By MONTE DUTTON

Football is over. It’s unconditional. High schools ended way back in December, and since Clinton won the state championship, it was a shame to see it end, but then there were the college playoffs and all the bowl games. I was in the hospital, waiting for emergency surgery and out of my mind, and a really insignificant bowl was on TV in ICU. It was between Texas State and North Texas. I’m pretty sure it lasted more than five hours. I was zoned out on ketamine. Then they hauled me into surgery.

When I regained consciousness and was reasonably sure I hadn’t died, my first coherent thought was wondering if Georgia had beaten Notre Dame. It had not. It was the NFL playoffs before I watched a game from anywhere other than a hospital bed or a wheelchair.
For me, this wasn’t the typical football postseason.
Now, were I a complete football nut, it wouldn’t be over. I just think to everything, there is a season. I’d rather watch UFOs than the UFL. The last time I paid attention to spring or summer football, Herschel Walker was playing for the New Jersey Generals.

It is frustrating that I haven’t seen a basketball game live since December. I don’t want to need special treatment. I’ve watched the Paladins and Blue Hose on TV and listened to the Raiders on radio.
I guess what will make up for football’s end is NASCAR’s beginning. After all, I traveled the circuit for 20 years. The last time I spent half of February in Daytona Beach was 13 years ago. I don’t miss it much. I’ve probably changed as much as the sport has. I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to, but I’m older, the drivers are younger, and the same is true of the fans.

Also, pitchers and catchers report today, and I love baseball. Football, basketball, etc., they’re sports. Baseball is more like religion. Nothing is more fun that high-school baseball in the spring.
Meanwhile, Clinton has wrapped up the Region 3-2A title in girls’ basketball and still has designs on the boys’ championship. John Gardner’s girls thumped Mid-Carolina, 55-27, on Tuesday night, piling up a 24-8 edge at the half, to go 19-5 overall and 9-0 in the region.

McKenzie Clark led the balanced Red Devils with 11 points, followed by Emma Patterson with 8, Kemaria Shelton 7 and three – Ry’Daijia Mars, Nah’shia Wright and Bryana Belton – eah with six. And so on.
Tushawan Richardson drowned the nets with 34 points in the boys’ 68-58 victory over the Rebels. Mid-Carolina saved some face in the fourth quarter, which began with the Red Devils leading, 50-32.
Richardson tried 14 shots and hit 13 of them. He hit all seven free throws and surpassed 1,000 points for his career. Owen Glenn and Zy Butler also hit double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Red Devils are 14-7 overall and 8-1 in region play. Clinton can earn a share of the region title in Winnsboro at Fairfield Central on Thursday night.
Both teams are to open the playoffs at home against Southside of Greenville. The boys take on the Tigers next Tuesday, the girls on Wednesday. Both games are at 6:30 p.m.se
The outcomes of a couple other games play a role in Laurens’ first-round playoff destinations next week.
Laurens Academy won its girls’ conference tournament with ease, toppling Our Lady of the Rosary, 48-18. The Crusaders (16-7) got 19 points from Sadie Bruyere and 11 from Braylee Burke. Brooklyn Senn and Mackenzie Runyans each added 7.

The LA boys fell, 57-45, in the finals to Oakbrook Prep, despite strong games by Garrison Vaughn with 20 points and Braydon Burke with 14. Micah Strait added 7. LA is 7-17.
Aly Jeter led the Thornwell girls 15 points in a 48-44 victory over McCormick. The Chiefs won the boys’ game, 81-43
Presbyterian, 29-27 and Big South regular-season champion last season, opens baseball with a weekend series against visiting Georgetown. The Friday and Saturday games are scheduled for 4 p.m. starts. The Hoyas and Blue Hose play at noon on Sunday.
Support the advertisers. They are all fine people who want their businesses associated with honest coverage of local sports. I appreciate them sticking with me as I get back up to speed.

I’m getting a little stronger, but I tire easily. Energy remains a problem.
In the off chance you’d like to read my novels and other books, they’re available on Amazon and many prominent bookseller sites.
You can read them on your phones and other devices for a modest cost. I make a bit more if you purchase the actual books, but what I mainly want is for folks to read them.

Illness has left me with some some uncovered medical expenses. I hope to sell off some memorabilia I’ve accumulated over the years. First I’ve got to get well. Perhaps you’d be interested in purchasing an autographed photo of Merle Haggard, or Sir Jackie Stewart, or Jimmie Foxx, or Buddy Hackett, or Mario Andretti, or Carl Reiner, or Sid Luckman, or some historic NASCAR posters.