shs principal and the head coach yelling at students in the stands, QUITTT CRYINGGG
class
written by fan, February 14, 2007
I cannot understand how Memorial fans are angry about Stratford fans when their student section is named the "swearing sailors". Anytime a Memorial freethrow was made the crowd, including some parents and cheerleaders, yelled "swoosh b***h". The principal at Stratford made an announcement about the game, and the Athletic Director and head Football coach talked to all the senior men attending. There were coaches in the student sections of the game, and they did kick some kids out. No one booed the emcee, or the young man singing the national anthem. What about when during football Memorial kids stole signs from all the Stratford football player's houses? or when the made t-shirts showing sexual activity between an animal and a Stratford cheerleader? It may be getting out of hand, yes, but in no way is it only the Stratford fans. Take responsibility for your own fans too, yall arent perfect.
are you kidding me
written by shs student, February 15, 2007
Memorial first off you have no right to tell us how to cheer. Year after year in football we have to put are signs up at the game instead of infront of are houses because y'all will tear them down. Also at every game when our spartanaires preform y'all turn around or read the newspaper. Hey little mama by the way we never rip up signs or bring newspapers. Furthermore the way that game was called memorial parents need to put their cash up and let the boys play. We are loyal fans why should we have to cheer for the other teams senior day; its a rivalry game. Yall are the dang swearing saliors saying swoosh b***h, so dont complain when we say someone sucks. So I would end this with a [EDIT - AC Admin] have a nice day. 17-0
Quit your bellyaching
written by This is SPARTA, February 15, 2007
Ok then, I think I should set the record straight. We were advised, as well as threatened by our own coaches to not attack individuals (ie Patchell Sucks), we couldn't swear, couldn't attack the officials, and in an overwhelming majority, our student section kept it PG 13.
We did boo dominique sacshe, we did boo the seniors, we were cheering Ryan Huffman, most of us went to junior high with him and were really happy for him. In fact, most of the tone deaf students were singing with him. So as to the we booed the kid who sang the national anthem, try again. We did turn around when you were introducing the seniors but we never crossed the line. We are sorry that we have more school spirit than you, im sure you'd rather be at a polo match than at a lowly high school sporting event, so step off. You won congrats. hope you can bring more than 100 fans to next years football game, even if its past your kiddies bedtime. 17-0! THIS IS SPARTA!!!! Thanks for the honesty!!
written by Little Momma, February 15, 2007
Thanks This is Sparta for being honest. You are the only Spartan to be honest about the nights events. You also need to get past the 17-0. That is old and I think the new thing will need to be 44-38.
...
written by MIKE, February 15, 2007
If Patchell plans to play any college ball at all which is vey unlikely, then he will have to stop his cryin along with his parents calling coach allen, the students in college will be very rude an will not be stopped at any cost,Well If were talking about the past 44-38 is in the past also so again i tell all you memorial people an espically patchell and his parents to quit crying...............17-0
aight late
written by proud spartan, February 15, 2007
Quit being such babies about the game. Yes, memorial won. I commend you. The Stratford fans are some of the most proud fans in the Houston area and are not afraid to show it. About your comment regarding MHS having more class than stratford fans, "fan" definitely brings up a great point, memorial has definitely performed its fair share of unclassy actions. Little mama, you need to quit complaining. Stratford fans bring spirit to the game and add a level of intensity to the game which would not be reached if they were not to show up. As for your idea of 44-38 being the remembered score... yeah right. what a joke. i could guarantee you that at least half of the memorial fans which were there last night don't remember the final score. You "classy" memorial people should stop attending high school sporting events if you're offended by the students actions. Go drink tea and eat some crumpets. Sorry that all us stratford people aren't as good as you perfect memorial fans. LATE
...
written by John, February 15, 2007
First both sides have great fans and support their teams. But Stratford fans did boo the band during all of the JV game and did boo the emcee when they found out that she went to Memorial, even after the guy came out to tell everyone to show respect for her. Also our sailors do say swoosh b**** when the game gets intense but they usually keep it to swoosh and the players name. However our fans don't chant bull**** when there is a bad call and we don't chant someones name and say they suck. I think it is funny that the Stratford fans countinued to chant patchell sucks even after he was put under the most pressure you can be put and totally drained the shots to tie the game. Memorial fans do have class and we dont drink tea this is Texas not England. After the game instead of walking out with some dignity your fans decided to just throw it all away by starting some classy fights. One of our fans got into a little argument with one of your fans and turned to walk a way and he got punched in the back. One of the cheapiest and low shots. He was able to keep his composure but then your low fan decided to spit in his face like painsy. After all that he still kept his composure and walked away instead of starting a brawl. You may call him a painsy for walking away but its what winners do. You then mentioned the thing about the cars and that was all just retaliation. Your cheerleaders started that one. And last get over the 17-0. Yall had one good year and now your celebrating like yall are everything. You went to the playoffs for the first time in i think like 10 years or something. We are use to the playoffs and we are use to being district champs. We had a bad year and yall had a great I give it to you. But just because you had one good year dosen't mean your the best.
