Episode 35: TCD IS BACK!

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Episode Transcript

(00:06):
Hello, Hello, Hello, Welcometo the Shamrock Sports Cast. I'm Rowan
Elbert, joined by Calie Sigler,Drew Taylor, and Tristan Finally I was
getting to that after weeks and weeksand weeks of being missing, we finally
found him and he's returned. Yeah, welcome back, Tristan Cook, Dennis.

(00:29):
We have a lot to get into. We're gonna talk about both boys
and girls basketball, a little bitof everything. I mean, it's,
you know, the time for thatwinter sports. Let's talk about the boys
basketball game. I want to talkabout last Saturday against Zionsville. We were
all there, me and DT.We were a duo broadcasting the game.

(00:52):
I know you were there, TristanCALLI you were definitely there too. So
I want to ask you. Fiftyyou win for Westfield, what was your
biggest takeaway? For me? Itwas that third quarter. I mean Westfield
just came out exploding. I don'teven think zions Will scored a point until
like the final like three minutes ofthe quarter, and all round, they

(01:14):
were creating opportunities, turnovers, scoringat anysanley high rates all around. That
third quarter is went one in thegame, for sure. Uh Yeah,
I agree on that third quarter kindof you know, we we started off
like fast. We like for thefirst time I seen us start off fast.
Definitely, Trey put us in thegame. Charles, Charles popped off.

(01:38):
Charles finally had double digit's points,so finally let's go Charles. Yeah,
that that third quarter we came outof halftime. I don't know what
coach Sumter said to them, butdefinitely fired them up because I liked it
because I hate Zionsville and I knowa lot of other people hate Zionsville,

(01:59):
so that just made me happy.But you as a football player, I
mean, I feel like it's harderto hate zions Well because you own them
in football. Yeah, so much. They even though it's been eleven years
no my bad, twelve years sincethey beat us in football, they still
want to call themselves a football town. So I mean, I mean,

(02:21):
I was five, Tristan, Ihave no idea how old you were,
and Drew, you weren't even born. All right, Kelly, what was
your biggest stake away? Yeah?I was definitely starting off the second half
really strong. You know, it'skind of slower in the first and it's
more closer, but they really steppedup in the third quarter, and that's
just what Westfield gave him the lead, and that's what really made him win

(02:43):
the game. Oh, I know, it's such a great performance and three
and zero great start for Westfield.And to put it into perspective, I
know, three games a very smallsample size, but we're tall fucking twenty
twenty one, twenty twenty two,possibly one of the best, you know,

(03:06):
high school teams I've seen with BraydenSmith and Cam Hafner. That team
didn't even start three and zero.Obviously, you know, very small sample
size. What are your expectations fromhere on out? For me? I
really think this team is as faras Trey by Cannon can take him.
And I say that meaning because Book. I feel like Book's gonna give hit

(03:28):
get his twenty points a game,and it's kind of like a I'm gonna
compare it to twenty eighteen twenty nineteenperty basketball because Carson Edwards would get his
forty points per game. Ryan Kleinwas that factor that if he was scoring,
you knew they were gonna win.So I feel like Trey, if
if he steps up, really thesky's the limit for this team. Drew

(03:51):
put it perfectly. I can't changethat. Yeah, I think it's just
Trey and then like they have starson our team, so I think if
we solo they started incorporating them alsointo it, it's gonna be a good
season for him. Oh I know. I mean Nick Book, that's another
guy I want to talk about allalthough the stat sheet, he hasn't quite

(04:14):
filled the statu sheet yet. He'sbeen throughout the season a great energy guy.
And we saw he had that dunkin the third quarter they called him
for a tech which that happened thefirst game. What he did to Florie
Badungo Wadunga. Former Shamrock Sports casthost Evan Cummings he actually told me it's

