Oh, Free Throws

Carroll is nine points from being tied atop the City League with Heights. Wait, let's re-phrase that. If the Carroll boys had shot 70 percent from the free throw line against East and 47 percent from the line against Southeast, they would be tied atop the City League. Carroll missed 13 free throws against East and 21 against Southeast. The game against Southeast went two overtimes, and it shouldn't have gone there. The positive for this team over winter break is that they know they're good. Football stars Joe Brown, a 6-3 senior, and Blake Bell, a 6-6 junior, accompanied by Jon Peck, 6-7, make up one of the state's top frontcourts. Guard play at Carroll is a bit suspect, but the guards have to be close to stepping it up. To play East and Southeast that close, there has to be something there. Brown is an intriguing player. At 6-3 and 220 pounds, he is the team's point guard when they truly need a point guard. Against Southeast, he could see the court ahead better than anyone. Carroll would have been sunk by Southeast's full-court press without Brown leading the way. On January 13, No. 1 Heights plays at Carroll. This was always going to be the biggest City League girls match-up of the year. Now, it's the same for the boys. Heights' Perry Ellis going up against Carroll's Bell in the post will be memorable stuff.