...
written by fan, February 15, 2007
Patchell did drain the shots, and he definately should be commended for it. It shoudlnt matter what the fans shout then, he proved them wrong,I dont know why yall get so mad about it if it isnt true. During the game at Stratford the memorial fans started a cheer saying one of the stratford students "sucks d**k". Both sides do these things, and for every action stated theres another thing done by the other side. Didnt the refs have to tell the band to stop playing during the game? and the Stratford cheerleaders were booed when they tumbled across the court.The entire game it was "swoosh b***h", and I could hear it quite clear. Stop acting like yalls fans dont do anything wrong. As for the fight, I havent heard about that, and if its true, Im sorry and that fan doesnt represent Stratford. That is one fan, and unlike the cheering sections at the games, he does not represent stratford in the slightest. For the peanut butter incedent, the memorial kids retaliated on kids that were not involved at all, instead of on the perpetrators. Students who had no idea about the attacks had their cars messed with, which isnt just at all. In terms of the score, I think you must agree that most students dont remember the score. Im not a fan of our students continually bringing up the 17-0, esp during other sports. In terms of basketball the record between the teams is 1-1, and yall made the playoffs we didnt. This last game was close, and it isnt like yall established the team as dominant over us. The teams are evenly matched, and made for some great games. Our teams have been doing great this year, and we are just very proud of that fact.
agreed
written by proud spartan, February 15, 2007
i agree with fan and as for the fights, i saw them and no one was pushed in the back. if so you are talking about two seperate incidents. as for the fight which i did see, it was started by memorial actually. one of the students was talking trash after yall beat us. that provoked him getting spit on. While i agree it was inappropriate to spit in his face, don't act like he was a hero for not doing anything, he provoked the actions. There were incidents after the last game when we beat yall which weren't giving much attention such as a memorial PLAYER calling one of the fans a NIG*** as they walked out. Yall are so classy!
MHS
written by MIKE, February 15, 2007
BB Fan i do not agree with you saying that memorial would never do that, booing a jv game how much class is that
Rivalries
written by This is SPARTA, February 15, 2007
There is enough bad blood between the teams. We hate you, you hate us. Sports are just that way but you gotta have a think skin. If you all can make a t shirt of a mustang having its way with one of our cheerleaders then I think you should can it about our fans stepping to far. I love rivalries. they add spice to sports. 17-0. THIS IS SPARTA!!!!
Great game by both sides!
written by Jarvis, February 15, 2007
This was one of the best games ive ever been to although i was neutral i was happy when Memorial won after witnessing the kind of trash Stratford is. I saw Stratford kids trying to start fights when I was going to my car in the parking lot and when the poor kid came out to sing the national anthem many of them were laughing at him and booing him. I know both teams played their hearts out and gave it all they had. Even thought Stratford came up short that was probably the best they could play there was nothing that could do about Memorials terrific defense. I respected Stratford until I saw how trashy they were. Also during halftime one of Stratfords students thought it would be cute to try and do some flips, when he did that one of Memorials students stepped up and made Stratfords guy look like a loser after he fell on his face trying to do a flip. This is all coming from a neutral fan. Good luck to Memorial in the playoffs and good luck to stratford in other stuff.
...
written by fan, February 15, 2007
Jarvis, i guess your not actually an unbiased fan cause if you were u would point out things both sides do. The young man often does flips and stuff at the Stratford home game, it was not meant to be a challenge or anything like that. By the way you speak (or write) I believe it is apparent when u stated that the kid" looked like a loser", you do not have the social graces and abilities to have a decent discussion about this. I did not hear the booing, and I believe the laughing you may have seen was students talking to eachother because the young man that sang the national anthem went to middle schol with alot of the Stratford kids and it is always nice to see a former classmate 4 years later doing well in highschool. An unbiased opinion would mention things on both sides, not just one.
ovarall feel written by team playa, February 15, 2007
as an umbiased obserever who is scouting both teams as possible playoff match ups i really have to applaud memorial. Stratford played a heck of a game but are to reliant on william white who was shut down for much of the game. Memorial played their hearts out espeacially on defense once they went down six in the fourth quarter. Both teams really should be commended. Memorials fans were very respectible outside of the swoosh bi*** which is heard all over the city in games. Stratford wasnt the worst i have seen however attacking individual players such as will patchell was low. It was a basketball game so i didnt really care to know if football was 17-0 or not even though it apparently really matters to all of u people. congrats to stratford on a good season and beating memorial in football from what i hear as a rare occasion but either way congrats to memorial and good luck in the playoffs
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