Barren County 66 - Glasgow 53

Barren County High School, Glasgow, Kentucky
January 4, 2008

I had a tough decision to make tonight. All week I planned on going to the Warren East at Bowling Green game, but this afternoon I realized that Glasgow would tip it up against their crosstown rivals at Barren County High School. I finally decided to head up to Glasgow to catch this important 15th District ballgame.

When I was in high school in Louisville in the 1980s, teams played in front of big crowds. On the night Male High played Moore -- Winston Bennett vs. Manuel Forrest -- about five thousand people attended the old Male High gym. Tonight, when I pulled up to Barren County High School, the parking lot was almost full. My heart started pounding, and I thought about the "old days" before ESPN and network sports convinced everyone that they had to watch professional basketball or big time college basketball before they could enjoy themselves. It reminded me of a time when people went to high school games because it was the most accessible basketball. Too often, these days, I find gyms nearly empty.

That wasn't the case in Glasgow tonight. The gym wasn't full, but a lot of people were there and electricity coursed around the place. I loved Barren County's gymnasium the second I walked into it. It's too bad I forgot my camera tonight because a good photograph would go a long way in conveying the flavor of the place. A Glasgow fan told me that it was built in 1977, and that they put a new court down in 2007. Seats go all the way around the court, and roll-out bleachers are at the top of the gym. Except, one end featured glass windows looking in on a first rate weight room and training facility. It's a very nice venue. If I had one complaint, it would be that the bleachers are not steep enough to allow fans to see the court very well. It's a very minor complaint and one easily ignored.

In the ballgame, Barren County came to play and Glasgow must have left their game on the other side of town. From the opening tip it was as if the Trojans took a rolled-up newspaper and smacked the Scottie dogs right on their cold, wet noses. Steve Riley's cagers scolded, "BAD DOGS," and the Scotties cowered in fear.

The Trojans opened with a sticky man-to-man defense, and Glasgow, which is a relatively young team, could not withstand the pressure. They made turnovers, and if they worked the ball inside, they could not finish the play. By the end of the first quarter I was ready to award them the week's "Bare Wood Award": NO FINISH. The Scotties really did play scared or at best they were tight through most of the game.

Every team has a bad night. Maybe it was Glasgow's night in which nothing worked. They seemed to be sleepwalking through the first quarter and found themselves down 15-5.

The Scotties continued to play scared through most of the second quarter. The Trojans stretched out to a 26-9 lead, and it was looking bleak for the Scotties. The "Dawg Pound," several of whom were decked out in togas, was real quiet. I sat with some Glasgow fans, and they had their heads in their hands throughout most of the second quarter.

But, Glasgow made a small run late in the half that kept the game from getting out of control. They cut the lead down to 26-16. I'm going to give a "Charlie Brown Blockhead Award" to Glasgow's Kerrington Bradley for fouling Blake Crabtree with just 0.8 seconds on the clock. Crabtree hit one of two, which let Barren County take a 27-16 lead into the break.

Fouling with 0.8 seconds is the kind of thing that makes a coach age almost instantaneously. Glasgow Coach John Tinsley probably aged a few months in the last eight-tenths of a second of the second quarter.

At the half, I felt like Glasgow saved themselves from disaster and gave themselves a chance to get back into the game. Still, they let Barren County control the tempo, something they are very good at doing, and the Trojans seemed to control the game.

In the third quarter, Glasgow tried to force the ball down the court and keep Barren County from setting up their half court defense, which stymied the Scotties. Glasgow, however, could not finish their plays. Their players don't help each other out, and a fan pointed out that they never move to the ball when a pass is thrown. They stand and wait for the ball to get to them.

With 1:40 left in the third, Barren County had a 49-23 lead on their rival. I'm not completely sure, but I thought I heard the Barren County public address announce where the Scotties' bus was parked. That was funny. I don't know if it was meant to be funny, but it was.

Barren County had a commanding 51-25 lead. Glasgow managed only 9 points in the third.

I started to wonder what I was missing down in Bowling Green, where the Purples were tangling with the Raiders from Warren East.

Early in the fourth frame, Barren County doubled the score up on Glasgow, 56-28. Ouch!

Glasgow wasn't going to roll over and play dead, though. Behind the leadership of senior Charlie Mudd, the Scotties mounted a late game rally. Mudd made a layup and then hit two quick three pointers, and it was as if he breathed life into his beaten team. I think he had 17 points on the night, 11 of which, I think, came in the fourth quarter. Barren County started playing just to finish the game, and they let Glasgow back into the contest. Coach Steve Riley had rested most of his starters late in the game, but he had to put them back on the floor to stop the little spurt Glasgow was putting on them.

It was too little too late from the Scotties. No one would que up any Led Zepplin "Black Dog" in Glasgow on this night. Barren County pulled out the victory 66-53. The game wasn't as close as the score indicates.

OBSERVATIONS

Life of Riley: It's been since 2000 that a coach not named "Riley" took a Fourth Region team to the Sweet Sixteen. I'm starting to think that a Riley coached team might be in Rupp this spring only it might be Steve Riley's ball team. I've joked for the past three years that they should name the Fourth Region Tournament at Diddle Arena "The Riley Invitational."

February 19th: The Barren County student section started chanting that date during the third quarter of tonight's ballgame. I couldn't figure it out until someone pointed out that several of Metcalfe County's ball players were in attendance. Barren County lost to Metcalfe in Edmonton the other night, and the return game is on Feb. 19th in Glasgow. I wouldn't be so anxious if I were a Barren County fan. Metcalfe has one loss and has yet to lose to a team from Kentucky.

Mother Hubbard: Barren County's Lee Hubbard has "got game." In the second quarter he got a rebound down on the blocks at the right side of the lane. He made a drop step, pivoted and went straight up with the ball without dribbling and without hesitation. I remember listening to Bobby Knight beef about fundamental basketball not getting any attention in sports highlights. Hubbard would've made The General proud tonight. That move was nearly perfect but not flashy. He still got his team a rebound and two points. a Glasgow fan told me that Hubbard is a real good kid. That's pretty good when a player is getting an endorsement from the fans of an arch-rival.

Break Out the Carl Perkins: Glasgow is sporting some flashy blue Adidas this season. I kept hearing Carl Perkins or Elvis singing "Blue Suede Shoes" every time I looked at their feet.

District Implications: Barren County stays right behind Metcalfe, which is 3-0 in the 15th District. The Trojans are 2-1, while Glasgow is even with one loss and one win. Allen County-Scottsville has played just one district game, and they are 1-0. Just like in the neighboring 14th District, a couple of good teams will end their season early, so seeding is incredibly important.

His Name is Mudd: I really like Charlie Mudd for the Scotties. He is the team's leader and a gritty ballplayer.