Who is Josh Kipp?
He's Batman.
Actually, Josh is a basketball player for A&M Consolidated's freshman team. And he had a good night Tuesday, scoring 12 points in a victory over Bryan.
But in the varsity game, he was responsible for a bat-napping.
Nearly a full quarter into the Crosstown Showdown boys basketball game, Kipp caught a bat that had caused a stir by taking a grand tour of Viking Gym. Kipp wrapped it up and ran out the back door with it.
McLennan Community College coach Kevin Gill, who was scouting players, said: "The bat made for some pretty good pregame entertainment."
Gill, whose MCC Highanders are 21-3 this season, was apparently so focused on basketball, he didn't notice that the show didn't end after the opening tip. The winged mammal buzz-bombed almost every section of Viking Gym, an equal-opportunity bat that was just as willing to fly past Tiger fans as Viking fans. When the bat arrived, it was like watching the crowd do the wave -- in reverse. Instead of standing up, everyone in that section ducked.
The bat sent one game official high-stepping down the sideline on more than one occasion. Dancing With the Stars? This was more like Dancing With the Stripes.
Working the officials during a game is usually the kind of thing Consol head coach Rusty Segler enjoys, and he has some bat/basketball history.
"At the state tournament one year, they had a bat come in," Segler said. "It was unbelievable watching kids and everybody go crazy in the Drum. I told the kids that I grew up around bats. They're not going to hit you because they go away from solid things. So don't worry about it. They won't hit you."
Bryan head coach John Reese was willing to put the bite on the bat, but not in an Ozzy Osbourne kind of way. Reese might have been looking out for his school's bottom line.
"I don't think he paid to get in," said Reese with a laugh.
Bryan athletics director Harry Francis denied that there were any plans to change the name of Viking Gym to the Bat Cave.
"Here's my official statement," Francis quipped: "It's not even on my radar."
Coincidentally, the Temple Daily Telegram reported this week that Temple High School is wrapping up a process to get rid of thousands of bats at Wildcat Stadium. The story said an estimated 100,000 bats have lived at the stadium at one time. The school sealed up cracks in the stadium where the bats live when they are in town. Right now, apparently, most of the Mexican free-tailed bats are visiting South America. Bryan is along the migration route.
Since the bats are protected by law, Temple is fixing its bat problem by opening bat-houses north of the high school.
Clearly, the Temple Wildcats have put some thought into this and have a certain expertise. So, when the Vikings travel to Temple Friday for their 12-5A boys' basketball game, perhaps the yellow dog bus could be converted into the Batmobile.
Both John Reese and Lady Vikings' coach Beth Jesurun said that bats have been interested observers during their practice sessions.
Notice the plural -- bat(s). As the Dark Knight called them: "Backup."
The next time a bat invades Viking Gym, Bryan authorities should know what to do. They'll have to call Josh Kipp. Or just wing it.
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Bryan is in first place with a two-game edge over four teams in District 12-5A, but all four second-place teams -- Consol, Temple, Ellison and Shoemaker -- have shots to overtake the Vikings. Ellison and Consol already have victories over Bryan, which could improve their placement in case of a tie.
Consol's game at Belton is almost certainly Belton's last chance to stay alive in the playoff race. Belton is 3-7 in district play; Consol and the second-place teams are knotted at 6-4.
A victory at Belton would snap Consol's three-game road losing streak.
For Brazos Valley teams in other districts, Friday could mark playoff-clinching games or strengthen postseason spots:
* 18-4A: Brenham has clinched a playoff spot and can clinch at least a second-place seeding with a home victory over Magnolia.
* 24-3A: Navasota can sew up a postseason spot with a vicory at Cameron. Rudder can clinch with a win at Madisonville.
* 20-2A: Hearne can clinch a playoff berth with a home victory against Teague.
* 25-2A: Lexington has secured a playoff spot but is still battling with Jarrell and Academy for the district crown. Lexington plays at Jarrell on Friday.
* 26-A Division I: Mumford can clinch a playoff spot and no worse than second with a win at Iola.
* 27-A Division I: Milano will make the playoffs and can finish no worse than second if the Eagles win at home against Milano.
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Fan voting continues for the UIL's all-century boys basketball teams. Voting will end on Feb. 20 as part of the UIL's 100-year celebration.
Snook's Calvin Gerke is the Brazos Valley's only guard on the ballot. Iola's Chris Anderson and A&M Consolidated's Marcus Watkins are on the forwards' list. Centers from the area include Hearne's Bill Closs and Joseph Jones of Normangee
Voters select five guards, five forwards and two centers and may write in players at any position. Football and volleyball all-century teams have already been released.
The Web address is uil100.org/vote.php.
David Campbell's e-mail address is david.campbell@theeagle.com.