(04:38):
not Badunga, it's Badunga. Soyeah, thank you, Evan. I'm
sure you're watching. And yeah,I mean, just like Nick Book,
what does he bring to a team. Well, obviously, he's just an
extremely athletic. I mean, he'she he moves up down the court pretty

(04:59):
quickly for his side, he canshoot, he's a great post player,
and he brings great energy to thisteam. And obviously maybe the text won't
help, but at the same time, those high caliber dunks and stuff like
that that energizes the guys. Sojust an energy getter for for sure.
I know he brings a lot tothe team. Like he I can tell

(05:21):
you that he's like the type ofperson to bring energy in the locker room.
So wherever he's at, like whateverenergy he's bringing, the team is
going to bring. So like Isaid, like Drew said, like the
texts, the text aren't gonna hurt. But you know, yeah, yeah,

(05:43):
yeah, I agree with trust andAndrew on that one. Yeah,
I mean, but at the sametime that that tech he got in the
Zionsville game, Like, as aplay by play announcer, it's Andrew being
the color commentator. Really he's theone that should be giving his opinion.
But at that point I couldn't controlit. I was like, what is
this call that was? I thinkhe hung on the rim for what like

(06:06):
like three seconds an NBA or atany other level, I don't think they
had a call that. Yeah,it's I mean, I think the game
was so out of reach at thatpoint. I think they were trying.
I think the officials were trying toreach for whatever they had in their back
pocket. Yeah. I did notagree with that, but oh yeah,

(06:27):
yet the crowd was outraged, andI do want to talk about the schedule
ahead tonight at Garon Catholic at sevenpoint thirty. That's going to be an
interesting game. One I definitely seeWestfield winning. But Garan Katholic undefeated on
the season. How how can Westfieldcome out on top against Garan? First

(06:53):
of all, I want to plotGaran because they did make it stay last
year. This is a tough team. But also for Westfield, just come
out firing like Digg and signs,will space the floor, do all the
little things right, create turnovers,make have a high percentage from beyond the
ark, and I see them runningaway with this one if they do all
those things. I don't know alot of people on gear, but I

(07:15):
do know RJ former r J Hill, former Shamrock. He's a little He's
speedy and has some handles, soI think, you know, I don't
know how good he is. Imean he's good. I've seen him play
before. But I think we justgotta play defense because I know he can

(07:36):
shoot and play like take smart shots. I think in paint like points should
help us a lot, because Imean, I don't know. They might
have bigs, but I've seen alot of people from Geary, but they're
not that big, so I mean, yeah, I agree. It's really

(07:57):
just starting off strong and making surethe defense is. Garran's gonna come out
firing. They're undefeated. You know, they have talent on their team,
but Westfield has a lot of talent, and I think if we can use
Nick Book and Trey and they kindof form a little duo, I think
it's came over. I do wantto talk about a key battle, a
key matchup that will be the Battleof the threes. Last week we were

(08:20):
talking about the Battle of the tens, if you recall, and this week
we're talking about the Battle of thethrees. Trey Bucannon obviously having a great
season, but then for Garan Catholic, it's Robert Sorenson averaging twenty one points
per game. And by Battle ofthe threes, I'm talking about their jersey
number obviously, and yeah, Sorensona guy twenty one points per game,

(08:45):
key factor last year on that guaranteamthat went to State. I mean,
it'll be an interesting game for sure. Westfield a pretty tough task early on,
and I'm sure we'll see what thisteam is truly made of I guess
early on with this game against Garren, but then right after that they're taking

(09:07):
on Saturday, they're taking on butas the Christian at but as the Christian,
that game a lot of significance,you know Coop Jack exactly, That's
exactly why. And maybe not alot of significance for Westfield, but maybe
a lot of significance for him.So how how does Westfield contain him when

(09:28):
he might be playing, you know, what might be a very emotional game
for him. Well, I thinkit's definitely emotional. I mean we I'm
not going to get into all whathappened over the summer and stuff, but
it's pretty known with what happened there. But for Coop Jack, I think
this is about redemption. I meanI think he wanted more chances or more

