KFC-Taco Bell Holiday Classic @ Marion County High School

Green County vs. Washington County 12-26-07
By Chris Gregory, Fifth Region Correspondent

With Christmas finally over I can get back to watching some basketball games. I had a tough choice to make. So many good games, where should I start? I decided to head down to the KFC-Taco Bell Holiday Classic at Marion County High School. It's a small tournament with a few good teams, but five participants were from the Fifth Region.

I live in Hodgenville, so I had to take KY 84 to get down to Lebanon. Anyone who has traveled this road knows that it has more curves than Jessica Simpson.

I was a little disappointed to find out that the first game was between Green County and Washington County.

The Dragons were fresh in my mind because I watched Bardstown blitz them a few days before. They had all the size in the contest because Washington County starts five guards -- five guards!

Green came out firing, but they kept making silly turnovers, which kept Washington County in the game. The Dragons -- looking to rebound from last week's thrashing -- was up 21-18 at the end of the first quarter.

When the second quarter started so did Green County's Clint Henderson. He will pull the trigger from anywhere on the court, and he dives on the floor for loose balls. He plays good defense. The Commanders, however, didn't get discouraged under Henderson's barrage. Joe Joe Simms, who would get my vote for the "All-Star Name of the Tournament," started making shots, but the Dragons took a 36-30 lead into halftime.

Both teams looked different in the second half. Both wanted to win the game and played that way. The game could make a statement in the Fifth Region that these teams are for real, and someone might take notice. The game went back and forth in the third. Henderson kept his hot and hand, and reserve Daniel Bennett made some baskets. Both teams scored 14 points in the third, so Green maintained its six point advantage. Score: 50-44.

I figured it out after the third quarter. Washington starts five guards for a reason: they run opponents to death. I could see Green getting tired. They had run out of gas.

People in the Fifth Region better remember this name: Marshall Haydon. He plays for Washington County, and he caught fire in the fourth quarter and never let up. He did something I had never seen before. He hit FIVE straight three point goals. Needless to say, he was "feeling it." He ended up with eight three point goals by the end of the contest.

The Commanders never led in the game, but they were never out of it. They chipped away at Green's lead through the fourth frame, and they kept wearing down the Dragons. Washington got their first lead with 1:13 left in the game.

With 27 seconds left in the game the score was tied at 72. It looked like Green was going to hold it for the last shot and the win, but they could not keep from turning the ball over. Both times I've seen them play they've had trouble with ball control, and it has killed them both times.

Green County fouled the Commanders' Justin Chapman in hopes he'd miss both free throws. He made one and missed the other. Washington County pulled it out in a 73-72 thriller

OBSERVATIONS

Mano de Piedra: Green County has got to learn to hold onto the ball. It seems like they have about 50 turnovers in the two games in which I've seen them. Maybe they should work at Arby's and serve up turnovers there or maybe they're trying for the Pick and Roll's Roberto Duran Award: Hands of Stone.

Zzzzz Zzzzz: Marshall Haydon could be the Fifth Region's sleeper this year. Not only did he hit five three pointers in a row and total of 8 for the game, but he finished with 31 points. Nuff said.

Si Senior(s): Washington County never gave up. Seniors Haydon and Chapman lead the Commanders. They may get out-manned in some games, but I really like what I saw out of them tonight. They might get hot in March and take their team deep into the regional tournament.

Editor's Note: Green County was named for Nathaniel Greene, who also was second to Washington.

Also, I want to apologize to Chris and Pick and Roll readers for being tardy posting his reports. I had to assist with the recovery of material from a courthouse fire in Carlisle County this week. I've been away from home and working nearly around the clock.