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Chat Session

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published January 28, 2007

For the first time, the FHSAA will be hosting a 3-point shooting contest that begins at the district tournaments and will continue through the state playoffs. Each team can enter up to two players. Times staff writers John Cotey and David Murphy logged onto the Internet to talk some smack about the new wrinkle.

JOHNCOTEY: Dave, I don't think I have ever looked as forward to district girls basketball as I do this year.

DMURPH003: I know, John. While the rest of the world watches breathlessly to see who wins the Class 4A, District 8 girls basketball tournament, you and I will be under the bleachers betting dollar bills and pizzas on whether Jessica Eberts can hit more 3-pointers than whatever scrub your Pasco teams roll out there.

DMURPH003: Early over/under for Eberts is 22 1/2.

DMURPH003: She's a deadly moneyball shooter.

JOHNCOTEY: Wow. I think you owe Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Schulman an apology. Or, as we will be calling them in Pasco, Mr. and Mrs. Parent of 3-Point Champion.

JOHNCOTEY: Gulf's Schulman is just about a lock. ...Billy Squire once wrote a song about her shot (Note to self: stop dating yourself).

JOHNCOTEY: Schulman has 62 3-pointers this year. She makes 3 a game. That's called a s-t-r-o-k-e.

DMURPH003: I'll tell you what: I once saw a blindfolded Jessica Eberts hit a 3-pointer while juggling three marbles with her toes. She's hit 44 this season. I think she can handle the FHSAA's 3-point shootout.

JOHNCOTEY: Fourty-four in 22 games ain't bad.

JOHNCOTEY: For a runnerup.

DMURPH003: Well, don't even get me started on Ronisha Browdy in the Class 5A-7 tournament. It's going to be a 3-point shooting exhibition, not a competition. She might get herself elected President by the time she is done.

JOHNCOTEY: Well, considering your past campaign work for (Central running back) DuJuan Harris, I hope she considers someone else for the job.

JOHNCOTEY: Our best "candidate" is just Sthefany Thomas, if Wesley Chapel decides to use her. Recognize the name? I heard she is requesting that four players try to drag her to the ground when she shoots. You know, to make it like a game simulation.

JOHNCOTEY: She only has 22 this year, but with four players guarding her at the arc, she prefers to slice and dice to the hoop for easier baskets. Without a defender? She might not miss. Vegas won't even touch this one.

DMURPH003: That's interesting. Browdy has 54 3-pointers this year.

DMURPH003: She's shooting your age. And that's with defenders in her face.

DMURPH003: They should write a "Ronisha Browdy rule" into this competition. Force her to shoot over a grown man or something. That's the only way it will be fair. Either that or make her shoot lefty.

JOHNCOTEY: How about a "Dave Murphy rule" for this chat? Like banning overzealous hyperbole or something.

DMURPH003: Seriously though, you think this shoot-out is a good idea? What's next? A slam dunk contest? The Class A ones would be pretty entertaining.

JOHNCOTEY: I love it. I'd like to see a whole skills competition. High school sporting events have stopped being events in a lot of cases. I think this will add some seriously needed spark.

JOHNCOTEY: Besides, since your teams will be eliminated by the district final, it gives guys like you something to do that night.

[Last modified January 28, 2007, 07:41:29]