(09:48):
shots than he was given, sohe's definitely got to prove himself. But
for Westfield, I really see themrunning away with this one pretty easily.
I have to agree. I thinkI think Koop Jack might get a little
too emotional and that's gonna show anduh, they're gonna you know, Nick
Book is a you know, heplays for New Zealand national team, so

(10:09):
he has that some I Q aboutthe game, so I mean, uh,
he's I bet you he's gonna seethat and take it to advantage.
And uh, I think will runaway with this game. Yeah, I
agree. I think the emotions aregonna be there. But Nick Book he's
a good player and we've seen himand I think that's really what kind of

(10:31):
made a decision. But I thinkit's gonna be a good game. Westfields
definitely gonna run away with him.Yeah, that that could be a that
could be a game that Westfield comingoff of a very tough matchup, could
be kind of like a rebound forthem if they were to lose. But
Westfield, I mean Westfield they havea long stretch coming up here without a

(10:52):
home game. I'm looking at theschedule right now. Their next home game
will be December to twenty second againstHuntington North That I think that that's quite
interesting. But West Westfield they're slightlyhome heavy, so I mean the stretch
of away games will be something weprobably won't see very often on the schedule.

(11:15):
Do you think that affects the teamat all? I mean, obviously
it's different because in high school youdon't have a road trip compared to the
NBA. Obviously you're you're home atschool and then you know at night you
travel, you know, like tenmiles or fifteen miles to a game.
But does that still affect a teamat the high school level. I think
it does because fans bring a lotto a game, they really do.

(11:39):
They energize players and stuff like that, So I think it'll affect them to
an extent. But at the sametime, it's like you said, it's
only the high school level, soI don't think it will play It only
be that significant from experience, especiallyfor the postseason, we only had one
home game. I mean it likeit brings sometimes it like it will bring

(12:07):
a different energy for away game becauseyou want to upset a team at their
place. And so every time wego to Carmel, Like when we went
to Carmel, we had a wehad the mindset on, we're gonna kill
this team and we're gonna do infront of their fans, and we did
just that. The same thing withNoblesville, even though we started off really

(12:31):
really slow and unfortunately Crown Point,but we did come back to two you
know, second overtime. But uh, but yeah, I think away games
just bring a whole different energy fora team, and uh affecting is it's
like so so like it depends,like if you're going against your rival school,

(12:54):
then like their their fans are goingto bring a different energy and that
might be hard. But like HuntingtonNorth, who is that? So?
Uh yeah, I don't I don'tthink it's gonna affect our basketball players,
but it definitely affects if you're playinglike a rival. Oh yeah, I
mean from your experience though, Ido want to ask you when you have

(13:18):
a school that's like two hours away, like Crown Point, and then you
lose and your season's over, whichis exactly what happened. I mean how
I mean, I hate to bringup past memories, but that bus ride
back, how painful was it?Well, when I had my concussion,
didn't really remember a lot of stuff, but I do remember the bus ride.

(13:39):
Uh, we we all sat withour we all had different buses for
like different grades that you're in.So there was a senior, junior,
sophomore, and freshman bus plus thewhole like injured and then trainers. But
we for it was a two hourbus ride, so we weren't all gonna

(14:00):
be quiet, but it was withus juniors. We are definitely talking about
how we're what we're gonna do tochange it next year because it's my senior
season this year, so you know, uh yeah, we're just bringing We're
just talking about what we're gonna bringto the table next year. Yeah.
I mean, also, I thinkthat you're probably lucky to not be on

(14:24):
the bus with a lot of seniorstoo. Oh uh. And they did
not take it serious. Yeah theywere. They were just uh, they
were getting their last memories as ateam together. So they were, you
know, every everyone that we havewill be We'll bring out speakers and play

