FINAL CALL FROM STATE FINAL

MC had a nice crowd -- I'm terrible with estimates, but an easy 1,000 or so in the Arena as the game was going on and they were nice and loud .... Here are some other final thoughtss:

MC returns six of its top eight players next week, and those players combined for 42 points in the 54-51 loss in the state final ...

Freshman Valerie Moore showed her mettle when she was hammered from behind on a trey in the fourth quarter. She stepped to the line and hit all three FTs -- a tough task on these tight rims at Arco Arena ...

MC guard Marinna McKeever will be busy this summer working on her perimeter shot. She showed nice skills on defense in trying to stay with MD's slippery Jhazmine Lynch and looked comfortable helping run the offense when Henton had to sit late in the first half with 3 fouls, but she failed to score and MD didn't pay much attention to her on the perimeter ...

MC soph Danielle Thompson was 5x7 on FGs, hitting at least three of her shots on 10- to 12-foot jumpers in transition -- letting the defense blow by before releasing it ...

If it sounds like I'm hard on the officials, I'm not going to apologize for it. How clear was the problem? My wife, a sports fan but far from a sport nut, was one of a dozen folks who e-mailed me during the game to ask what was up with all the whistles?

Officials get a paycheck for this game -- the coaches and players, in contrast, don't ean a dime -- and they've got an obligation to earn their money. When they do a good job, I praise them -- such as in the first half when they allowed for a nice flow -- but when they start gripping their throats as the game comes down to the final minutes, I'm gonna hold them accountable for that, too ...