Random Thoughts: GMC, races & more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

This week’s Random Thoughts center around the Green Meadows Conference, Kobe Bryant, the Super Bowl, Cleveland’s new GM, Shawnee/Ottawa-Glandorf, the NWC boys’ basketball title race and girls’ hoops races in the NWC and WBL.

Green Meadows Conference

If you read the latest Monday Mailbag, you know speculation is rampant about which school could become the newest member of the Green Meadows Conference, now that Holgate has been voted out and is headed to the Buckeye Border Conference.

I’m sure most of us have heard the same rumors, but only time will tell what, if anything, actually happens.

Kobe Bryant

It’s still unbelievable that Kobe Bryant is gone.

Like him or not, he was elite and one of the fiercest competitors in the sport, one who seemed to mature in his personal life after some trouble in 2003.

Let’s not forget the other eight lives cut short on Sunday’s fateful helicopter accident.

May they all Rest In Peace.

Super Bowl Sunday

Will Super Bowl 54 between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs?

Perhaps, but for some reason I have a feeling it won’t be that close, especially if San Francisco runs the ball like they did against the Packers.

I don’t have a horse in the race, so here’s hoping I’m wrong and it’s a good game.

New Browns GM

The Browns finally have their new General Manager.

Andrew Berry was officially hired on Monday and he was given a five-year contract. He was with the team during the Sashi Brown, i.e. 1-31 era.

He’s another analytics guy. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not sold on relying heavily on analytics. When I think of analytics, I think of guys like Corey Coleman and DeShone Kizer. Would analytics have told the Browns to select Nick Chubb, who tore an ACL in college?

Don’t get me wrong, I think analytics can be a useful tool, but you need old school scouts and talent evaluators who can tell if a guy can play the NFL level, regardless of what analytics say.

Perhaps it’s the jaded Browns fan in me, but I don’t see this working well.

WBL showdown

I can’t imagine there will be an empty seat at Shawnee this Friday night, when the fifth ranked team in Division II hosts the second ranked team in Division III.

The No. 5Indians (15-0, 5-0 WBL) will host No. 2 Ottawa-Glandorf (14-0, 4-0 WBL) in what will easily be the area’s marquee boys’ basketball game.

With all due respect to other league teams, the winner of this game will most likely win the outright 2019-2020 WBL championship.

If you’re keeping track, Ottawa-Glandorf has won 19 Western Buckeye League basketball championships – 10 outright and nine shared, while Shawnee has claimed 10 league titles, with four of those outright and the remaining six shared.

NWC title race

Not to be overshadowed, a key Northwest Conference basketball game will be played this Friday when the state’s second ranked Division IV team, Columbus Grove (13-0, 4-0 NWC) hosts Bluffton (13-3, 4-1 NWC).

The Bulldogs have rolled past each and every opponent this season, while Bluffton suffered a hit with a 61-45 loss to Lincolnview on January 17. Bluffton’s other losses have come to Ottawa-Glandorf and Maumee Valley Country Day.

If the Pirates can pull the upset, it could make things very interesting down the stretch. Otherwise, it would appear that Delphos Jefferson (7-8, 4-0 NWC) would be the only remaining obstacle in the NWC race.

Fun times.

Girls NWC and WBL races

With a 5-0 conference record, It appears Columbus Grove has the NWC girls’ basketball championship in hand. Bluffton and Paulding each have 4-2 NWC records and the Bulldogs have already beaten Paulding and will face Bluffton on Thursday.

Ottawa-Glandorf (6-0 WBL) has a one game lead over Bath (5-1) in the league race and appears to be in the driver’s seat. The Lady Titans already have defeated Bath, and have remaining league games against Shawnee, Defiance and Kenton.

If you have thoughts on any of the above subjects, feel free to email me at sports@thevwindependent.com.