(14:46):
some Britney spears. And they didexactly that. They just wanted the last
memories. And I don't blame thembecause I mean that was their last game
even though it shouldn't have been.But they just wanted to make the best
of it. Yeah, nothing youcan do. Yeah, what was the
original question? Man? Oh?How does oh? Yeah, how does

(15:09):
away games? Yeah? How doeslike a long stretch of away games affect
a high school team? I meanwe saw like the there's a lot of
energy versus the Westfield and Zions Fallgame that was like a lot of energy,
and I think that plays into arole because like it gets the players
hype, like you saw like Charlestrying to hype up and get loud,

(15:30):
like get the fans loud. Butlike it's also like high school, like
it's not gonna be like Mackie orAssembly Hall, like where there's thousands of
fans like that. So I thinkit's like it does play a role,
I think a little bit, butit shouldn't be like that big of a
role. I mean, like,but last Friday, I don't think West
Skiold will feel anything quite like that. But I think last Friday it felt

(15:56):
like, you know, Assembly Hallor Mackie. Obviously it wasn't, but
you know, it had that samekind of vibe to it. I've not
been to either place, so Ican't be talking. Now let's get into
a score prediction for Garon Catholic tonightat seven thirty. You might you might
be you might be watching or listeningto this after the gear Hawk sack Man

(16:21):
what a guy anyway, Yeah,I had to take him home last night.
Crazy anyway, Garan Catholic Tonight,seven thirty. You might be watching
or listening after the fact, Andif you are, sorry and yeah,
what's your score predictions for me?I'm gonna go Westfield sixty one. Garan

(16:45):
Catholic fifty two. Oh, Ithink I'm gonna stay on that same boat.
I'm gonna do Westfield sixty three.Garan Catholic fifty eight. I think
it's gonna be a close one.I'm gonna go Westfield fifty eight. Darren

(17:07):
fifty All right, all right,my score prediction, since everyone's looking at
me, I'm gonna go Westfield fiftyeight. Westfield fifty eight, Garren Catholic,
I'm gonna go fifty one. Ithink Westfield it's going to be a

(17:27):
close game, but in the fourthquarter, Westfield's going to edge them out.
Anyway, let's talk about Carmel withthe girls. Westfield versus Carmel two
nights ago. The girls stuck onCarmel and what a game. But the
girls came out with a forty twoto forty one win over Carmel and a

(17:48):
game that came down to the wire. But like Carmel, they were down
by eight in the fourth but theyfound a way back. But they were
just a point shy Westfield team offto a seven and one start. Unreal.
What has been the catalyst. Howhave they gotten this grave of a

(18:10):
start? First of all, Ilike to start off with Ellie kellerher.
She's playing really good basketball right now. And I also like to applaud Samantha
Price for all the rebounds she getsper game. I think that the Westfield
dominates the boards. That's definitely beena factor, and all around they're just
playing as a unit and it's shownsuccess so far. I think because she's

(18:34):
in a lot of my classes,and you know, she's cool. Ivery
Crockett, Avery Crockett is tough.When I go watch her games, she
has when she be shooting threes,it's like it's always like a guaranteed made.
So you know Aubrey Crockett and ofcourse Ellie, But I think Aubrey's

(18:57):
a little underrated and uh yeah,she begins a lot of points for her,
So yeah, I agree. Ithink Crockett and Keller her, they're
really good. Like Steele always givethem credit. Like when I always interview
her, she always has good thingsto say about both of them, and
we Crockett's kind of like a personyou should never underrest them right now,
like we've seen her come out reallystrong and I think that's like, what

(19:19):
makes us team so good is thetalent that we have. Yeah, I
mean this Westfield team, like everything'sclicking right now that it's been apparent that
this team, no one expected themto start off the way they have Carmel,
they are not a bad team whatsoever. And this Westfield team, as

(19:42):
they came into their place and pickedup a big win. And Ellie Keller
her it's been her team and Kellerher having a great season so far,
especially defensively. I mean she's averagingI think about three steals the game are
close to three steals the game thatplays such a big factor. But also

(20:03):
the breakout season from Reagan Lorenzen,which I talk about every week. But
it's for a good reason. Howlast year she didn't play a huge role
on the team necessarily, but hereshe is in her senior year coming into
form at the perfect time. Solet's talk about the upcoming matchups. Tomorrow

(20:27):
at Zionsville. That's at Zionsville,another pretty decent team. That should be
an interesting matchup seven and to bothseven win teams, how can Westfield come
away with a win? Obviously it'son the road, so it's gonna be
a tough environment for both. Forthe girls, if they can keep shooting

(20:47):
the way they're shooting from deep.Obviously we talked about Aubrey Krock and Ellie
Kellerer, they're gonna get their points. But defensively, you got to lock
up on the perimeter. Zionce Willshoots pretty well. So I think if
you play good defense and you doall little things right, that's all they
come off with it. On theroad, I think being smart with the
ball, uh most definitely, becausethis isn't a shot to girls basketball,

(21:11):
but I do see a lot ofturnovers and girls basketball, so smart with
the basketball, good shots, youknow. Obviously, I think I think
we'll be able to come with this, come out with the win because just
because of Sionsville. Yeah, it'sgonna be a tough game for sure.
You know, Zionsville's got some toughplayers in their team that put up twenty

(21:34):
points a game. So I thinkit's gonna be who really comes out and
shines. And and really if Westfieldcan stop and get turnovers but not make
turnovers. Yeah, and I'll addsomething to this. I think what's really
important are off ball screens to getshooters open and by shooters, I mean

(21:56):
Mikayla Hatcher and Aubrey Crockett and evenand Ellie kellerher too. It reminds me
of a play in rec basketball thatwe ran. It was called McNugget,
and we ran a play called McNuggetpoint guard with yell McNugget. It was
the corniest thing ever, but stillit worked. We'd have, you know,
go on the wing, have acouple off ball screens. Then we'd

(22:18):
have a wide open shooter right thereon the wing. And that's where Aubrey
Crockett and Mikayla Hatcher are both superbeneficial. So Coach Steele, if you're
listening to this, run McNugget,I'll tell you all about it. And
yeah, now let's get a scoreprediction though for Zionsville the game on Friday.
Two great teams and they're both redhot. How can one of these

(22:41):
teams, you know, come outon top. I'm gonna go I think
West will come on top. Ithink this team is battle tested in all
the right ways. So for westbI'm gonna go forty six, Zionsville forty
two. I think it's to bereally close, but I think the Rocks
will pulled out. Yeah, Ithink. I think it's gonna be a

(23:03):
close one just because it's a rival, so I must say forty six forty
three. I'm gonna go forty thirtysix Westfield on top. Wow, that's
I'm gonna have a little bit morefaith when it comes to the scoring.
I'm gonna go fifty three forty four. I think it's going to go a

(23:26):
lot like the Warsaw game, whichI was on play by play for,
And it's gonna go a lot likethat where it's very tight in the beginning,
but then Westfield they're gonna have aquarter or two where they just put
their foot on the gas and gohead on with a win. And that

(23:47):
this Westfield team, they're truly underrated, truly a great team. Okay,
now let's talk about swimming the boysand the girls and the girls. After
finishing first and first meet, thelast two meets have been not great.
I mean, I want to talkabout Tuesday, their first home meet for

(24:08):
the Boys and the Girls. Theytook on HSC and Franklin Central. They
finished third for the second straight meatin the row. What has been the
problem? I think just results aren'twhat they want. I think for this

(24:30):
team. Ellie Hill has definitely notseemed very happy with that lately, so
I don't know what needs to change, but I'm sure they'll figure it out
eventually. Oh yeah, yeah,swim faster. I'll tell you that.
I'll say I think, I think. I think it's a matter of getting
that extra work in getting into gettinginto the pool, you know, early

(24:52):
mornings, which I'm sure they do. I'm sure it's very painful to get
into a very cold pool every morning. But I think it's getting that extra
work in the aquatic center, greatplace, and you know, get just
get extra work in and you'll hopefullysee results and you know, it's a
very it's it's two meets. Ithink they can definitely bounce back. And

(25:18):
yeah, now's we're gonna move onhere. I'm gonna ask you all a
national sports question and I always comeup with it on the fly, and
I have it right now. Iwant to ask you about the INN season
tournament the Indiana Pacers. Baby,he had pulled up on Instagram already.

(25:42):
We've got the final four teams.I mean, we're gonna find out who's
going to the Yeah, thank you, Winn. Who's going to the Championship,
and we have the Pacers taking onthe Bucks, and then we have
the Lakers taking on the Pelican.So what is your prediction for the NBA

(26:07):
nd Season Tournament Final four? Mybad dp Uh. I think Tyrese Haliburn
is going to pop off against Milwaukeeand uh, I think Milwaukee's defense in
that next game letting up two pointsis ah, it's crazy. So if

(26:30):
they're doing that, I think thePacers, who have a better offense than
New York, I think we willrun away with this. Uh, not
necessarily run away, because we stillhave to worry about Giannis. Yeah and
Dame. So uh, I thinkit's gonna be a close one, but

(26:51):
I think the Pacers will pull itoff and play the Lakers in the championship
and then beat them. Oh yeah, that was an NBA Finals rematch,
get that revenge. Out of bias, I'll say the Pacers. But here's
one that I do want to know. This is five o'clock game, and

(27:11):
uh for the Pacers, the onething that I've noticed, which they definitely
did much better job against the Celtics, has been defensively, They've been kind
of weak. So if they takecare of Dame, and Giannis guard the
lock them up and produce the waythey've been producing offensively. I see this

(27:33):
whole tournament as theirs, so I'mgonna agree. I think the Pacers are
gonna win, but it's gonna bea really tough team to beat because Milwaukee's
not an easy team and I've beenI saw him play last season, but
they've had some talent. But Ithink the Pacers gonna pull through. You
know, we just have to getthe points that we need, and we
have to get you know, theMVP going, because once he gets going,

(27:56):
there is no going back. AndI think they're gonna join the Lakers
in the championship and I can't waitfor that. Yeah. I mean,
by the way, the games aretonight, so we might look very stupid
by the time you're listening tomorrow,but I'm going with I'm going with the
Pacers. Man Haliburton. I toldyou all three weeks ago on the podcast,

(28:18):
Haliburton was my MVP, and y'allcall me crazy, but look what
happened the other night, getting gettingMVP chance. You know, Tyrese Halburton,
he's at MVP. He's that guy. What other point guard could average
like twenty eight points per game withtwelve rebounds. It's crazy what he's doing.
It's historic. And with Milwaukee.The thing I'm concerned about. The

(28:42):
defense against New York obviously not great, but they put up over one hundred
and forty points and the Pacers haveone of the worst defenses in all of
the NBA. I don't know howthey can handle that, but they're going
to find a way. The Pacersbeat them earlier in the year and they're
gonna do it again. And theLakers and Pelicans. I have no idea

(29:03):
how the Pelicans beat the Kings,and I think it's going to catch up
with them that they shouldn't be here. The Lakers undefeated in the tournament.
Lakers are gonna get that dub andthen we have the Battle of the Goat
Lebron and some people's opinions, notmine, Lebron against the future Goat Tyree
Salburton and Tyree Salburton, and thePacers are gonna get that win over the

(29:26):
Lakers, getting revenge for the twothousand NBA Finals when the Lakers beat the
Pacers. So yeah, that's ourtime here. Thank you all for joining
me, and yeah sure, yeahnext week Q and A, I'm gonna
go on Instagram, ask you allfor your questions, and yeah, it's
gonna be great. Peace. Peace,